Saturday, September 27
Evanston, Ill.
2:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
UCLA
Northwestern Set for Saturday Clash With UCLA
9/25/2025 2:27:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, ILL. — After a bye week for both teams, Northwestern and UCLA will square off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 in Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Both squads are vying for their first Big Ten win.
Last time out, the Wildcats (1-2, 0-1 Big Ten) fell 34-14 to then-No. 4 Oregon in their conference opener on Sept. 13. Northwestern rushed for 178 yards on 37 attempts (4.8 yards per carry), while redshirt first-year Dashun Reeder broke loose on his lone carry of the game for a 79-yard touchdown.
Meanwhile, the Bruins (0-3, 0-0 Big Ten) dropped their last outing 35-10 to New Mexico. In the aftermath, UCLA parted ways with head coach Deshaun Foster. Tim Skipper began serving as the Bruins' interim head coach during their Week 4 bye.
"Excited to officially be back into game week," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "Last week was really productive. We challenged our team for urgent daily improvement, and I thought we accomplished that mission throughout the week."
The game will air on Big Ten Network. Jeff Levering (play-by-play) and Jake Butt (analyst) will be on the call, joined by Brooke Fletcher on the sidelines.
The game can be heard on WGN Radio 720 with The Voice of the Wildcats, Dave Eanet, who is in his 36th season calling Northwestern football, and former Wildcat signal caller Dan Persa (2007-2011) as analyst, filling in for Ted Albrecht over the next two weeks. Former NU defensive lineman Jake Saunders, (2016-2020) is in his first season as the duo's sideline reporter.
Stay tuned to Northwestern football's Twitter and Instagram channels for live highlights, photos and reactions throughout the Wildcats' clash with the Bruins.
Here are five things to watch as Northwestern resumes Big Ten action following the bye week.
1. UCLA's Coaching Shifts Pose 'Unique' Test
Braun is especially familiar with an interim tag accompanying his title, having coached the first 10 games of the 2023 season before being named the program's permanent head coach. Now, he's set to face an interim coach for the first time in his head coaching career.
"The transition in head coach at UCLA presents some unique challenges for us, just in terms of what adjustments will Tim Skipper make and how are they going to approach that," Braun said.
But Saturday certainly won't be the first time Braun and Skipper cross paths. Braun said he vividly remembers working at Colorado State's camp with Skipper in Fort Collins, Co.
It's also a familiar spot for Skipper, who served as Fresno State's interim head coach last season and led the Bulldogs to a 6-7 record — including a 4-3 split in Mountain West play.
"The job that coach Skipper did at Fresno State last year in a tough situation with coach [Jeff] Tedford stepping down over the summer, [he's] a heck of a football coach," Braun said. "UCLA will be playing their best football when they come into Evanston."
2. Wagner Carves Out Wideout Role
Last season, sophomore wide receiver Drew Wagner found lightning in a bottle when he took his first career punt return 72 yards for a touchdown at Iowa. Then a preferred walk-on, Wagner carved out a sizable role on special teams in 2024 and saw snaps at wideout late in the season.
Now on full scholarship, Wagner has established himself as an early impact player in 2025. Last time out, the Delafield, Wis., native hauled in a career-long 40 yard reception against Oregon. The big shot connection followed his first career offensive touchdown the previous week.
With his big-play ability demonstrated on limited reps, Wagner has captured Braun's full attention as a complementary piece alongside junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde.
"Drew continues to make plays," Braun said. "We've got to find ways to get the ball in Drew Wagner's hands. He's a playmaker."
3. Offensive Line Earns National, Conference Plaudits
Facing Oregon in the Big Ten opener, the Wildcat offensive line encountered one of its tallest tasks of the season in a menacing front seven. Not only did the group hold its own, but several veteran Northwestern linemen were recognized among the nation's best.
Graduate student Caleb Tiernan, who offensive line coach Bill O'Boyle heaped praise as a lead-by-example figure in the position group, posted a 90.7 PFF pass blocking grade against the Ducks. For his efforts, the star left tackle was named to PFF's National Team of the Week for the second consecutive week.
While Tiernan continued his stellar start to the season, graduate student center Jackson Carsello also turned in a banner performance against Oregon. Carsello was named Pro Football & Sports Network Center of the Week in Week 3 with a 90.3 individual o-line grade and earned a spot on the PFF All-Big Ten Team.
"I'm happy with it, but there's still room to grow," Carsello said of his performance through the first quarter of the regular season. "There's always room to grow, and I'm looking forward to continuing to progress my game and seeing where this team goes."
4. Matchup History
Saturday will mark the first time Northwestern and UCLA face off as Big Ten foes, as well as their seventh overall meeting. The two teams have split the overall series, 3-3, with their last matchup dating back to the 2005 Sun Bowl, when the Bruins overcame a 22-0 deficit to defeat the Wildcats 50-38.
Northwestern will look to turn the tide of the series' recent trend, as UCLA has won the last three meetings in 2005, 1970 and 1969. Before then, the Wildcats knocked off the Bruins in 1931, 1947 and 1948 by a combined score of 63-26.
5. Scouting UCLA
In their three consecutive losses to start the 2025 campaign — two of which came against Group of Five competition — the Bruins have been outscored 108-43.
"It can be easy to look at UCLA's record or score, but if you look at the progression of each game, this is a talented football team," Braun said.
The UCLA offense has averaged 324.7 yards per game, with the bulk of that production coming through the air. Through three games, starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava has completed 62-of-97 attempts for 608 passing yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
On the defensive side of the ball, UCLA has given up an average of 244 rushing yards per game and 431 total yards per game.
Last time out, the Wildcats (1-2, 0-1 Big Ten) fell 34-14 to then-No. 4 Oregon in their conference opener on Sept. 13. Northwestern rushed for 178 yards on 37 attempts (4.8 yards per carry), while redshirt first-year Dashun Reeder broke loose on his lone carry of the game for a 79-yard touchdown.
Meanwhile, the Bruins (0-3, 0-0 Big Ten) dropped their last outing 35-10 to New Mexico. In the aftermath, UCLA parted ways with head coach Deshaun Foster. Tim Skipper began serving as the Bruins' interim head coach during their Week 4 bye.
"Excited to officially be back into game week," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "Last week was really productive. We challenged our team for urgent daily improvement, and I thought we accomplished that mission throughout the week."
The game will air on Big Ten Network. Jeff Levering (play-by-play) and Jake Butt (analyst) will be on the call, joined by Brooke Fletcher on the sidelines.
The game can be heard on WGN Radio 720 with The Voice of the Wildcats, Dave Eanet, who is in his 36th season calling Northwestern football, and former Wildcat signal caller Dan Persa (2007-2011) as analyst, filling in for Ted Albrecht over the next two weeks. Former NU defensive lineman Jake Saunders, (2016-2020) is in his first season as the duo's sideline reporter.
Stay tuned to Northwestern football's Twitter and Instagram channels for live highlights, photos and reactions throughout the Wildcats' clash with the Bruins.
Here are five things to watch as Northwestern resumes Big Ten action following the bye week.
1. UCLA's Coaching Shifts Pose 'Unique' Test
Braun is especially familiar with an interim tag accompanying his title, having coached the first 10 games of the 2023 season before being named the program's permanent head coach. Now, he's set to face an interim coach for the first time in his head coaching career.
"The transition in head coach at UCLA presents some unique challenges for us, just in terms of what adjustments will Tim Skipper make and how are they going to approach that," Braun said.
But Saturday certainly won't be the first time Braun and Skipper cross paths. Braun said he vividly remembers working at Colorado State's camp with Skipper in Fort Collins, Co.
It's also a familiar spot for Skipper, who served as Fresno State's interim head coach last season and led the Bulldogs to a 6-7 record — including a 4-3 split in Mountain West play.
"The job that coach Skipper did at Fresno State last year in a tough situation with coach [Jeff] Tedford stepping down over the summer, [he's] a heck of a football coach," Braun said. "UCLA will be playing their best football when they come into Evanston."
2. Wagner Carves Out Wideout Role
Last season, sophomore wide receiver Drew Wagner found lightning in a bottle when he took his first career punt return 72 yards for a touchdown at Iowa. Then a preferred walk-on, Wagner carved out a sizable role on special teams in 2024 and saw snaps at wideout late in the season.
Now on full scholarship, Wagner has established himself as an early impact player in 2025. Last time out, the Delafield, Wis., native hauled in a career-long 40 yard reception against Oregon. The big shot connection followed his first career offensive touchdown the previous week.
With his big-play ability demonstrated on limited reps, Wagner has captured Braun's full attention as a complementary piece alongside junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde.
"Drew continues to make plays," Braun said. "We've got to find ways to get the ball in Drew Wagner's hands. He's a playmaker."
3. Offensive Line Earns National, Conference Plaudits
Facing Oregon in the Big Ten opener, the Wildcat offensive line encountered one of its tallest tasks of the season in a menacing front seven. Not only did the group hold its own, but several veteran Northwestern linemen were recognized among the nation's best.
Graduate student Caleb Tiernan, who offensive line coach Bill O'Boyle heaped praise as a lead-by-example figure in the position group, posted a 90.7 PFF pass blocking grade against the Ducks. For his efforts, the star left tackle was named to PFF's National Team of the Week for the second consecutive week.
While Tiernan continued his stellar start to the season, graduate student center Jackson Carsello also turned in a banner performance against Oregon. Carsello was named Pro Football & Sports Network Center of the Week in Week 3 with a 90.3 individual o-line grade and earned a spot on the PFF All-Big Ten Team.
"I'm happy with it, but there's still room to grow," Carsello said of his performance through the first quarter of the regular season. "There's always room to grow, and I'm looking forward to continuing to progress my game and seeing where this team goes."
4. Matchup History
Saturday will mark the first time Northwestern and UCLA face off as Big Ten foes, as well as their seventh overall meeting. The two teams have split the overall series, 3-3, with their last matchup dating back to the 2005 Sun Bowl, when the Bruins overcame a 22-0 deficit to defeat the Wildcats 50-38.
Northwestern will look to turn the tide of the series' recent trend, as UCLA has won the last three meetings in 2005, 1970 and 1969. Before then, the Wildcats knocked off the Bruins in 1931, 1947 and 1948 by a combined score of 63-26.
5. Scouting UCLA
In their three consecutive losses to start the 2025 campaign — two of which came against Group of Five competition — the Bruins have been outscored 108-43.
"It can be easy to look at UCLA's record or score, but if you look at the progression of each game, this is a talented football team," Braun said.
The UCLA offense has averaged 324.7 yards per game, with the bulk of that production coming through the air. Through three games, starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava has completed 62-of-97 attempts for 608 passing yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
On the defensive side of the ball, UCLA has given up an average of 244 rushing yards per game and 431 total yards per game.
Players Mentioned
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