UCLA is just weeks away from starting its second season in the Big Ten. After capturing seven Big Ten championships during their first year in the conference, the Bruins will look to build upon their inaugural year. Prior to the start of UCLA’s second Big Ten campaign, Daily Bruin sports will preview football, basketball and other top programs from each school.

Football
2024 Record: 4-8, 2-7 Big Ten
Coach: David Braun
Player to watch: Preston Stone

A team’s success often depends on its quarterback.

And Northwestern football has struggled to find a reliable offensive orchestrator.

A Wildcat quarterback has not eclipsed 2,000 passing yards since Clayton Thorson posted 3,183 passing yards to help capture a Big Ten West title and clinch a conference championship appearance in 2018.

With the departure of former Wildcat quarterback Jack Lausch – leaving the program to pursue baseball – the team’s air attack issues could persist. Lausch started in the Wildcats’ 10 conference games last season, amassing 1,714 passing yards and just seven passing touchdowns.

Third-year head coach David Braun addressed Lausch’s departure through the transfer portal, acquiring field generals Gavin Frakes and Preston Stone from Virginia and Southern Methodist, respectively.

And the latter is set to take the mantle from Lausch, according to Braun.

The rising senior brings a wealth of experience with him. Stone held the Mustangs’ starting title during the 2023 season, recording 28 passing touchdowns compared to just six interceptions and accruing 3,197 air yards.

He only started the first game of SMU’s 2024 campaign, however, before rising sophomore Kevin Jennings assumed the starring role.

Nonetheless, Stone has proven he can help lead a squad to double-digit wins, contributing to the Mustangs’ 11-win season two years ago – but he will need receiving weapons to achieve the same success again.

Northwestern is losing its two leading receivers from last season in graduates A.J. Henning and Bryce Kirtz.

Braun nabbed transfer receivers Griffin Wilde and Chase Farrell in the portal to account for the two departures.

Wilde played at South Dakota State for the past two years. The rising junior flashed his deep-threat and run-after-catch ability, boasting 16.4 yards per reception while eclipsing the 1,000-yard receiving mark last season.

Farrell – California’s No. 6 wideout in the 2024 recruiting class – was redshirted in his freshman season at Stanford but could carve a larger role for himself at Northwestern.

But defense often comprises a team’s backbone, and the middle linebacker is the unit’s own quarterback.

Linebacker Mac Uihlein is returning for his final year in Evanston. The All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection sported a team-leading 84 tackles, along with two sacks and one forced fumble last season.

Purdue transfer Yanni Karlaftis – younger brother of Kansas City Chiefs edge rusher George Karlaftis – is set to join forces with Uihlein next season. The rising senior boasted consecutive 50-plus tackle seasons for the Boilermakers and could join a linebacker tandem that stifles opposing rushing attacks.

The Wildcats may become a conference dark horse if quarterbacks on both sides of the gridiron shine. Led by Braun, who captured the Big Ten Coach of the Year award after helping the program achieve an 8-5 record and a bowl game victory his debut season at the helm, Northwestern has the tools to threaten conference contenders.

Men’s Basketball
2024 record: 17-16, 7-13 Big Ten
Coach: Chris Collins
Player to watch: Nick Martinelli

Regression is part of development – and learning from failure is invaluable.

Many would consider Northwestern men’s basketball’s 2024 campaign a failure, especially after clinching back-to-back trips to the NCAA tournament the seasons prior.

The squad struggled to compete in an unrelenting conference despite holding opponents to the fourth-fewest points per game in the Big Ten – surrendering just 69.2 per contest.

Inconsistent scoring was the squad’s glaring weakness last season, even with rising senior forward Nick Martinelli leading the Big Ten in points scored.

Former Wildcat forward Brooks Barnhizer was the squad’s second scoring option and the only other player who recorded over 15 points per game.

But the backcourt faltered offensively. Ty Berry was the unit’s sole double-digit scorer, lodging 10.6 points per game. Still, the recent graduate shot just 39.9% from the field, contributing to the squad’s 44.1% team clip – tied for the lowest mark in the Big Ten.

Guards Justin Mullins, Jordan Clayton and K.J. Windham complemented Berry, but each struggled from long-range, combining to shoot just 29.4% from beyond the arc.

Coach Chris Collins prioritized perimeter play in the transfer portal to help bolster the backcourt unit, adding guards Max Green and Jayden Reid to the mix.

Green, a Holy Cross transfer, sported a 38.0% three-point field goal percentage last season and a team-leading 14.9 points per game during his first collegiate campaign.

But Green still brings more to the table.

The rising sophomore also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest – good for second and third highest on the team, srespectively.

Reid completed two seasons at South Florida, hitting nylon on 39.1% of his three-point field goal attempts across both seasons. The primary point guard also showcased his facilitating and defensive skillsets, notching 3.6 assists along with 1.8 steals per affair last season.

Versatility is necessary for elite guard play, and the two incoming backcourt pieces could elevate the unit heading into next season.

With the all-around production that 2022-2023 Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year Chase Audige and 2023-2024 unanimous All Big Ten First Team honoree Boo Buie boasted during their collective stint – helping lead the team to two NCAA tournament berths – the Wildcats may boast guards that mirror the duo’s prowess heading into the 2025-2026 campaign. And the revamped backcourt along with the stalwart Martinelli could spark the squad’s March Madness return.

Women’s Basketball
Record: 9-18, 2-16 Big Ten
Coach: Joe McKeown
Player to watch: Grace Sullivan

A last dance is always special.

Whether it is bidding farewell to a loved one or mounting the ultimate championship push, the final act typically offers a bittersweet sense of closure.

Northwestern women’s basketball coach Joe McKeown recently announced his retirement after the 2025-2026 season – his 18th year helming the program.

McKeown reached the NCAA tournament just twice throughout his Northwestern tenure, clinching bids in 2015 and 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic struck down what could have been the Wildcats’ strongest season, as McKeown helped capture a program-high 26 wins during the shortened 2019-2020 campaign. The squad had an opportunity to not only hoist a Big Ten championship – but even a national championship.

Yet, the head honcho has failed to reach the March Madness in the last four seasons.

Northwestern’s streak could reach five after the departures of the team’s three leading scorers – forwards Caileigh Walsh and Taylor Williams, alongside guard Melannie Daley, graduated in June. Williams was arguably the team’s most valuable asset, averaging a near double-double while recording a team-leading 9.4 rebounds per affair.

Forward Grace Sullivan represents the Wildcats’ only returning double-digit scorer from last season. Four other frontcourt players will remain on the roster beside Sullivan, with Tayla Thomas – the No. 56 overall recruit in the 2024 Class – Crystal Fuqu Wang, Lauren Trumpy and Rachel Mutombo expected to occupy larger roles.

The Wildcats also added Texas Christian transfer DaiJa Turner to bolster the frontcourt unit. The rising redshirt senior only played 17 minutes last season, but she will likely play alongside Sullivan to complete the starting frontcourt.

Although guard Caroline Lau posted a career-low 4.9 points per game on a 28.1 shooting clip, the Westport, Connecticut, local improved as a playmaker, leading the team with 6.0 assists per contest – which also ranked 10th-most in the nation – while amassing four double-digit assist performances last season.

But shooting is an issue McKeown sought to address – especially with the team’s conference-low 28.6% long-range shooting percentage during the 2024-2025 campaign.

And the backcourt is welcoming transfer Tate Walters, Furman’s 2024-2025 scoring leader who notched 12.5 points per contest. The graduate student sported a 37.3 three-point shooting clip during her sophomore season, but she has yet to eclipse a 35% mark after suffering a torn achilles tendon before the 2022-2023 season.

Questions surround Northwestern’s legitimacy next season – but a last dance can always fuel a surprise run.

And McKeown boasts more than 40 years of coaching experience that could help ignite some final-act magic.

Field Hockey

Record: 23-1, 8-0 Big Ten, NCAA champions
Coach: Tracey Fuchs
Player to watch: Ashley Sessa

A program’s development into a national powerhouse takes time – after all, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

And conquering the national arena has been years in the making for Tracey Fuchs

Northwestern field hockey’s head honcho took the reins in 2009 and didn’t capture a national championship until 2021, when the squad defeated Liberty to claim its first title in program history.

The Wildcats have reached the championship contest in four straight seasons and hoisted their second trophy last fall.

Forward Ashley Sessa spearheaded Northwestern’s offense during the 2024 campaign, notching a team-leading 24 goals. The Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year also helped orchestrate the attack with her squad-high 19 assists.

Yet, Northwestern is losing valuable production with the departures of midfielder Maddie Zimmer and goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz.

Zimmer patrolled the entire field, using her speed to help stymy opposing attacks while helping solidify Northwestern’s offense. The Big Ten Player of the Year recorded the squad’s second-most points, notching 32 last fall.

Skubisz’s .854 save percentage marked a nation-high, and her .596 goals against average ranked second-best in the nation.

But the Wildcats may have enough reserves to replenish their roster.

Backer/midfielder Ilse Tromp seems poised to become the squad’s go-to option in the middle of the pitch, recording just three points shy of Zimmer during the Dutchwoman’s second campaign.

Inside the shooting circle, Faye Post will take Skubisz’s starting goalkeeper spot. Post played just 30 minutes last season, recording one save along with one goal – but she was a high school standout. The Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania, local blocked 173 attempts while sporting a .983 save percentage during her final high school season.

The Wildcats may have some new faces off the bench next fall, but they still brandish the star power and depth to achieve another national title.

And a third trophy across just five seasons could cement Northwestern’s dynasty.