Northwestern Wildcats

The Northwestern Wildcats represent Northwestern University, competing in the Big Ten Conference from Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium on the lakefront in Evanston, with picturesque views of Lake Michigan. The Wildcats embody the ideal of the scholar-athlete, combining academic excellence with competitive football at one of the nation's premier universities. Northwestern has consistently outperformed expectations under Pat Fitzgerald and his successors, with a disciplined, intelligent style of play. The program competes in the Big Ten West and has won division titles despite being the conference's smallest school. Wildcat fans bring a cerebral passion to gameday, celebrating a program that proves elite academics and football success can coexist.

Northwestern football began in 1882, and the program achieved its greatest success under Gary Barnett in the 1990s, reaching the Rose Bowl in 1996. The Wildcats' stunning turn from perennial loser to Big Ten champion captured the nation's imagination. Pat Fitzgerald, a star of those teams, returned to coach his alma mater for 17 seasons. The rivalry with Illinois—for the Land of Lincoln Trophy—dates to 1892. Northwestern's 1995 season, which included upsetting Notre Dame, remains one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history. The Wildcats' identity as the 'Chicago's Big Ten Team' has connected the program to one of America's great cities.