List of Northwestern Wildcats football seasons
This is a list of seasons completed by the Northwestern Wildcats football team of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Since the team's creation in 1882, the Wildcats have participated in more than 1,100 officially sanctioned games, including 9 bowl games.
Northwestern originally competed as a football independent. As one of the founding members, Northwestern joined the Big Ten conference, then known as the Western Conference, in 1896, where it has been a member ever since.
The Wildcats have experienced futility for much of its existence. The team has several winless seasons, including setting an NCAA Division I record for consecutive losses when it lost 34 straight games from 1979 to 1982.[1][2] The Wildcats went 64 years without winning a bowl game after the 1949 Rose Bowl. Northwestern has also experienced success, winning eight conference titles.[2]
Seasons[]
Year | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent (1882–1890) | |||||||||
1882 | No coach | 1–1 | |||||||
1886 | No coach | 0–1 | |||||||
1888 | No coach | 2–1 | |||||||
1889 | No coach | 2–2 | |||||||
1890 | No coach | 4–1–1 | |||||||
Knowlton Ames (Independent) (1891–1892) | |||||||||
1891 | Knowlton Ames | 2–2–3 | |||||||
1892 | Knowlton Ames | 5–3–2 | |||||||
Paul Noyes (Independent) (1893) | |||||||||
1893 | Paul Noyes | 2–5–3 | |||||||
A. A. Ewing (Independent) (1894) | |||||||||
1894 | A. A. Ewing | 4–5 | |||||||
Alvin Culver (Independent) (1895) | |||||||||
1895 | Alvin Culver | 6–5 | |||||||
Alvin Culver (Western Conference) (1896) | |||||||||
1896 | Alvin Culver | 6–1–2 | 2–1–1 | 3rd | |||||
Jesse Van Doozer (Western Conference) (1897) | |||||||||
1897 | Jesse Van Doozer | 5–3 | 0–2 | 6th | |||||
W. H. Bannard (Western Conference) (1898) | |||||||||
1898 | W. H. Bannard | 9–4–1 | 0–4 | 7th | |||||
Charles Hollister (Western Conference) (1899–1902) | |||||||||
1899 | Charles Hollister | 7–6 | 2–2 | 3rd | |||||
1900 | Charles Hollister | 7–2–3 | 2–1–2 | 5th | |||||
1901 | Charles Hollister | 8–2–1 | 3–2 | 5th | |||||
1902 | Charles Hollister | 6–6 | 0–4 | T–8th | |||||
Walter McCornack (Western Conference) (1903–1905) | |||||||||
1903 | Walter McCornack | 10–1–3 | 1–0–2 | T–1st | |||||
1904 | Walter McCornack | 8–2 | 1–2 | T–5th | |||||
1905 | Walter McCornack | 8–2–1 | 0—2 | T–7th | |||||
Alton Johnson (Western Conference) (1908) | |||||||||
1908 | Alton Johnson | 2–2 | 0–2 | T–7th | |||||
Bill Horr (Western Conference) (1908) | |||||||||
1909 | Bill Horr | 1–3–1 | 1–3 | T–5th | |||||
Charles Hammett (Western Conference) (1910–1912) | |||||||||
1910 | Charles Hammett | 1–3–1 | 1–2–1 | T–6th | |||||
1911 | Charles Hammett | 3–4 | 1–4 | 7th | |||||
1912 | Charles Hammett | 2–3–1 | 2–3 | 5th | |||||
Dennis Grady (Western Conference) (1913) | |||||||||
1913 | Dennis Grady | 1–6 | 0–6 | 9th | |||||
Fred Murphy (Western Conference) (1914–1918) | |||||||||
1914 | Fred Murphy | 1–6 | 0–6 | 9th | |||||
1915 | Fred Murphy | 2–5 | 0–5 | 9th | |||||
1916 | Fred Murphy | 6–1 | 4–1 | 2nd | |||||
1917 | Fred Murphy | 5–2 | 3–2 | T–3rd | |||||
1918 | Fred Murphy | 2–2–1 | 1–1 | 6th | |||||
Charlie Bachman (Western Conference) (1919) | |||||||||
1919 | Charlie Bachman | 2–5 | 1–4 | T–7th | |||||
Elmer McDevitt (Western Conference) (1920–1921) | |||||||||
1920 | Elmer McDevitt | 3–4 | 2–3 | 7th | |||||
1921 | Elmer McDevitt | 1–6 | 0–5 | 10th | |||||
Glenn Thistlethwaite (Western Conference) (1922–1926) | |||||||||
1922 | Glenn Thistlethwaite | 3–3–1 | 1–3–1 | 8th | |||||
1923 | Glenn Thistlethwaite | 2–6 | 0–6 | 10th | |||||
1924 | Glenn Thistlethwaite | 4–4 | 1–3 | T–8th | |||||
1925 | Glenn Thistlethwaite | 5–3 | 3–1 | 2nd | |||||
1926 | Glenn Thistlethwaite | 7–1 | 5–0 | T–1st | |||||
Dick Hanley (Western Conference) (1927–1934) | |||||||||
1927 | Dick Hanley | 4–4 | 2–3 | T–6th | |||||
1928 | Dick Hanley | 5–3 | 2–3 | T–7th | |||||
1929 | Dick Hanley | 6–3 | 3–2 | T–3rd | |||||
1930 | Dick Hanley | 7–1 | 5–0 | T–1st | |||||
1931 | Dick Hanley | 7–1–1 | 5–1 | T–1st | |||||
1932 | Dick Hanley | 3–4–1 | 2–3–1 | 5th | |||||
1933 | Dick Hanley | 1–5–2 | 1–4–1 | 7th | |||||
1934 | Dick Hanley | 3–5 | 2–3 | T–5th | |||||
Pappy Waldorf (Western Conference) (1935–1946) | |||||||||
1935 | Pappy Waldorf | 4–3–1 | 2–3–1 | 5th | |||||
1936 | Pappy Waldorf | 7–1 | 6–0 | 1st | 7 | ||||
1937 | Pappy Waldorf | 4–4 | 3–3 | T–4th | |||||
1938 | Pappy Waldorf | 4–2–2 | 2–1–2 | 4th | 17 | ||||
1939 | Pappy Waldorf | 3–4–1 | 3–2–1 | 5th | |||||
1940 | Pappy Waldorf | 6–2 | 4–2 | 3rd | 8 | ||||
1941 | Pappy Waldorf | 5–3 | 4–2 | 4th | 11 | ||||
1942 | Pappy Waldorf | 1–9 | 0–6 | 9th | |||||
1943 | Pappy Waldorf | 6–2 | 5–1 | 3rd | 9 | ||||
1944 | Pappy Waldorf | 1–7–1 | 0–5–1 | 8th | |||||
1945 | Pappy Waldorf | 4–4–1 | 3–3–1 | 4th | |||||
1946 | Pappy Waldorf | 4–4–1 | 2–3–1 | T–6th | |||||
Robert Voigts (Western Conference) (1947–1952) | |||||||||
1947 | Robert Voigts | 3–6 | 2–4 | 8th | |||||
1948 | Robert Voigts | 8–2 | 5–1 | 2nd | W Rose | 7 | |||
1949 | Robert Voigts | 4–5 | 3–4 | 7th | |||||
1950 | Robert Voigts | 6–3 | 3–3 | 5th | |||||
1951 | Robert Voigts | 5–4 | 2–4 | 6th | |||||
1952 | Robert Voigts | 2–6–1 | 2—5 | T–6th | |||||
Robert Voigts (Big Ten Conference) (1953–1954) | |||||||||
1953 | Robert Voigts | 3–6 | 0–6 | 10th | |||||
1954 | Robert Voigts | 2–7 | 1–5 | T–8th | |||||
Lou Saban (Big Ten Conference) (1955) | |||||||||
1955 | Lou Saban | 0–8–1 | 0–6–1 | 10th | |||||
Ara Parseghian (Big Ten Conference) (1956–1963) | |||||||||
1956 | Ara Parseghian | 4–4–1 | 3–3–1 | 6th | |||||
1957 | Ara Parseghian | 0–9 | 0–7 | 10th | |||||
1958 | Ara Parseghian | 5–4 | 3–4 | 7th | 17 | ||||
1959 | Ara Parseghian | 6–3 | 4–3 | 5th | |||||
1960 | Ara Parseghian | 5–4 | 3–4 | T–5th | |||||
1961 | Ara Parseghian | 4–5 | 2–4 | T–8th | |||||
1962 | Ara Parseghian | 7–2 | 4–2 | T–3rd | 16 | ||||
1963 | Ara Parseghian | 5–4 | 3–4 | T–5th | |||||
Alex Agase (Big Ten Conference) (1964–1972) | |||||||||
1964 | Alex Agase | 3–6 | 2–5 | T–7th | |||||
1965 | Alex Agase | 4–6 | 3–4 | 6th | |||||
1966 | Alex Agase | 3–6–1 | 2–4–1 | T–7th | |||||
1967 | Alex Agase | 3–7 | 2–5 | 8th | |||||
1968 | Alex Agase | 1–9 | 1–6 | T–8th | |||||
1969 | Alex Agase | 3–7 | 3–4 | T–5th | |||||
1970 | Alex Agase | 6–4 | 6–1 | T–2nd | |||||
1971 | Alex Agase | 7–4 | 6–3 | 2nd | |||||
1972 | Alex Agase | 2–9 | 1–8 | 10th | |||||
John Pont (Big Ten Conference) (1973–1977) | |||||||||
1973 | John Pont | 4–7 | 4–4 | T–4th | |||||
1974 | John Pont | 3–8 | 2–6 | T–7th | |||||
1975 | John Pont | 3–8 | 2–6 | 9th | |||||
1976 | John Pont | 1–10 | 1–7 | 10th | |||||
1977 | John Pont | 1–10 | 1–8 | 10th | |||||
Rick Venturi (Big Ten Conference) (1978–1980) | |||||||||
1978 | Rick Venturi | 0–10–1 | 0–8–1 | 10th | |||||
1979 | Rick Venturi | 1–10 | 0–9 | 10th | |||||
1980 | Rick Venturi | 0–11 | 0–9 | 10th | |||||
Dennis Green (Big Ten Conference) (1981–1985) | |||||||||
1981 | Dennis Green | 0–11 | 0–9 | 10th | |||||
1982 | Dennis Green | 3–8 | 2–7 | T–8th | |||||
1983 | Dennis Green | 2–9 | 2–7 | T–8th | |||||
1984 | Dennis Green | 2–9 | 2–7 | 9th | |||||
1985 | Dennis Green | 3–8 | 1–7 | T–9th | |||||
Francis Peay (Big Ten Conference) (1986–1991) | |||||||||
1986 | Francis Peay | 4–7 | 2–6 | T–8th | |||||
1987 | Francis Peay | 2–8–1 | 2–6 | 9th | |||||
1988 | Francis Peay | 2–8–1 | 2–5–1 | T–7th | |||||
1989 | Francis Peay | 0–11 | 0–8 | 10th | |||||
1990 | Francis Peay | 2–9 | 1–7 | T–8th | |||||
1991 | Francis Peay | 3–8 | 2–6 | T–8th | |||||
Gary Barnett (Big Ten Conference) (1992–1998) | |||||||||
1992 | Gary Barnett | 3–8 | 3–5 | T–6th | |||||
1993 | Gary Barnett | 2–9 | 0–8 | T–9th | |||||
1994 | Gary Barnett | 3–7–1 | 2–6 | T–8th | |||||
1995 | Gary Barnett | 10–2 | 8–0 | 1st | L Rose | 7 | 8 | ||
1996 | Gary Barnett | 9–3 | 7–1 | T–1st | L Citrus | 16 | 15 | ||
1997 | Gary Barnett | 5–7 | 3–5 | 8th | |||||
1998 | Gary Barnett | 3–9 | 0–8 | 11th | |||||
Randy Walker (Big Ten Conference) (1999–2005) | |||||||||
1999 | Randy Walker | 3–8 | 1–7 | 10th | |||||
2000 | Randy Walker | 8–4 | 6–2 | T–1st | L Alamo | ||||
2001 | Randy Walker | 4–7 | 2–6 | T–10th | |||||
2002 | Randy Walker | 3–9 | 1–7 | T–10th | |||||
2003 | Randy Walker | 6–7 | 4–4 | T–7th | L Motor City | ||||
2004 | Randy Walker | 6–6 | 5–3 | 4th | |||||
2005 | Randy Walker | 7–5 | 5–3 | T–3rd | L Sun | ||||
Pat Fitzgerald (Big Ten Conference) (2006–present) | |||||||||
2006 | Pat Fitzgerald | 4–8 | 2–6 | T–8th | |||||
2007 | Pat Fitzgerald | 6–6 | 3–5 | T–7th | |||||
2008 | Pat Fitzgerald | 9–4 | 5–3 | T–4th | L Alamo | ||||
2009 | Pat Fitzgerald | 8–5 | 5–3 | T–4th | L Outback | ||||
2010 | Pat Fitzgerald | 7–6 | 3–5 | T–6th | L TicketCity | ||||
2011 | Pat Fitzgerald | 6–7 | 3–5 | 5th (Legends) | L Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas | ||||
2012 | Pat Fitzgerald | 10–3 | 5–3 | 3rd (Legends) | W Gator | 16 | 17 | ||
2013 | Pat Fitzgerald | 5–7 | 1–7 | 6th (Legends) | |||||
2014 | Pat Fitzgerald | 5–7 | 3–5 | T–5th (West) | |||||
2015 | Pat Fitzgerald | 10–3 | 6–2 | T–2nd (West) | L Outback | 22 | 23 | ||
2016 | Pat Fitzgerald | 7–6 | 5–4 | T–4th (West) | W Pinstripe | ||||
2017 | Pat Fitzgerald | 10–3 | 7–2 | 2nd (West) | W Music City | 17 | 17 | ||
2018 | Pat Fitzgerald | 9–5 | 8–1 | 1st (West) | W Holiday | 19 | 21 | ||
2019 | Pat Fitzgerald | 3–9 | 1–8 | 7th (West) | |||||
2020 | Pat Fitzgerald | 7–2 | 6-2 | 1st (West) | W Citrus | 10 | 10 | ||
2021 | Pat Fitzgerald | 3–9 | 1-8 | T–6th (West) | |||||
Total: | 550–679–44 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
|
References[]
- ^ Pomerantz, Gary (September 26, 1982). "Northwestern: Paradise Found After 34 Lost Weekends". Washington Post.
- ^ a b Northwestern Wildcats Index. Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
- ^ CFRC College Football Database - Northwestern
- Lists of college football seasons
- Northwestern Wildcats football seasons