Northwestern

Northwestern's offseason centers on one transformational move: bringing in Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator and pairing him with Michigan State transfer quarterback Aidan Chiles to completely reimagine the Wildcats' offensive identity. The Wildcats enter 2026 ranked 39th nationally with a +4.3 JP+ rating, driven by the nation's sixth-best special teams unit (+0.7) while the offense projects 46th (+1.6) and defense 62nd (+0.2) after a 6-6 campaign. Chiles headlines a portal class that added 151.8 PPA while losing just 24.5, with Florida State running back Gavin Sawchuk (33.3 PPA) and West Virginia quarterback Nicco Marchiol (23.0 PPA) providing additional depth after the departures of tight end Hunter Welcing to Ohio State and running back Dashun Reeder to UConn.

JP+ projects 5.6 wins for Northwestern, a number that could prove conservative if Kelly's system clicks immediately with Chiles running the show. The offense carries moderate continuity risk with significant quarterback turnover, but the defensive unit returns with stable continuity to anchor the squad while Kelly installs his schemes. Road trips to Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon represent the season's toughest tests, while home games against Rutgers, South Dakota State, and Ball State offer opportunities to build momentum. If Chiles adapts quickly to Kelly's system and the defense maintains last season's foundation, this ranking could look far too low by October.