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Iowa football 2023 early opponent preview: Northwestern
Rocked by hazing scandal, Wildcats move forward with interim head coach David Braun
Editor’s note: This is ninth in a 12-part series previewing Iowa’s 2023 football opponents.
IOWA CITY — At Northwestern’s picturesque, glass-enclosed Ryan Fieldhouse along Lake Michigan, a metaphorical gust of change appears to be hitting.
Longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald has been fired amid hazing allegations. The hazing, according to the Daily Northwestern student newspaper, included alleged sexual harassment. Some former players also told the Daily Northwestern of a “culture of enabling racism.”
Before the Daily’s reports, Northwestern was prepared to give Fitzgerald a two-week suspension without pay. After the details became public, NU fired Fitzgerald.
A lawsuit may follow — Fitzgerald’s lawyer told the Chicago Tribune he’s “exploring potential breach-of-contract claims” — and other question marks still linger, but one thing seems certain.
The Northwestern team that will face Iowa on Nov. 4 at Wrigley Field will be different from past Northwestern teams Iowa has seen.
David Braun, who arrived in January from North Dakota State to serve as defensive coordinator, will be the interim head coach.
From a football standpoint, Northwestern already was experiencing significant changes to the roster via the transfer portal.
Quarterback Ben Bryant transferred in the spring from Cincinnati, where he started 11 games last year. Bryant completed 61 percent of his passes and threw 21 touchdowns versus seven interceptions.
Bryant will have the benefit of throwing to wide receiver A.J. Henning, who transferred from Michigan. Henning, a former four-star recruit, had 25 catches for 198 yards in three seasons with the Wolverines.
Now that Evan Hull is in the NFL, Cam Porter is expected to take the reins at running back. Porter averaged 3.3 yards per carry as Northwestern’s No. 2 back last year.
The Wildcats struggled defensively last year, finishing 12th in the Big Ten with 28.3 points allowed per game. Linebacker Bryce Gallagher and defensive back Rod Heard are among key returning players as Northwestern looks to improve upon its 2022 mark.
Northwestern football already seemed to have a downward trajectory before the hazing scandal, going from a 7-2 season in 2020 to 3-9 in 2021 and 1-11 in 2022.
Iowa vs. Northwestern: 3 things to watch
- Can transfers Bryant and Henning breathe life into the Northwestern offense? Especially without Hull in the backfield anymore, Northwestern will need a reliable passing attack to be competitive in 2023.
- How cohesive do the Wildcats look? Interim head coach David Braun has a challenging task as he looks to bring together a team he largely did not recruit amid a polarizing hazing scandal.
- Does Wrigley Field look like Kinnick Stadium East? Iowa fans have historically turned out well for games at Northwestern. Now with the game at iconic Wrigley Field instead of less-iconic Ryan Field, this could be an even more appealing road game for Hawkeye fans.
2023 prognosis
Iowa-Northwestern has been a competitive series in recent years, but even without Northwestern’s offseason upheaval, this likely would have been a favorable matchup for the Hawkeyes.
Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com
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