Here is Northwestern's official depth chart for its season opener against Stanford. Notes below:
| Starter/1st String | Backup/2nd String | |
| Quarterback | Clayton Thorson | Zack Oliver OR Matt Alviti |
| Running Back | Justin Jackson | Warren Long |
| X-Receiver | Cameron Dickerson | Macan Wilson |
| Y-Receiver | Christian Jones | Stephen Buckley |
| Z-Receiver | Miles Shuler | Austin Carr |
| Superback | Dan Vitale | Garrett Dickerson |
| Left Tackle | Geoff Mogus | Adam DePietro |
| Left Guard | Ian Park | Connor Mahoney |
| Center | Brad North | J. |