Aidan Smith remains a known quantity in Northwestern QB lore, but not a 2026 on-field factor
Aidan Smith’s best-known Northwestern season was 2019, when he appeared in eight games with six starts and led the Wildcats with 760 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and 211 rushing yards, showing a dual-threat profile and enough poise to earn the job[5][13]. The big catch: current 2026 roster and depth-chart coverage points to Aidan Chiles as Northwestern’s starter, so Smith is not the quarterback driving the present-day Wildcats offense[8][10][11]. If you want an older, mobile QB who can create a little with his legs, Smith had that juice; if you need a current starter, this is not your guy right now[5][8].
