EVANSTON, Ill. — The steel frame for Northwestern's new home stands out as a beacon of promise on the site of the old stadium. The sections filled in by concrete are more signs of progress.

A little more than a year after the school broke ground on a new Ryan Field, the framework for something special appears to be in place.

“It truly will be the best football venue in the country," coach David Braun said. "It won’t affect us in 2025. It’s certainly affecting our recruiting in a positive manner. But so much to look forward to in 2026.”

As for what Northwestern has to look forward to this year?

The Wildcats come into Braun's third season looking to bounce back after going from winning eight games in 2023 to finishing 4-8 last year and near the bottom of the Big Ten with a 2-7 mark. Only

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