“If you look back on our preparation over the course of the last month and the way our guys operate, I couldn’t have been more confident in terms of the fact that we prepared to the best of our ability,” Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun mentioned. “For us to win and win the way that we did today is a reflection of our seniors, our guys in their preparation, and just so honored and excited to send that group off the right way.”
BOWL CHAMPS ?? pic.twitter.com/AeORjbumzL
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) December 26, 2025
After neither group scored in the primary quarter, Northwestern blew the sport open in the second quarter with 21 unanswered factors by forcing the Chippewas (7-6, 5-3 MAC) into turnovers on three consecutive offensive snaps.
Junior large receiver Griffin Wilde was named the GameAbove Sports Bowl MVP after hauling in 10 receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns — all of that are probably the most by a Northwestern participant in a bowl recreation since 2010. He completed the season with 71 receptions and half of 1 mile, each of which rank ninth in a season in program historical past.
Your MVP, Griffin Wilde ?? pic.twitter.com/qZuh72SKiN
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) December 26, 2025
The Wildcats tallied 4 takeaways, turning all of them into touchdowns. Redshirt junior Braden Turner notched two of the turnovers, together with a fumble restoration returned for a landing to open the second half. Northwestern totaled a season-high 5 sacks, its most in a recreation since Dec. 23, 2023, the Las Vegas Bowl in opposition to Utah. Central Michigan had simply 269 yards, the fewest by a Wildcat FBS opponent this season. Redshirt junior linebacker Braydon Brus logged a game-high 11 tackles.
With an interception, pressured fumble, and landing, Turner turned the primary Wildcat to publish these figures in a recreation since Sept. 1, 2012, when Chi Chi Ariguzo did so in opposition to Syracuse.
Returning to motion after lacking the ultimate two video games of the common season, graduate scholar defensive lineman Aidan Hubbard totaled three sacks, tying his career-high and setting a program file for sacks in a bowl recreation. Hubbard additionally turned considered one of 5 gamers in program historical past with a minimum of 20 profession sacks (20.5 profession sacks; fifth all time in program historical past).
“It was very frustrating missing those last two games of the season, but I just stayed the course, took it day by day, trying to get healthy, and coming here and playing with my teammates was special,” Hubbard mentioned.
Graduate scholar quarterback Preston Stone capped off his collegiate profession by throwing for 226 yards and three touchdowns, main Northwestern to 313 yards of complete offense.
“This has been one of the best years of my life,” Stone mentioned. “Couldn’t be more grateful for the way these guys have welcomed me as a new guy. Very thankful to Coach Braun and Coach Lujan for how much they’ve trusted me and how they gave me the keys to run this offense.”
Central Michigan reached the top zone and threatened to open the scoring early in the primary quarter, however a crucial sack by Hubbard on a 3rd down pressured the Chippewas right into a 43-yard discipline objective try that sailed large left.
Midway by way of the second quarter, the Wildcats started to take over the sport. Turner registered an interception to kickstart the offense’s drive contained in the 30-yard line. Stone capitalized on the advantageous discipline place, connecting with Wilde on a nook route for a 23-yard landing to take a 7-0 lead.
GOING WILDE ??
?? @espn pic.twitter.com/rOaCw9Axev
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) December 26, 2025
Northwestern pressured one other takeaway on Central Michigan’s first play on their subsequent drive, as Hubbard recorded a strip-sack that graduate scholar Carmine Bastone recovered on the Chippewas’ 25-yard line.
The Wildcats moved their manner deep into the redzone, however discovered themselves at 4th-and-goal from the two-yard line. Stone handed the ball off to redshirt sophomore operating again Caleb Komolafe, who ran up a gap in the center for his eleventh speeding landing of the season to provide Northwestern a 14-0 lead.
“This is the best o-line I’ve ever had,” Stone mentioned. “Not only are they disciplined, (but) they play for each other. They do the dirty work so guys like Griff, Caleb, and myself can have a party in the endzone. It’s an unbelievably special group.”
On the following Central Michigan offensive drive, Quarterback Joe Labas fumbled on a keeper on the primary play, and defensive lineman Michael Kilbane pounced on the ball to get better. Northwestern turned considered one of 10 groups since 2015 to drive a turnover on three straight performs in a recreation.
The very subsequent play, Stone discovered a wide-open graduate scholar tight finish Lawson Albright for a 23-yard landing to go up 21-0. All three Northwestern touchdowns got here inside simply over a three-minute stretch.
ALBRIGHT. END ZONE ??
?? @espn pic.twitter.com/FctWbveC3p
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) December 26, 2025
Early in the third quarter, Central Michigan quarterback Angel Flores fumbled the ball, which Turner scooped the ball up and maneuvered down the sector, going 44 yards for a landing to provide Northwestern a 27-0 lead.
With 2:31 remaining in the third quarter, Wilde scored his second landing of the day on an 11-yard go from Stone to increase the result in 34. The 92-yard drive spanned 10 performs and 5:23 of recreation clock.
“To see (Preston) walk away from college football, it’s definitely sad,” Wilde mentioned. “But to see him walk away as a winner, we’re really glad that we could do that for him and all the seniors.”
Midway by way of the fourth quarter, the Chippewas acquired on the board with a 3-yard passing landing.
Braun turned the primary head coach in program historical past to begin his profession 2-0 in bowl video games. He joins Pat Fitzgerald (2006-2022) as the one head coaches in program historical past to win a number of bowl video games. The third-year coach was fast to credit score his participant management for each the group’s success this season and for laying the inspiration for the years to return.
“Regardless of the outcome of this game, this group of seniors is leaving a legacy within this program that will have ripple effects for years to come,” Braun mentioned. “Part of the tangible legacy (is being the) eighth team in Northwestern football history to win a bowl championship.”