Kilbane, Turner Earn PFF Team of the Week Honors

EVANSTON, Ill. — After a decisive 41-7 victory over Colorado on Saturday, Northwestern fourth-year defensive lineman Michael Kilbane and fourth-year defensive back Braden Turner earned spots on Pro Football Focus weekly honors, PFF announced on Monday.

Kilbane was named to PFF’s Week 3 National Team of the Week and Big Ten Team of the Week. Turner joined Kilbane on the conference team of the week. 

Making his first appearance of the 2026 season, Kilbane received a team-high 91.9 defensive grade in the win over Colorado. He posted six total tackles, a tackle-for-loss and a forced fumble as the Wildcat defense pitched a first-half shutout and held the Buffaloes to 0-for-3 on fourth down. 

Kilbane’s defensive grade and 92.4 run defense grade are the highest among all FBS defensive linemen with a minimum of 20 snaps played.

A 2025 All-Big Ten honorable mention selection, Turner logged an 82.0 defensive grade, an 84.0 tackling grade and an 84.1 coverage grade against Colorado. Turner recorded eight total tackles, an interception and a pass breakup in the win. 

This marks Turner’s second career PFF weekly honor, having been named to the Big Ten Team of the Week following an Oct. 11, 2025, victory at Penn State.

Northwestern, which boasts the Big Ten’s top red zone defense (.625) and average turnover margin (2.0), will face defending national champion No. 5 Indiana on Friday, Sept. 25, in Bloomington. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on FOX.