2023 Northwestern Wildcats football team

2023 Northwestern Wildcats football
Las Vegas Bowl champion
Las Vegas Bowl, W 14–7 vs. Utah
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record8–5 (5–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMike Bajakian (4th season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Base defenseMultiple 4–3
Home stadiumRyan Field
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 1 Michigan xy$#^   9 0     15 0  
No. 10 Ohio State   8 1     11 2  
No. 13 Penn State   7 2     10 3  
Maryland   4 5     8 5  
Rutgers   3 6     7 6  
Michigan State   2 7     4 8  
Indiana   1 8     3 9  
West Division
No. 24 Iowa xy   7 2     10 4  
Northwestern   5 4     8 5  
Wisconsin   5 4     7 6  
Illinois   3 6     5 7  
Minnesota   3 6     6 7  
Nebraska   3 6     5 7  
Purdue   3 6     4 8  
Championship: Michigan 26, Iowa 0
  • # – College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by first-year head coach David Braun and played their home games at Ryan Field (in its final season) in Evanston, Illinois. Braun began the season as interim head coach and was elevated to permanent head coach on November 15 following the team's 24–10 road win over Wisconsin.[1]

The Wildcats finished the regular season with a record of 7–5 and went 5–4 in conference play to finish second in the Big Ten West. Braun was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.[2] The Wildcats were selected to face Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl, where they won 14–7.

  1. ^ Chicago Tribune staff (November 15, 2023). "David Braun named Northwestern's permanent head football coach midway through interim season". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  2. ^ "Northwestern's Braun named Big Ten coach of the year. Coaches vote 8 Michigan players to 1st team". Associated Press. November 29, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.