Northwestern football's push to be competitive, financially, in the Big Ten received an adrenaline shot, as the school announced Tuesday that the program received a commitment to a $35 million football-focused gift over the next three years. The gift comes from the family of Liz and Dick Uihlein, and the donation is intended for holistic football success - including recruiting support and broader program needs - as the school enters a "new era."

The move comes at a time when Northwestern has been attempting to catch up financially to its Big Ten peers with a flurry of significant moves. The school is set to debut, this fall, the New Ryan Field, a state-of-the-art stadium that cost more than $850 million. That was privately funded through the Ryan family.

Northwestern has had one winning record in the Big Ten since 2020, which came in coach David Braun's first season in 2023. The school also hired Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator. A gift this large, specifically for football, is rare in college sports. Northwestern President Mung Chiang pointed out that Northwestern is the only school in the SEC or Big Ten that's also a Top 10 ranked university.