Dillo Day 2025: Northwestern Athlete Edition

There’s no way better way to celebrate Dillo than tenuous comparisons of the artists to Northwestern athletes.

In previous years, Inside NU has used the Friday before Dillo to put together a whole new festival lineup made up of Northwestern athletes — last year’s INU Dillo was headlined by the group “Triple” made up of Boo Buie, Ryan Langborg and Ty Berry.

Back in 2010, sportswriter Rodger Sherman and proud Inside NU alum (he wrote for the site back when it was still called “Sippin’ on Purple,” but we still claim him) took Dillo Friday to let his readers know that, “I’ve waited my entire life for a day it’s socially acceptable to know most of the lyrics to a lot of Nelly songs.”

This year, I’m opting to go with some artist-athlete comparisons fresh off Chris Collins, Brooks Barnhizer and Nick Martinelli’s rendition of “Take Me Out To the Ballgame” from Northwestern Day at Wrigley on Wednesday. Those guys can hoop, but they cannot sing.

Headliner: Natasha Bedingfield — Jalen Leach

Jalen Leach was a crucial piece for the 2024-25 Northwestern basketball team before he tore his ACL against USC, averaging 14.8 points per game on 44.8% shooting at a nearly 40% clip from three. The combo guard reps a jump shot as sweet as strawberry wine and a magnetism for big stages fitting of another small guard currently residing in New York.

But are you really happy if Leach is your number one option? No shade at all to No. 1. He was a stud before his injury who elevated all aspects of his game to make the transition from the MAAC to the Big Ten. Against Michigan in January, Leach was the best player on the floor, tamed only by Vladislav Goldin’s theatrics and some head-scratching officiating.

Yet Leach wasn’t even the leading man during his senior season at Fairfield — that was Caleb Fields, who scored more than Leach and took almost 100 more shots, while shouldering point guard duties for the 2023-24 Stags.

Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” is a blow-the-roof-off international anthem. “Pocketful of Sunshine” is a blast. And that’s kind of it? Most of the under-25 (and under-30, and under-35) crowd knows “These Words” better from the 2024 Badger remix than Bedingfield’s initial release back in 2004. “Love Like This” is likely the fourth and last song that any Northwestern student who’s not a Natasha Bedingfield super fan (do those even exist outside of Mayfest?!) had ever heard.

Main stage? 100% But the nighttime headliner? Leach — and Bedingfield — are better suited for that No. 2 slot. Supplementary pieces who know to clear out for Nick Martinellis and Brooks Barnhizers of the world to take the last shot.

Natasha Bedingfield (and I guess, Jalen Leach) doesn’t deserve this. “Unwritten” as the sun sets behind the main stage is the Dillo equivalent of Jalen Leach scoring 15 of Northwestern’s final 17 points to stave off an upset against Eastern Illinois. Bedingfield at the 8:15 p.m. slot would be up there with Leach, Scottie Pippen, Samwise Gamgee, Dwight Schrute and Keith Richards in the pantheon of great Robins.

Nighttime First Act: Ravyn Lenae — Kelsey Nader

Lenae’s hit “Love Me Not” made it big on TikTok, and the Northwestern outfielder has a penchant for viral moments herself. Nader’s resume of web gems is long — she’s featured on Sports Center’s Top Ten Plays at least twice every Spring.

Nader was massive for Northwestern in its series win against No. 8 UCLA that helped the ‘Cats sneak into the NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid, going 4-for-9 on the weekend while holding down the right side of the outfield.

I like Lenae to put together a similarly elite performance on a big stage.

Daytime headliner: BigXthaPlug — Aditi Foster

Northwestern lacrosse’s breakout first year is a fitting comparison for the XXL Magazine’s 2025 new artist of the year.

Foster came into the Big Ten Tournament with 6 total goals in her first 13 games of the season. She has scored four goals in Northwestern’s four postseason matchups, including the game-winner with 15 seconds left against Maryland to give the ‘Cats their third consecutive conference tournament title.

Big X’s single “All the Way” featuring Bailey Zimmerman peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and he has four platinum hits of his own. He may have Foster (10 goals, 4 assists) beat in the accolades department, but a Big Ten Tournament winning goals has to be worth at least one platinum single.

As an aside. If Big X enjoys his time in Evanston, it may be worth it for David Braun to give the 27-year-old a call. To the uninitiated, Big X is big in the same way that Lil Wayne is little.

X played a season of Division III college football and has the build to play offensive line in the Big Ten.

Festival Opener: Nimino — Anto Saka

Anto Saka garnered some high praise during draft season from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, who listed the junior edge rusher as a projected first round pick in a way-too-early 2026 mock draft. Saka’s numbers don’t jump off the page — though nine sacks in his first two seasons aren’t bad at all — but he’s got all the tools to be a game breaker for Northwestern in 2025.

Nimino is similarly on the edge of a breakout. Everybody’s saying that the UK based DJ’s 2024 hit “I Only Smoke When I Drink” is the house music equivalent of Saka’s tape in this year’s Maryland game.