2020 Northwestern Wildcats football team
The 2020 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats played their home games at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois, and competed in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by 15th-year head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
2020 Northwestern Wildcats football | |
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Big Ten West Division champion Citrus Bowl champion | |
Citrus Bowl, W 35–19 vs. Auburn | |
Conference | Big Ten Conference |
West Division | |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 10 |
AP | No. 10 |
2020 record | 7–2 (6–2 Big Ten) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Mike Bajakian (1st season) |
Defensive coordinator | Mike Hankwitz (13th season) |
Home stadium | Ryan Field (Capacity: 47,130) |
Uniform | |
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2020 Big Ten Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 2 Ohio State xy$^ | 5 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 12 Indiana | 6 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Penn State | 4 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maryland | 2 | – | 3 | 2 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rutgers | 3 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michigan | 2 | – | 4 | 2 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michigan State | 2 | – | 5 | 2 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 10 Northwestern xy | 6 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 16 Iowa | 6 | – | 2 | 6 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wisconsin | 3 | – | 3 | 4 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota | 3 | – | 4 | 3 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nebraska | 3 | – | 5 | 3 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purdue | 2 | – | 4 | 2 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Illinois | 2 | – | 6 | 2 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Ohio State 22, Northwestern 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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On August 11, 2020, the Big Ten Conference canceled all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] However, on September 16, the Big Ten reinstated the season, announcing an eight-game season beginning on October 24.[3]
Previous season
The Wildcats finished the 2019 season 3–9, 1–8 in Big Ten play to finish in last place in the West Division.
Schedule
Northwestern had games scheduled against Tulane, Central Michigan, and Morgan State, but canceled these games on July 9 due to the Big Ten Conference's decision to play a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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October 24, 2020 | 6:30 p.m. | Maryland | BTN | W 43–3 | 0 | ||
October 31 | 2:30 p.m. | at Iowa | ESPN | W 21–20 | 1,432 | ||
November 7 | 11:00 a.m. | Nebraska |
| BTN | W 21–13 | 0 | |
November 14 | 6:30 p.m. | at Purdue | No. 23 | BTN | W 27–20 | 886 | |
November 21 | 2:30 p.m. | No. 10 Wisconsin | No. 19 |
| ABC | W 17–7 | 0 |
November 28 | 2:30 p.m. | at Michigan State | No. 8 | ESPN | L 20–29 | 0 | |
at | No. 14 | No Contest | – | ||||
December 12 | 11:00 a.m. | Illinois | No. 14 |
| ESPN2 | W 28–10 | 0 |
December 19 | 11:00 a.m. | vs. No. 4 Ohio State | No. 14 | FOX | L 10–22 | 3,178 | |
January 1, 2021 | 12:00 p.m. | vs. Auburn* | No. 14 | ABC | W 35–19 | 13,039 | |
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Rankings
Week | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
AP | RV | none | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | RV | RV | 23 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Coaches | NR | none | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | RV | RV | 23 | 20 | 13 | 17 | 14 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
CFP | Not released | 8 | 14 | 14 | 14 | Not released |
Game summaries
Maryland
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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1–0 | 2017 | W, 37–21 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Terrapins | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Wildcats | 14 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 43 |
Game information | ||
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at Iowa
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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27–51–3 | 2019 | L, 0–20 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Wildcats | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
Hawkeyes | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Game information | ||
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Nebraska
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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5–8 | 2019 | L, 10–13 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Cornhuskers | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
Wildcats | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
Game information | ||
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at Purdue
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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32–51–1 | 2019 | L, 22–24 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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No. 23 Wildcats | 7 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
Boilermakers | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
at Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Indiana
- Date: November 14, 2020
- Game time: 6:30 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 886
- TV: BTN
Game information | ||
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Wisconsin
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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36–60–5 | 2019 | L, 15–24 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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No. 10 Badgers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
No. 19 Wildcats | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
Game information | ||
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Joey Galloway, ESPN analyst
at Michigan State
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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20–38 | 2019 | L, 10–31 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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No. 8 Wildcats | 0 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
Spartans | 10 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 29 |
at Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, Michigan
- Date: November 28, 2020
- Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 0
- TV: ESPN
Game information | ||
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at Minnesota (Cancelled)
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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36–54–5 | 2019 | L, 22–38 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Illinois
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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53–55–5 | 2019 | W, 29–10 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Fighting Illini | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
No. 14 Wildcats | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
Game information | ||
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vs. Ohio State
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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14–63–1 | 2018 | L 24–45 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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No. 14 Wildcats | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
No. 4 Buckeyes | 3 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 22 |
at Lucas Oil Stadium • Indianapolis, IN
- Date: December 19, 2020
- Game time: 11:18 a.m. CST
- Game weather: Overcast (game played indoors)
- Game attendance: 3,178
- Referee: Mark Kluczynski
- TV announcers (FOX): Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst), and Jenny Taft (sideline)
Game information | ||
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vs. Auburn
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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0–1 | 2010 | L 35–38 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Auburn | 0 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 19 |
No. 14 Wildcats | 14 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
at Camping World Stadium • Orlando, FL
- Date: January 1st, 2021
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Mostly Sunny
- Game attendance: 13,039
- Referee: Jerry Magallanes
- TV announcers (ABC): Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst), Paul Carcaterra (sideline reporter)
Game information | ||
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References
- Stevens, Matthew. "Big Ten To Play A "Championship Weekend" 9th Game Of 2020 Season". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- "Big Ten Statement on 2020-21 Fall Season". bigten.org. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- "The Big Ten Conference Adopts Stringent Medical Protocols; Football Season to Resume October 23-24, 2020". bigten.org. September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- Myerberg, Paul. "Big Ten football reduces season schedule to only conference games, maybe setting stage for others to follow". USA TODAY. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- "2020 Northwestern Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 29, 2020.