# 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. The Wildcats went 64 years without winning a bowl game after the 1949 Rose Bowl. Northwestern has also experienced success, winning eight conference titles.

## Seasons

| Year | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches$^#$ | AP$^°$ |
| Independent (1882–1890) ||||||||
| 1882 | No coach | 1–1 | | | | | |
| 1883–85 | No team | | | | | | |
| 1886 | No coach | 0–1 | | | | | |
| 1887 | No team | | | | | | |
| 1888 | No coach | 2–1 | | | | | |
| 1889 | No coach | 2–2 | | | | | |
| 1890 | No coach | 4–1–1 | | | | | |
| Knowlton Ames (Independent) (1891) ||||||||
| 1891 | Knowlton Ames | 2–2–3 | | | | | |
| Knowlton Ames (IAANW) (1892) ||||||||
| 1892 | Knowlton Ames | 5–3–2 | 1–3 | 4th | | | |
| Paul Noyes (IAANW) (1893) ||||||||
| 1893 | Paul Noyes | 2–5–3 | 0–2 | 4th | | | |
| 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 | | | |
| 1906 | No team | | | | | | |
| 1907 | No team | | | | | | |
| 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) (2006–2022) ||||||||
| 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 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) | | | |
| 2022 | Pat Fitzgerald | 1–11 | 1–8 | 7th (West) | | | |
| David Braun (Big Ten Conference) (2023–present) ||||||||
| 2023 | David Braun | 8–5 | 5–4 | T–2nd (West) | W Las Vegas | | |
| 2024 | David Braun | 4–8 | 2–7 | 16th | | | |
| Total: | Total: | 563–703–44 | | | | | |
| National championship  Conference title  Conference division title or championship game berth ||||||||
| $^†$Indicates Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, BCS, or CFP / New Years' Six bowl. $^#$Rankings from final Coaches Poll. ||||||||