Northwestern head coach David Braun met with the media this week to preview his team’s game against Indiana.
Below are his comments and responses to questions about the Hoosiers.
Now in his fourth year in Evanston, Braun is 21-19 overall, and 11-16 in league play.
No. 4/5 Indiana (3-0) and Northwestern (2-0) kick at 8 p.m. ET Friday in Bloomington (FOX).
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General thoughts on playing Indiana…
“We have an incredible challenge in front of us and also an incredible opportunity. The job that Coach Cignetti has done at Indiana—that staff and that group of players—I would argue is probably the most remarkable and impressive turnaround in all of college football history.
“For them to go win a national championship last year shows up tangibly on tape. These guys are well-coached and very talented. I am not just referring to last year’s team; I am referring to the tape that Indiana has put out there the first three weeks. Quarterback play is at an extremely high level. You can just tell that these guys have a certain way of going about their day-to-day. There is a standard, a level of excellence, and a level of expectation.
“There is no doubt that this football team, as talented as they are on the perimeter and as effective as they have been at the quarterback position for three years now, starts up front. It begins with their offensive line and their defensive line. This offensive line is a veteran group, and that is where it starts for them offensively. On the front seven of the defensive line, they are multiple, talented, and aggressive. The numbers do not lie in terms of what they have been able to do against rushing attacks these last two seasons.
“It presents an incredible challenge for us, especially going on the road on a Friday night. These are all things that we have addressed as a program. You can give a long laundry list of reasons why this is challenging, or come up with explanations or excuses, but all that goes out the window. We have to focus on taking it one moment at a time, one day at a time, and control what we can control—and that is our preparation. I am really proud of the way that our team has approached that over the course of the last 24 hours. I am excited to see how this group is going to handle a hostile environment on the road.”
Comparing 2024 Indiana to 2026 Indiana…
(Note: Indiana defeated Northwestern 41-24 on Oct. 5, 2024)
“Obviously, some of the personnel has changed. I think there is a certain level of confidence within the group and continuity. I know Coach Cignetti has had that staff together for a long time, and there were a lot of players initially who had come with him from JMU. However, you can tell that this group has been at it for three years. They have won a lot of big games, a Big Ten championship, and a national championship. There is just a certain level of confidence that they move with.
“That team back in 2024 may have surprised some people, but when you turned on the tape and evaluated objectively, holy smokes, these guys were really good. What has been very evident year in and year out offensively—and I do not want to diminish the talent in the backfield or in the wide receiver rooms because they have certainly had that throughout—starts up front with the offensive line play and really sound decision-making from the quarterback position.
“On the defensive side of the ball, they are very aggressive, very sound, and very multiple. You cannot leave out special teams play. They blocked a punt in the national championship game last year when they were in safe. They are sound, aggressive, bought in, and a program. It is not a bunch of individuals; it is a team. We all know those are the most difficult opponents to face.”
What can Northwestern learn about Indiana winning a national title?
“The biggest lesson you can learn is that it can be done. You can also learn that this is still the ultimate team game in a world where human nature naturally focuses on ourselves, especially in this new era. If you are not careful, you can suddenly bring together a group of people who are just worried about their own self-interest. This game is won through brotherhood and a level of commitment to something bigger than self. You do not win a national championship without having a group of people who are fully bought into that. There are a lot of lessons there, but it starts with a mentality of, “Why not us?”
On Indiana’s offensive tendencies…
“It is about studying what you have seen on tape and understanding the elements out of the shotgun. Is there a threat of a quarterback run game? Yes or no? Certainly out of the gun there always is, but how much are they willing to utilize that? It is about understanding how they want to attack you out of the RPO. Then, if they do get under center, why are they getting under center?
“You start asking those questions so you are ready to adjust when that shows up. Over the course of these last three games, you can fall into the trap of recency bias, thinking this is exactly who they are on offense with this new quarterback. But what do they have in their back pocket that they haven’t shown yet? There is a balance there. You do not want to start chasing ghosts, but at the same time, you want to make sure that you have your team really well prepared. There is no one better in the country than (defensive coordinator) Tim McGarigle to make sure that we are just that.”
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