The Northwestern Wildcats were one of the surprise teams in the Big Ten last season.
After the university fired former head coach Pat Fitzgerald for alleged hazing violations, interim coach David Braun took over the program and led the team to an 8-5 record, including a win over Utah in the Las Vegas bowl.
While the new Ryan Field is under construction in Evanston, Northwestern will host its home games at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. This venue will sit right along Lake Michigan and will contain tailgating opportunities and a giant video board for fans to enjoy the game.
Northwestern’s players are excited about this new opportunity to play in a different environment than in years past. One even hinted at a post-win tradition involving Lake Michigan.
“I’m really excited about jumping in the lake right after a win,” redshirt junior defensive lineman Carmine Barstone said in a video from Big Ten Football via X.
The Wildcats will play four out of their first five games of the season in their new stadium against the likes of Miami of Ohio, Duke, Eastern Illinois, and Indiana.
With the lake right next to the stadium, we’ll see if the Windy City can stay true to its name and make it a hard place for opponents.