2015 Northwestern Wildcats football team

Last updated

2015 Northwestern Wildcats football
Northwestern Wildcats logo.svg
Outback Bowl, L 6–45 vs. Tennessee
Conference Big Ten Conference
DivisionWest Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 22
APNo. 23
Record10–3 (6–2 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMick McCall (8th season)
Offensive scheme Spread
Defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz (8th season)
Base defense Multiple 4–3
Home stadium Ryan Field
Seasons
  2014
2016  
2015 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 6 Michigan State xy$^  7 1   12 2  
No. 4 Ohio State x  7 1   12 1  
No. 12 Michigan  6 2   10 3  
Penn State  4 4   7 6  
Indiana  2 6   6 7  
Rutgers  1 7   4 8  
Maryland  1 7   3 9  
West Division
No. 9 Iowa xy  8 0   12 2  
No. 23 Northwestern  6 2   10 3  
No. 21 Wisconsin  6 2   10 3  
Nebraska  3 5   6 7  
Minnesota  2 6   6 7  
Illinois  2 6   5 7  
Purdue  1 7   2 10  
Championship: Michigan State 16, Iowa 13
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll
Ryan Field endzone, Northwestern vs. Eastern Illinois (21180156109).jpg

The 2015 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was Pat Fitzgerald's tenth season as the team's head coach. The Wildcats home games were played at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. They were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 10–3, 6–2 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for second place in the West Division. They were invited to the Outback Bowl where they were defeated by Tennessee 45–6.

Contents

Schedule

Northwestern announced their 2015 football schedule on June 3, 2013. The 2015 schedule consist of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Wildcats hosted Big Ten foes Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State, and Purdue and travelled to Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. [1]

The Wildcats hosted three of their four non conference games against Ball State, Eastern Illinois and Stanford. Northwestern traveled to Durham, North Carolina to face Duke of the Atlantic Coast Conference on September 19.

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 511:00 a.m.No. 21 Stanford * ESPN W 16–636,024
September 123:00 p.m. Eastern Illinois *
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
ESPNews W 41–029,131
September 1911:30 a.m.at Duke *No. 23 ACCN W 19–1024,127
September 267:00 p.m. Ball State *No. 17
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
BTN W 24–1930,107
October 311:00 a.m. Minnesota No. 16
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
BTNW 27–030,044
October 102:30 p.m.at No. 18 Michigan No. 13BTNL 0–38110,452
October 1711:00 a.m.No. 17 Iowa Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 20
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
ABC/ESPN2 L 10–4044,135
October 2411:00 a.m.at Nebraska ESPN2W 30–2889,493
November 711:00 a.m. Penn State No. 21
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
ESPNU W 23–2134,116
November 1411:00 a.m. Purdue No. 18
  • Ryan Field
  • Evanston, IL
BTNW 21–1430,003
November 212:30 pmat No. 25 Wisconsin No. 20BTNW 13–775,276
November 282:30 pmat Illinois No. 16ESPNUW 24–1433,514
January 1, 201611:00 a.m.vs. No. 23 Tennessee *No. 13ESPN2L 6–4553,202
Schedule Source: [2]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
— = Not ranked. RV = Received votes.
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP RV2317161320RVRVRV242017131223
Coaches RV2419171421RVRVRV242117131222
CFP Not released211820161413Not released

Roster

2015 Northwestern Wildcats football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 2Christian Salem Redshirt.svg  Jr
RB 4Solomon VaultSo
WR 5Miles Shuler Redshirt.svg  Sr
WR 6Mike McHugh Redshirt.svg  Jr
QB 7Matt Alviti Redshirt.svg  So
WR 8Stephen Buckley Redshirt.svg  Jr
SB 9 Garrett Dickerson So
QB 10Zack Oliver Redshirt.svg  Sr
QB 11T. J. GreenFr
WR 11Pierre Youngblood-Ary Redshirt.svg  Sr
RB 12Auston Anderson Redshirt.svg  Fr
RB 13Warren LongJr
WR 14Christian Jones (C) Redshirt.svg  Sr
QB 14Lloyd YatesFr
WR 15Macan Wilson Redshirt.svg  So
WR 16Quinn Baker Redshirt.svg  So
QB 17Daniel Kubiuk Redshirt.svg  Fr
QB 18 Clayton Thorson Redshirt.svg  Fr
WR 19Cameron Dickerson Redshirt.svg  Sr
RB 20John Moten IVFr
RB 21 Justin Jackson So
WR 24Mark Gorogianis Redshirt.svg  So
WR 25Luke Dauch Redshirt.svg  Sr
WR 36Corey Acker Redshirt.svg  So
SB 40 Dan Vitale  (C)Sr
WR 43Cole Johnson Redshirt.svg  So
SB 46Eric Lutzen Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 53Geoff Mogus Redshirt.svg  Sr
OL 57Matt Frazier Redshirt.svg  Sr
OL 59J. B. Butler Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 63Ian Park Redshirt.svg  Jr
OL 64Andrew OttermanFr
OL 65Jared ThomasFr
OL 68Connor Mahoney Redshirt.svg  Jr
OL 69Brad North Redshirt.svg  So
OL 70Shane Mertz Redshirt.svg  Sr
OL 71Tommy Doles Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 72 Blake Hance Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 73Adam DePietro Redshirt.svg  Jr
OL 74Graham Bullmore Redshirt.svg  So
OL 76Eric Oloson Redshirt.svg  Jr
OL 78Adam Lemke-BellFr
OL 79Sam Coverdale Redshirt.svg  So
WR 80 Austin Carr Redshirt.svg  Jr
WR 81Jelani RobertsFr
WR 82Andrew Scanlan Redshirt.svg  Jr
WR 83Chad HanaokaSo
WR 84Cameron GreenFr
WR 85Chris CliffFr
SB 85Mark Szott Redshirt.svg  Sr
WR 86Flynn NagelFr
WR 87Garrett Kidd Redshirt.svg  Sr
SB 88Jayme Taylor Redshirt.svg  So
WR 89Charlie FesslerFr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DL 1Max Chapman Redshirt.svg  Sr
S 2Traveon Henry (C)Sr
CB 3Keith Watkins II Redshirt.svg  So
DL 7 Ifeadi Odenigbo Redshirt.svg  Jr
DB 10Jake MurrayFr
DL 13Deonte Gibson (C) Redshirt.svg  Sr
S 16 Godwin Igwebuike Redshirt.svg  So
CB 17Marcus McShepard Redshirt.svg  So
LB 18 Anthony Walker Redshirt.svg  So
S 21 Kyle Queiro Redshirt.svg  So
CB 22Parrker Westphal Redshirt.svg  Fr
CB 23Nick VanHoose Redshirt.svg  Sr
CB 24 Montre Hartage Fr
S 26Terrance Brown Redshirt.svg  Jr
CB 27Matthew HarrisJr
DB 28Alonzo MayoFr
DB 29Trae WilliamsFr
LB 31Tommy VitaleFr
LB 32 Nate Hall Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 33Steven ReeseFr
LB 34Simba ShortFr
LB 35Tom HrubyJr
DB 38Dami ArowolajuJr
S 41Jared McGee Redshirt.svg  Fr
LB 42Joseph Jones Redshirt.svg  Jr
DL 44James Prather Redshirt.svg  Fr
LB 45Nathan FoxFr
LB 46Anthony Pierce-Adams Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 47Joe BerginFr
S 48Tommy Odell Redshirt.svg  So
LB 49Josh Roberts Redshirt.svg  So
LB 51Jaylen Prater Redshirt.svg  Jr
LB 53Cameron Queiro Redshirt.svg  Fr
DL 54Trent GoensFr
LB 55Drew Smith Redshirt.svg  Sr
LB 56Brett Walsh Redshirt.svg  So
DL 58Heath Reineke Redshirt.svg  Fr
DL 67 Tyler Lancaster Redshirt.svg  So
DL 90C. J. Robbins Redshirt.svg  Sr
DL 92Kenton Playko Redshirt.svg  Fr
DL 93Greg Kuhar Redshirt.svg  Jr
DL 94 Dean Lowry Sr
DL 95Jordan ThompsonFr
DL 97 Joe Gaziano Fr
DL 98Xavier WashingtonSo
DL 99Ben Oxley Redshirt.svg  Fr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 7Jack Mitchell Redshirt.svg  Jr
K, P 33Matt Micucci Redshirt.svg  Jr
K 38Arthur Omilian Redshirt.svg  Sr
K 38Mason WeissenhoferFr
LS 52Chaz Fitzpatrick Redshirt.svg  Jr
P, K 96Hunter Niswander Redshirt.svg  So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Randy Bates (Linebackers)
  • Jerry Brown (Defensive Backs)
  • Adam Cushing (Offensive Line)
  • Mike Hankwitz (Defensive Coordinator)
  • Bob Heffner (Superbacks)
  • Marty Long (Defensive Line)
  • Matt MacPherson (Running Backs / Recruiting Coordinator)
  • Mick McCall (Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks)
  • Dennis Springer (Wide Receivers)
  • Clay Bignell (Defensive Graduate Assistant)
  • Chris Bowers (Director of Player Personnel)
  • Cody Cejda (Director of Football Operations)
  • Darby Dunnagan (Director of Video Operations)
  • David Girardi (Defensive Graduate Assistant)
  • Dan Hernandez (Offensive Graduate Assistant)
  • Jay Hooten (Director of Sports Performance for Football)
  • Tommy Rees (Offensive Graduate Assistant)
  • Jacob Schmidt (Director of Player Development)
  • Troy Sutton (Assistant Director of Sports Performance for Football)
  • Mike Jasinski (Recruiting Intern)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Roster
Last update: December 30, 2015

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Ten Conference</span> American collegiate athletics conference

The Big Ten Conference is the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives in 1896, it predates the founding of its regulating organization, the NCAA. It is based in the Chicago area in Rosemont, Illinois. For many decades the conference consisted of 10 prominent universities, which accounts for its name. As of 2014, it consists of 14 member institutions and 2 affiliate institutions, with 4 new member institutions scheduled to join in 2024. The conference competes in the NCAA Division I and its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), formerly known as Division I-A, the highest level of NCAA competition in that sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwestern Wildcats football</span> Football team of Northwestern University

The Northwestern Wildcats football team represents Northwestern University as an NCAA Division I college football team and member of the Big Ten Conference based near Chicago in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern began playing football in 1882. Its football mascot is the Wildcat, a term coined by a Chicago Tribune reporter in 1924, after reporting on a football game where the players appeared as "a wall of purple wildcats". Northwestern Football is also marketed as "Chicago's Big Ten Team" with its proximity and ties to Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwestern Wildcats</span> Sports teams representing Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois

The Northwestern Wildcats are the athletic teams that represent Northwestern University, located in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern is a founding member of the Big Ten Conference and the only private university in the conference. Northwestern has eight men's and eleven women's NCAA Division I sports teams and is marketed as "Chicago's Big Ten Team". The mascot is Willie the Wildcat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Northwestern Wildcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2011 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Pat Fitzgerald, in his sixth season at Northwestern, was the team's head coach. The Wildcats home games were played at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. They are members of the Legends Division of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 6–7, 3–4 in Big Ten play to finish in fifth place in the Legends Division. They were invited to the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas where they were defeated by Texas A&M 22–33.

The 2015 Indiana Hoosiers football team represented Indiana University Bloomington during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hoosiers competed in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. The team was led by head coach Kevin Wilson, who served in his fifth season. They finished the season 6–7, 2–6 in Big Ten play to finish in fifth place in the East Division. They were invited to the Pinstripe Bowl where they lost to Duke in overtime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Purdue Boilermakers football team</span> American college football season

The 2015 Purdue Boilermakers football team was an American football team that represented Purdue University during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Boilermakers competed in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. The team was led by head coach Darrell Hazell, who was in his third season at Purdue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Illinois Fighting Illini football team</span> American college football season

The 2015 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by interim head coach Bill Cubit, and played their home games at Memorial Stadium. They were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 5–7, 2–6 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for fifth place in the West Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Northwestern Wildcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2016 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by Pat Fitzgerald who is in his 11th season as the team's head coach. The Wildcats home games were played at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. They were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team</span> American college football season

The 2017 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gophers were led by first-year head coach P. J. Fleck and played their home games at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Minnesota competed as a member of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 5–7, 2–7 in Big Ten play to finish in sixth place in the West Division.

The 2017 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Fighting Illini played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, and competed in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Lovie Smith. They finished the season 2–10, 0–9 in Big Ten play to finish in last place in the West Division.

The 2017 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 2017 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 12th-year head coach Pat Fitzgerald. This was the Wildcats' fifth ten-win season, three of which were led by Pat Fitzgerald. They finished the season 10–3, 7–2 in Big Ten play to finish in second place in the West Division. They were invited to the Music City Bowl where they defeated Kentucky.

The 2018 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign as a member of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by third-year head coach Lovie Smith, the Fighting Illini compiled an overall record of 4–8 with a mark of 2–7 in conference play, placing last out of seven teams in the Big Ten's West Division. Illinois played home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

The 2018 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 2018 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 13th-year head coach Pat Fitzgerald.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Northwestern Wildcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2019 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 2019 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 14th-year head coach Pat Fitzgerald. They finished the season 3–9, 1–8 in Big Ten play to finish in last place in the West Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Ohio State Buckeyes football team</span> American college football season

The 2020 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented Ohio State University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Ryan Day, and played their home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. It was the Buckeyes' 131st season overall and 108th as a member of the Big Ten Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Northwestern Wildcats football team</span> American college football season

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.

The 2021 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 2021 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 16th-year head coach Pat Fitzgerald. They finished the season 3–9, 1–8 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for last place in the West division.

The 2022 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa as member of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by 24th-year head coach Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes played home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

The 2022 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats played their home games at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois, and competed as members of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by 17th-year head coach Pat Fitzgerald.

The 2023 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by first-year head coach David Braun and played their home games at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. Braun began the season as interim head coach and was elevated to permanent head coach on November 15 following the team's 24–10 road win over Wisconsin.

References

  1. "B1G Releases 2015 Big Ten Football Schedule" (Press release). Northwestern University Department of Athletics. June 3, 2013. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  2. "2015 Northwestern Wildcats Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved January 17, 2015.