College Football 27 dynasty · B1G

Northwestern Dynasty in CFB 27

Northwestern opens a College Football 27 dynasty with the 51st-rated projected lineup among 138 FBS teams (79 OVR). The strongest unit is cornerback (84.5, 25th); the weakest is defensive line (75.8, 92nd). 11 of the 22 projected starters are listed as seniors.

Ratings: “Freshmen Update 8/27/26” · updated Aug 31, 2026

Starter avg: 79; 51st of 138
Offense: 80.1; 46th nationally
Defense: 77.8; 63rd nationally
Senior starters: 11 / 22; listed as seniors

Where the roster stands

Unit ratings

Northwestern Wildcats unit ratings in College Football 27
Unit	Projected starters	Avg OVR	National rank
Quarterback1 starter · 4 on roster	Aidan Chiles 80	80	50th / 138
Running back1 starter · 6 on roster	Caleb Komolafe 86	86	35th / 138
Wide receiver3 starters · 10 on roster	Griffin Wilde 86, Hayden Eligon II 82, Drew Wagner 77	81.7	46th / 138
Tight end1 starter · 6 on roster	Blake Van Buren 74	74	87th / 138
Offensive line5 starters · 15 on roster	Ezomo Oratokhai 90, Jackson Carsello 80, Grant Seagren 78, Deuce McGuire 75, Idrys Cotton 73	79.2	39th / 138
Defensive line4 starters · 16 on roster	Michael Kilbane 82, Dominic Kirks 75, Mason Mayne 74, Caden O'Rourke 72	75.8	92nd / 138
Linebacker3 starters · 11 on roster	Kobie McKinzie 77, Braydon Brus 73, Jack Sadowsky V 72	74	82nd / 138
Cornerback2 starters · 7 on roster	Josh Fussell 86, Braden Turner 83	84.5	25th / 138
Safety2 starters · 7 on roster	Robert Fitzgerald 85, Damon Walters 77	81	37th / 138
Kicker1 starter · 2 on roster	Jackson Kleather 79	79	32nd / 138
Punter1 starter · 1 on roster	Niki Dugandzic 72	72	96th / 138

Projected starters are the highest-rated players at each position group: 1 QB, 1 HB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 5 OL, 4 DL, 3 LB, 2 CB and 2 S. Kickers and punters are not included in the starter average. This is our calculation from the roster ratings, not EA’s official team rating.

Year-one departures

Senior starters to replace

Northwestern Wildcats projected starters listed as seniors
Player	Pos	Class	Archetype	OVR
Aidan Chiles	QB	Sr.	Pocket Passer	80
Griffin Wilde	WR	Sr.	Speedster	86
Blake Van Buren	TE	Sr.	Vertical Threat	74
Jackson Carsello	C	Sr.	Pass Protector	80
Deuce McGuire	RT	Sr.	Raw Strength	75
Michael Kilbane	LE	Sr.	Power Rusher	82
Kobie McKinzie	MLB	Sr.	Thumper	77
Braydon Brus	ROLB	Sr.	Thumper	73
Jack Sadowsky V	MLB	Sr.	Thumper	72
Braden Turner	CB	Sr.	Field	83
Robert Fitzgerald	FS	Sr.	Box Specialist	85

Class year as listed on the College Football 27 roster. Redshirt status isn’t in the data, so a player listed as a senior may still have a season left.

Freshmen and sophomores

Young core

Highest-rated Northwestern Wildcats freshmen and sophomores
Player	Pos	Class	Archetype	OVR
Ezomo Oratokhai	LG	So.	Raw Strength	90
Noah Sur	K	Fr.	Power	79
Dominic Kirks	LE	So.	Pure Power	75
Marcus Romain	HB	Fr.	East/West Playmaker	74
Mason Mayne	DT	Fr.	Pure Power	74
Idrys Cotton	RG	So.	Agile	73
Braden Blueitt	WR	Fr.	Elusive Route Runner	72
Caden O'Rourke	RE	Fr.	Speed Rusher	72

Roster composition

Roster by class

Freshmans: 22
Sophomores: 20
Juniors: 18
Seniors: 25

Rivalry games

Northwestern rivalries

Northwestern Wildcats rivalries and all-time series records
Opponent	Rivalry	All-time series	First met	Streak
Notre Dame	Battle for the Shillelagh	Notre Dame leads 38–9	1889	L1
Illinois	Land of Lincoln TrophyLand of Lincoln	Illinois leads 60–55	1892	L2
Michigan	—	Michigan leads 61–15	1892	L9

Records to chase

Northwestern career records

All records

Full Northwestern CFB 27 roster Northwestern Wildcats team page

Sources & notes

EA Sports College Football 27 roster ratings — Ratings from “Freshmen Update 8/27/26” roster update, imported 2026-08-31 via Teamcrafters. Ratings change with each roster update.
EA Sports College Football 27 rivalry data — All-time series records as they ship in the game, before any dynasty games are played.

Last updated Aug 31, 2026.