Big Ten Daily (Dec. 24): Northwestern Caps Improbable Season With Bowl Win

After a 1-11 season in 2022, first-year coach David Braun led Northwestern to an eight-win season and a Las Vegas Bowl victory over Utah. It was one of the best stories of the 2023 college football season.

Northwestern was truly one of the most remarkable stories of the 2023 college football season. It seems only appropriate the Wildcats ended the year with a bowl win.

Ben Bryant connected with Bryce Kirtz on a 19-yard pass with just over six minutes to play in Saturday's SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, breaking a 7-7 tie and giving Northwestern a touchdown lead. That proved to be enough to propel the Wildcats to a 14-7 victory over Utah, finishing the year with an 8-5 record.

In the previous two seasons combined, Northwestern won a grand total of four games. David Braun arrived in Evanston without any previous FBS coaching experience — and was pushed into an interim role. 

Before the first kickoff of the campaign, a two-win year was thought to be a successful season in Evanston. That's probably why Braun celebrated the Las Vegas Bowl victory with this hilariously awesome "happy dance."

Have to tip your cap to David Braun and Northwestern.

From 1-11 to 8-5.
pic.twitter.com/oSbS5H21ea

— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) December 24, 2023

"I'm speechless," Braun said after the game. "So proud of these guys. So honored to have been a part of this with this group. I just told the guys in there, we can talk about eight wins, we can talk about one win to eight, we can talk about bowl victories, we can talk awards and accolades and All-Conference, whatever you want to talk about.

"One of the greatest lessons I was fortunate to learn in my time at North Dakota State was there's nothing more euphoric than winning a national championship and having that experience. That stuff is fleeting. Tonight is gonna be great. The next week is gonna be great. But at some point, that stuff is gonna fade. What doesn't fade is the way you remember your student-athlete experience."

This was, without question, one of the most unpredictable and improbable turnarounds for a college football team in 2023. The surprising success resulted in Braun winning Big Ten Coach of the Year honors and landing the full-time gig with the 'Cats.

None of us have a crystal ball. We can't forecast whether or not Braun's upcoming tenure in Evanston will be successful. Right now, it doesn't matter.

Northwestern has won division titles and played in a Rose Bowl. It's put together 10-win seasons. Yet the 2023 Wildcats might be one of the best stories in the program's history.

Ryan Day Talks Mizzou

Ohio State has no plans of just strolling into the Cotton Bowl Classic this year. Ryan Day knows his team has a tough task ahead, playing a 10-2 Missouri squad that emerged as one of the pleasant surprises in the SEC.

Earlier this week, Day was asked about the challenges the Tigers present on the field. The Buckeyes are going to have to be well prepared on both sides of the football.

“Their record speaks for itself in terms of losing two games,” Day said. “They’ve played complimentary football, run-pass on offense, put you in a lot of stress. On defense, same thing. They make you work it down the field, they have a strong front, a really good back end.

“They play really complimentary football and certainly won a bunch of games this year at a high level. Know how to win games, so it’s been great preparing for them and now we’ve got to continue to do that this week.”

Ohio State has not lost a non-College Football Playoff bowl game since the Orange Bowl after the 2013 season. The Buckeyes hope to keep that streak alive this year.

Jerry Kill Stepping Down

Jerry Kill, the former Minnesota coach and Rutgers offensive coordinator, is stepping down after two seasons as the head coach at New Mexico State. 

Kill found serious success with the Aggies in his short time with the program. Prior to his arrival, New Mexico State posted a 2-10 record in 2021. He quickly got the team into the postseason, finishing with a 7-6 record in 2022.

This year, the Aggies emerged as one of the better teams in the Group of Five level. They finished the year with a 10-5 record, defeated Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium and earned a trip to the Conference-USA Championship Game.

After expressing gratitude to New Mexico State's administration, the staff and fans, Kill explained his decision to step down in a statement.

"This year has been tremendously difficult for me and I gave it everything I had physically, mentally and emotionally," Kill said, per Colin Deaver of KTSM. "New Mexico State holds a special place in my heart as it marks the end of my journey as a head coach. 

"While I remain involved with the Aggies, I recognize the need for a head coach with a lot of energy. Good luck to Coach (Tony) Sanchez, the student-athletes and New Mexico State University."

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