Northwestern (IL) FBS P5 : Big Ten AQ/P5

Location
Evanston

Spirit Name
Wildcats

Mascot
Willie

Stadium:
Ryan Field/FBS Rank 69th
Capacity: 47,130
Surface: Grass

Offense Data | Defense Data

University Snapshot

Year	Annual Record	Coach	Head Coach Record	Overall Record	Total Win Rank / Winning %	Returning Letterman	Returning Starters	Attendance
2010	8-5	Pat Fitzgerald	@ NW 27-23 / Winning Percentage 54.00	475-619-44 / Winning Percentage 43.67	Total Win Rk 84 Win % Rk 111	Total 48 Offense 24 Defense 23 S.T. 1	Offense 5 Defense 8	24,190 Decrease Rank 84
2010	7-6	Pat Fitzgerald	@ NW 34-29 / Winning Percentage 53.97	482-625-44 / Winning Percentage 43.79	Total Win Rk 83 Win % Rk 111	Total 55 Offense 24 Defense28 S.T. 3	Offense 7 Defense 6	36,449 Increase Rank 68
2011	6-7	Pat Fitzgerald	@ NW 40-36 / Winning Percentage 52.64	488-632-44 / Winning Percentage 43.81	Total Win Rk 82 Win % Rk 112	Total 56 Offense 26 Defense 28 S.T. 2	OffenseS 9* Defense 7	33,442 Decrease Rank 70
2012	10-3	Pat Fitzgerald	@ NW 50-39 / Winning Percentage 56.18	498-635-44 / Winning Percentage 44.18	Total Win Rk 82 Win % Rk 113	Total 58 Offense 29 Defense 25 S.T.4	Offense 5 Defense 5	35,697 Increase Rank 65
2013	5-7	Pat Fitzgerald	@ NW 55-46 / Winning Percentage 53.47	502-643-44 / Winning Percentage 44.07	Total Win Rk 84 Win % Rk 113	Total 54 Offense 27 Defense 23 S.T. 4	Offense 8* Defense 7	39,307 Increase Rank 63
2014	5-7	Pat Fitzgerald	@ NW 60-53 / Winning Percentage 52.21	507-650-44 / Winning Percentage 44.05	Total Win Rk 86 Win % Rk 115	Total 55 Offense 31 Defense 22 S.T. 2	Offense 9 Defense 8	38,613 Decrease Rank 59
2015	10-3	Pat Fitzgerald	@ NW 70-56 / Winning Percentage 55.12 RK 49	517-653-44 / Winning Percentage 44.40	Total Win Rk 83 Win % Rk 114	Total 62 Offense 29 Defense 28 S.T. 5	Offense 6 Defense 8	33,366 Decrease Rank 65
2016	7-6	Pat Fitzgerald	@ NW 77-62 / Winning Percentage 55.40 RK 59	524-659-44 / Winning Percentage 44.50	Total Win Rk 84 Win % Rk 113	Total 57 Offense 29 Defense 24 S T 4	Offense 6* Defense 6	34,798 Increase Rank 64
2017	10-3	Pat Fitzgerald	@ NW 87-65 / Winning Percentage 57.24 RK 55	534-662-44 / Winning Percentage 44.84	Total Win Rk 81 Win % Rk 113	Total 50 Offense 27 Defense 22 S T i	Offense 8* Defense 8	35,853 Increase Rank 63
2018	9-5	Pat Fitzgerald	@ NW 96-70 / Winning Percentage 57.83 RK 53	543-667-44 / Winning Percentage 45.06	Total Win Rk 80 Win % Rk 114	Total 61 Offense 33 Defense 26 ST 2	Offense 7* Defense 7	43,873 Increase Rank 46
2019	3-9	Pat Fitzgerald	@ NW 99-79 / Winning Percentage 55.62 RK 54	546-676-44 / Winning Percentage 44.87	Total Win Rk 82 Win % Rk 114	Total 66 Offense 30 Defense 32 ST 4	Offense 6 Defense 6	37,763 Decrease Rank 58
2020	7-2	Pat Fitzgerald	@ NW 106-81 / Winning Percentage 56.68 RK 47	553-678-44 / Winning Percentage 45.10	Total Win Rk 81 & Winning Percentage Rank 113	Total 73 Offense 36 Defense 33 ST 4	Offense 10* Defense 9	Covid-19
2021	3-9	Pat Fitzgerald	@ NW 109-90 / Winning Percentage 54.77 RK 58	556-687-44 / Winning Percentage 44.91	Total Win Rk 83 Win % Rk 113	Total 56 Offense 24 Defense 28 ST 4	Offense 4 Defense 4	30,679 Decrease Rank 68
2022	1-11	Pat Fitzgerald	@ NW 110-101 / Winning Percentage 52.13 RK	557-698-44 / Winning Percentage 44.57	Total Win Rk 85 Win % Rk 116	Total 43 Offense 24 Defense 19 S.T. 0	Offense 9 Defense 5	28,697 Decrease Rank 73
2023	8-5	David Braun	@ NW 8-5 / Winning Percentage 61.54 RK 36	565-703-44 / Winning Percentage 44.74	Total Win Rk 87 Win % Rk 117	Total 47 Offense 22 Defense 22 S.T. 3	Offense 4* Defense 8	23,257 Decrease Rank 87
2024	4-8	David Braun	@ NW 12-13 / Winning Percentage 48.00 RK 79	569-711-44 / Winning Percentage 44.64	Total Win Rk 90 Win % Rk 120	Total 45 Offense 17 Defense 22 S.T. 5	Offense 7 Defense 8	17,470 Decrease Rank 109
2025	7-6	David Braun	@ NW 19-19 / Winning Percentage 48.00 RK 71	569-711-44 / Winning Percentage 44.64	Total Win Rk 90 Win % Rk 120	Total 36 Offense 14 Defense 18 S.T. 4	Offense 7* Defense 8	TBD
2026	0-0
* = Returning Quarterback

Schedule (2026)

Season Year >

FBS P5 : Big Ten AQ/P5

View Conference Standings

Record 2026

Overall: W:0 L:0 T:0
Conf: W:0 L:0 T:0
Division: W:0 L:0 T:0

Game Date

Home VS Away

Score

Game Stats

Sep-05 2026

Northwestern (IL)
-VS-
South Dakota State

N/A

	Penalties	Rushing Yards	Passing Yards	Total Yards	Turnovers	3rd Down Attempts	3rd Down Coversions
Northwestern (IL)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
South Dakota State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
The Jackrabbits & Wildcats have not played a FB game, in their long histories / NW is an FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision), playing in the B!0) SDSU is a member of the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision), playing in the MVFC (missouriValley Football Conference) / The "Rabbits" have qualified for 14 straight FCS playoffs (3rd longest @ the FCS level) / NW opened with Tulane last year (in New Orleans) a really tuff opener, this year (2026), SDSU is a very dangereous opener,for the Cats!

BYE WEEK!

Sep-19 2026

Northwestern (IL)
-VS-
Colorado

N/A

	Penalties	Rushing Yards	Passing Yards	Total Yards	Turnovers	3rd Down Attempts	3rd Down Coversions
Northwestern (IL)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Colorado	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
NW & CO have played only twice (The series is tied at one apiece), The teamds 1st met in 1951, in Avenston, the Cats won, 35-14 / Did not meet again for 27 years, this time, in Boulder, the Golden Buffalos won, 55-7 / Co;orado now competes in the B12 and went where they went 3-9 in 2025 / Last played a B-10 team was in 2023, lost to Nebraska, 28-10, in Lincoln! / It should be noted, the Buffs won the National Championship in 1990!

Sep-26 2026

Indiana
-VS-
Northwestern (IL)

N/A

	Penalties	Rushing Yards	Passing Yards	Total Yards	Turnovers	3rd Down Attempts	3rd Down Coversions
Indiana	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Northwestern (IL)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
NW & IU have played one another in 84 FB games / NW leads the series, 47-36-1 / 1st played in 1899, The Cats won, 11-6, in Evanston / Last 10: (2003 thru 2024) NW has won 7 of 10 / Longest Win Streaks IU 9 straight (1985 thru 1993) NW 7 in a row (1959 thru 1965) / Largest MOV: Indiana 42 points (42-0 1990) Northwestern 30 (30-0 in 1975) Current Status IU has won 2 in row!

Oct-03 2026

Northwestern (IL)
-VS-
Penn State (PA)

N/A

	Penalties	Rushing Yards	Passing Yards	Total Yards	Turnovers	3rd Down Attempts	3rd Down Coversions
Northwestern (IL)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Penn State (PA)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Northwestern & Penn State have played 22 FB games / PSU leads the series, 16-6-0 / 1st played in 1993, the Nittany Lions won won, 43-21, in Evanston, IL / Last 10: (2009 thru 2025) PSU has won 7 of the 10 games / Longest Win Streak Penn State 6 straight wins (2005 thru 2012) NW 2 in a row, (2005 thru 2012) / Largest Margin of Victory (MOV): PSU 49 points (49-0 in 2002) Northwestern 23 points (29-6 in 2014) / Last Played: NW won, 22-21 in 2025

Oct-10 2026

Northwestern (IL)
-VS-
Ball State (IN)

N/A

	Penalties	Rushing Yards	Passing Yards	Total Yards	Turnovers	3rd Down Attempts	3rd Down Coversions
Northwestern (IL)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ball State (IN)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
NW and Ball State have played only once / The Cats beat the Cardinals, 24-19, in 2015, @ Home (Evanston, IL) / Ball State plays in the MAC / Last year (2025) the Cardinals went 4-8, lost to 2 P4 (or P$) programs, Purdue, 31-0 & Auburn, 42-3!

Oct-17 2026

Michigan State
-VS-
Northwestern (IL)

N/A

	Penalties	Rushing Yards	Passing Yards	Total Yards	Turnovers	3rd Down Attempts	3rd Down Coversions
Michigan State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Northwestern (IL)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
The Wildcats & Spartans have played a total of 60 FB games / MSU leads the series, 40-20-0 / 1st played in 1905, the Cats won, 37-11, in Evanston, IL / Last 10 Games: (2010 thru 2021) MSU has won 6 of 10 / Longest win Streak: MSU 11 Straight (1959 thru 1969) Northwestern 3 in a row (1905 thru 1924) / Largest Margin of Victory (MOV) MI State 62 (76-14 in 1989) NW 35 points (49-14 in 2005) / Last played in 2021, MSU won, 38-21 in Evanston, IL

Oct-24 2026

Northwestern (IL)
-VS-
Rutgers (NJ)

N/A

	Penalties	Rushing Yards	Passing Yards	Total Yards	Turnovers	3rd Down Attempts	3rd Down Coversions
Northwestern (IL)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Rutgers (NJ)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
The Wildcats & Scarlet Knights have-got-it on on 6 occasions / The Knights lead the series, 4-2-0 / 1st played in 1919, in Newark, NJ, Rutgers won the game, 28-0 / Last played in 2023, Rutges won, 24-7, in Pascataway, NJ / Longest Win Streak Knights 3 straight (1919 thry 1991), Cats 2 in a row (2018 thru 2021)

Oct-31 2026

Oregon
-VS-
Northwestern (IL)

N/A

	Penalties	Rushing Yards	Passing Yards	Total Yards	Turnovers	3rd Down Attempts	3rd Down Coversions
Oregon	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Northwestern (IL)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
The Ducks & the Wildcats have met on only 2 occasions / The series is tied @ 1 win apiece / 1st Played in 1974, NW won 14-10, in Evanston, IL / Last played in 2025, OR won, 34-14, again, in Evanston, IL / Last year (2025) the Ducks (13-2) made the CFP, falling to eventual CFP Champion Indiana, 56-22 / NW (7-6 in 2025) won the GameAbove Sports Bowl (Detroit, MI) beating Central Michigan, 34-7

Nov-07 2026

Northwestern (IL)
-VS-
Iowa

N/A

	Penalties	Rushing Yards	Passing Yards	Total Yards	Turnovers	3rd Down Attempts	3rd Down Coversions
Northwestern (IL)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Iowa	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Iowa & Northwestern have met on the Gridiron in 86 FB games / Iowa leads the series, 55-28-3 / 1st played in 1897, the Hawks won, 12-6, in Evanston, IL / Lat 10: IA has won 6 of the last 10 (2015 thru 2024) / Longest win streaks: Iowa has won 21 in a row (1974 thru 1994) NW 4 wins (1926 thru 1932) / MOV: Iowa 72 points (78-6, 1913) NW's 38 points (44-6, 1932) / Last played in 2024, Iowa won, 40-14!

Nov-14 2026

Ohio State
-VS-
Northwestern (IL)

N/A

	Penalties	Rushing Yards	Passing Yards	Total Yards	Turnovers	3rd Down Attempts	3rd Down Coversions
Ohio State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Northwestern (IL)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
The Wildcats & Buckeyes have kicked-it-off on 81 occasions / The Bucks lead the series, 66-14-1 / 1st played in 1913, OS won, 58-0, in Columbus, OH / Last 10: (2006 thru 2024) OSU has won 10 of 10 / Longest win Streak; OSU 24 straight (1972 thru 2003) NW 3 wins in a row, (1929 thru 1931) Largest MOV: OSU 64 points (70-6 in 1981) NW 21 points (21-0 in 1958) ?last played: OSU won, 31-7 (2024) in Evanston, IL

Nov-21 2026

Minnesota
-VS-
Northwestern (IL)

N/A

	Penalties	Rushing Yards	Passing Yards	Total Yards	Turnovers	3rd Down Attempts	3rd Down Coversions
Minnesota	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Northwestern (IL)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
The Northwestern Wildcate & Minnesota Golden Gophers have-got-it on 99 times / Minnesota leads the series, 56-38-5 / 1st played in 1892, MN won, 18-12, in Minneapolis, MN / Last 1o Games (2014 thru 2025) the Cats & Goohers have split the 10 games @ 5 apiece / Longest Win Streak: Minnesota 7 straight wins (1975 thru 1981) NW 3 in a row (1982 thru 1984) Largest Margin of Victory (MOV) MN 66 points (72-6 in 1905) Northwestern 39 (39-0 in 1917) / This years game (2026) will mark the 100th meeting between these teams

Nov-28 2026

Northwestern (IL)
-VS-
Illinois

N/A

	Penalties	Rushing Yards	Passing Yards	Total Yards	Turnovers	3rd Down Attempts	3rd Down Coversions
Northwestern (IL)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Illinois	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
The Cats & Illinois have played 119 times / Illinois lead the series, 59-55-5 / 1st met in 1892, played to a 16-16 tie & tied again in their next meeting, 0-0, in 1893 / Finally, a winner, in 1894, the Fighting Illini won 66-0 (in Champaign) / Last 10: (2016 thru 2025) NW has won 6 of 10 / Longest win streak: IL 7 wins (1913 thru 1928) NW 6 wins (2015 thru 2020) / Largest Margin of Victory (MOV) U of I 66 points (66-0 in 1894), NW 48 (48-0 in 1970) / Current status: ILlinois has won the last 2 games!