The Bowl Page
Created
10/11/00;
Updated
1/11/26

 






'Cats Tear into 2026 with a Six-Bowl Win Streak

With its win over Central Michigan in the 2025 GameAbove Sports Bowl, Northwestern has claimed victory in its last six bowl games, dating back to its win in the 2016 Pinstripe Bowl. NU's bowl streak is currently third in the nation, behind only Minnesota (with nine straight wins) and Ohio (with seven).

Coming into 2026, NU will be a new team-- and in many ways, a new program. The Wildcats have a nearly entirely new offensive coaching staff, led by Chip Kelly, and several new faces on the defensive side. They will be led on the field by a new quarterback, most likely incoming former Oregon / Michigan State QB Aidan Chiles. And, of course, the 'Cats are expected to open the new Ryan Field, setting the stage for the team's 150th anniversary to become Year One of the program's new era.

While there will be many new components to the team and quite a few question marks, NU should have a better than 50% chance of returning to the postseason this year to compete for its seventh-straight bowl win. HTP will post the traditional "way-too-early" projections in mid-April.