# 1995 Northwestern Wildcats football team

The 1995 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the 1995 NCAA Division I-A college football season. The 1995 season was a highly memorable one for the Northwestern program, as the Wildcats went 10–2 overall and 8–0 in the Big Ten Conference, earning their first winning season since 1971, their first conference championship since 1936, and their first 10-win season since 1903. They also broke several long-standing losing streaks to regular opponents, including a 22-game losing streak to Iowa, a 19-game losing streak against Michigan, and a 14-game losing streak to Notre Dame.
"Expect Victory" was the motto even as Northwestern began the season as 28-point underdogs against Notre Dame, whom they upset 17–15, propelling into the AP poll at #25. An upset loss to the Miami Redhawks in the second game of the season caused the Wildcats to drop out of the rankings. However, subsequent wins over ranked Michigan (19–13), Wisconsin (35–0), and Penn State (21–10) pushed the Wildcats into the top-10 while making them national media darlings.
Nine consecutive wins (including eight against Big Ten opponents) brought Northwestern their highest ranking since 1962 (#3), a conference title, and their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1949. In the Rose Bowl, the Wildcats' Cinderella season came to a conclusion with a 41–32 loss to the USC Trojans, and they finished the season at #8.
Northwestern was coached by Gary Barnett, who won multiple coach of the year awards for leading the dramatic turnaround of the program. Star players included the trio of quarterback Steve Schnur, running back Darnell Autry, and linebacker Pat Fitzgerald, who was named Big Ten and national defensive player of the year.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 1:30 pm | at No. 9 Notre Dame* | | Notre Dame StadiumNotre Dame, IN (rivalry) | NBC | W 17–15 | 59,075 |
| September 16 | 11:00 am | Miami (OH)* | No. 25 | Dyche StadiumEvanston, IL | ESPN2 | L 28–30 | 26,352 |
| September 23 | 11:30 am | Air Force* | | Dyche StadiumEvanston, IL | ESPN | W 30–6 | 26,037 |
| September 30 | 1:00 pm | Indiana | | Dyche StadiumEvanston, IL | | W 31–7 | 29,223 |
| October 7 | 11:30 am | at No. 7 Michigan | No. 25 | Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI (rivalry) | ESPN | W 19–13 | 104,642 |
| October 14 | 1:00 pm | at Minnesota | No. 14 | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis, MN | | W 27–17 | 50,504 |
| October 21 | 11:30 am | No. 24 Wisconsin | No. 11 | Dyche StadiumEvanston, IL | ESPN2 | W 35–0 | 49,256 |
| October 28 | 11:00 am | at Illinois | No. 8 | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL (rivalry) | SCC | W 17–14 | 65,425 |
| November 4 | 2:30 pm | No. 12 Penn State | No. 6 | Dyche StadiumEvanston, IL | ABC | W 21–10 | 49,256 |
| November 11 | 11:00 am | Iowa | No. 5 | Dyche StadiumEvanston, IL (College GameDay) | Creative | W 31–20 | 49,256 |
| November 18 | 2:30 pm | at Purdue | No. 5 | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN | ABC | W 23–8 | 47,172 |
| January 1 | 3:30 pm | vs. No. 17 USC* | No. 3 | Rose BowlPasadena, CA (Rose Bowl) | ABC | L 32–41 | 100,102 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | 25 | — | — | 25 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| Coaches | — | | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 |

## Game summaries
### Notre Dame

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Northwestern | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Notre Dame | 0 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 15 |
at Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Indiana
* Date: September 2, 1995
* Game time: 1:30 p.m. CST
* Game attendance: 59,075
* TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond, Bob Trumpy, John Dockery
* Box Score
Game information :

### Miami (OH)

The Wildcats surrendered a 21-point 4th quarter lead in their first game as a nationally ranked team since 1971. Miami of Ohio's Chad Seitz booted a 20-yard field goal as time expired to give the Redskins the victory. The opposing team was led by future Northwestern head coach Randy Walker and his offensive coordinator was Sean Payton. This would be the lone regular season blemish on the Wildcats' schedule.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miami (OH) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 23 | 30 |
| Northwestern | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
at Dyche Stadium, Evanston, Illinois
* Date: September 16, 1995
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
* Game attendance: 26,352
* Box Score
Game information :

### Air Force

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Air Force | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Northwestern | 10 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 30 |
at Dyche Stadium, Evanston, Illinois
* Date: September 23, 1995
* Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
* Game attendance: 26,037
Game information :

### Indiana

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Indiana | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Northwestern | 3 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 31 |
at Dyche Stadium, Evanston, Illinois
* Date: September 30, 1995
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* Game attendance: 29,223
Game information :

### Michigan

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Northwestern | 0 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 19 |
| Michigan | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
* Date: October 7, 1995
* Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
* Game attendance: 104,642
* TV: ESPN
* Box Score
Game information :

### Minnesota

After falling behind 14–3 early in the second quarter, the Wildcats scored the next 24 points to take control of the game. Darnell Autry ran for 169 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 73-yard burst early in the fourth quarter.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Northwestern | 3 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
| Minnesota | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: October 14, 1995
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* Game attendance: 50,504
* Box Score
Game information :

### Wisconsin

The Wildcats forced 7 Badger turnovers (Wisconsin had 6 total in their first five games) in a triumphant homecoming matchup. The game marked the first sellout at Northwestern since 1984.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Northwestern | 10 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 35 |
at Dyche Stadium, Evanston, Illinois
* Date: October 21, 1995
* Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
* Game attendance: 49,256
* TV: ESPN2
* Box Score
Game information :

### Illinois

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Northwestern | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Illinois | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
* Date: October 28, 1995
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
* Game attendance: 65,425
* TV: SCC
Game information :

### Penn State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Penn State | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Northwestern | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Dyche Stadium, Evanston, Illinois
* Date: November 4, 1995
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
* Game attendance: 49,256
* TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Bob Griese, and Lynn Swann
* Box Score
Game information :

### Iowa

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Iowa | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Northwestern | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
at Dyche Stadium, Evanston, Illinois
* Date: November 11, 1995
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
* Game weather: 26 °F (−3 °C), Overcast, Wind N 30 mph (48 km/h)
* Game attendance: 49,256
* Referee: David Witvoet
* TV announcers (Creative Sports): Wayne Larrivee, Randy Wright, and Jim Barber
* Box Score
Game information :

### Purdue

Northwestern got two big scoring plays in the first half – a 76-yard interception return for a touchdown by Chris Martin and a 72-yard touchdown reception by D'Wayne Bates – to take control. Darnell Autry carried the ball 32 times for a career-high 226 yards.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Northwestern | 7 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 23 |
| Purdue | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
* Date: November 18, 1995
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
* Game attendance: 47,172
* TV: ABC
* Box Score
Game information :

### Rose Bowl

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Northwestern | 7 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 32 |
| USC | 7 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 41 |
at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
* Date: January 1, 1996
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. CST
* Game attendance: 100,102
* Referee: Randy Christal
* TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Bob Griese, and Lynn Swann
* Box Score
Game information :

## Awards and honors

* Head coach Gary Barnett: Paul "Bear" Bryant Award, Walter Camp Coach of the Year, Big Ten Coach of the Year
* Linebacker Pat Fitzgerald: Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year

## 1995 team players in the NFL

* Darnell Autry
* D'Wayne Bates