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RJ Day Commits to Northwestern, Chooses Chip Kelly

5/11/2026

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Summary

Story summary

RJ Day announced on May 10 2026 that he will join Northwestern for the 2027 class.
He is ranked No. 92 by 247Sports and holds school records of 5,714 passing yards and 54 touchdowns.
He chose Northwestern over offers from Purdue, Syracuse, Cincinnati, South Florida and Boston College and will play under coordinator Chip Kelly, who coached his father Ryan Day at New Hampshire and was Ohio State’s OC for 2024 title.

History

Historical Context

In 1995 Northwestern ended a 47-year bowl drought by appearing in the Rose Bowl after a 10-2 season and its first Big Ten title since 1936. Successive coaches, especially Pat Fitzgerald, added five straight bowl trips and a 2013 Gator Bowl victory, restoring national relevance. That legacy underpins the program’s current focus on rebuilding its quarterback pipeline and targeting a College Football Playoff spot.

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Story summary

RJ Day announced on May 10 2026 that he will join Northwestern for the 2027 class.
He is ranked No. 92 by 247Sports and holds school records of 5,714 passing yards and 54 touchdowns.
He chose Northwestern over offers from Purdue, Syracuse, Cincinnati, South Florida and Boston College and will play under coordinator Chip Kelly, who coached his father Ryan Day at New Hampshire and was Ohio State’s OC for 2024 title.

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