In the last 10 years, NW has averaged 7.8 wins per year, ISU has averaged 4.5. In the same 10 years, Northwestern has had 13 guys play multiple years in the NFL, ISU 6. Their facilities have at least caught up, their coach is about as good as there is in college football and he's not going anywhere for a long time. Oh, and the degree from NW is priceless if the kid can handle it and they can be in the Chicagoland area at one of the more beautiful campuses in the country. So I get where some may think that's crazy talk, but NW is not some slack program nor would it be anything but a great choice for a recruit, especially one who fits their mold on the academic side.
Valid points. But have you ever been to Ryan Field? It's like Kingston Stadium (CR) with nicer foliage. Maybe playing in an actual college football stadium factored in.