There won’t be games, but still plenty of stuff to keep track of
It’s officially the offseason for Northwestern athletics. Most players and coaches will return home for an ample period of time, enjoying a much-deserved break after all the trials and tribulations of their respective seasons. However, just because the games have paused doesn’t mean sports topics are idle, as there’ll be plenty of news to keep die-hard ‘Cats fans engaged and excited for the upcoming year. Here are a few headlines to look out for over the summer.
Renovation Updates
Northwestern’s construction workers are preparing for the busiest summer of their lives as they hope to make significant progress on a variety of projects. The most talked-about is the remaking of Ryan Field, still anticipated to be completed in fall of 2026. Northwestern’s Rebuilding Ryan Field Website has provided weekly updates on the specific progress made, along with photos to showcase development. With fewer worries about inclement weather or Welsh-Ryan arena traffic near the stadium, expect the crew to get a bulk of their work done this summer and have plenty of updates coming our way.
Alongside Ryan Field, Sharon J. Drysdale Field— home of Northwestern softball — will begin a $20 million dollar renovation transforming the stadium into a larger and more modern venue (our own Tomas Moran broke it down here). Work will begin this offseason the initial demolition take place. Hopefully, just as with Ryan Field, Northwestern keeps us regularly updated on its progress.
Northwestern Football Media Days + Practice
For some sports, summer is for rest and recovery. But for Northwestern football, summer is a crucial period of time to ramp up and prep for the new season. Schedules are out and regular football practices will begin in late July. But before that, players and coaches will head to Las Vegas for the Big Ten’s annual Media Days session — the first time the conference is being held in Sin City. NU is slated to speak on July 23, the second day of the conference. It will be a prime chance to hear directly from coach David Braun and players about summer workouts, roster updates and insight into their mentality approaching the upcoming season. Aside from team-specific questions, coaches are also likely to voice their opinions on the college sports world at large, most notably the House v. NCAA settlement likely to nullify NIL deals and shake up large athletic programs prevalent within the Big Ten.
Baseball Summer Leagues
While baseball season won’t gear up again until 2026, multiple players are likely to participate in summer leagues across the nation. These games provide a key opportunity for NU athletes to not only hone and refine their skills, but also create an “audition tape.” These can be used not just to identify recruitment prospects, but also to help influence Ben Greenspan as he formulates and adjusts his roster to field the best group possible in 2026. Some of the most popular summer league spots include Northwoods League, New England League, California Collegiate League and the Cape Cod baseball league — all four having featured ‘Cats players last season. League play usually begins in mid or late June and Inside NU will keep viewers updated on notable accomplishments from ‘Cats players in those games.
Will Brooks Barnhizer get drafted?
The last time Northwestern had a basketball player get drafted in the NBA, Bill Clinton was still president. Evan Eschmeyer was selected in 1999, and Wildcat fans can only hope Barnhizer breaks the 26 year drought. While a season-ending foot injury seemingly hindered his chances, Barnhizer’s stock has been on the rise. He participated in the G League Elite camp and worked out for both the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings. Barnhizer earned a No. 85 spot on ESPN’s big draft board as they predict he’ll be on the outside looking in. However, some analysts are more optimistic about his chances, as the Atheltic’s Sam Vecenie has him at No. 45, predicting he’ll hear his named called during night two of the draft. While it’s only one opinion, it reflects growing interest from teams and proves that Barnhizer’s chances of ending the streak are very much alive. We’ll find out at the end of June.