2018 Northwestern Wildcats football team

2018 Northwestern Wildcats football
2018 Northwestern Wildcats football
Big Ten West Division champion; Holiday Bowl champion
Big Ten Championship Game, L 24–45 vs. Ohio State
Holiday Bowl, W 31–20 vs. Utah
Conference	Big Ten Conference
	West Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 19
AP	No. 21
Record	9–5 (8–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Pat Fitzgerald (13th season);
Offensive coordinator	Mick McCall (11th season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Mike Hankwitz (11th season)
Base defense	Multiple 4–3
Home stadium	Ryan Field; (Capacity: 47,130)
	Seasons ← 2017 2019 →

2018 Big Ten Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
East Division
No. 3 Ohio State xy$	8	–	1	13	–	1
No. 14 Michigan x	8	–	1	10	–	3
No. 17 Penn State	6	–	3	9	–	4
Michigan State	5	–	4	7	–	6
Maryland	3	–	6	5	–	7
Indiana	2	–	7	5	–	7
Rutgers	0	–	9	1	–	11
West Division
No. 21 Northwestern xy	8	–	1	9	–	5
Wisconsin	5	–	4	8	–	5
No. 25 Iowa	5	–	4	9	–	4
Purdue	5	–	4	6	–	7
Minnesota	3	–	6	7	–	6
Nebraska	3	–	6	4	–	8
Illinois	2	–	7	4	–	8
Championship: Ohio State 45, Northwestern 24
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

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.

Northwestern began the year with a 1–3 record after winning its conference road opener against Purdue but falling to non-conference foes Duke and Akron, as well as Michigan in their conference home opener. The team won their next four games, including wins over ranked opponents Michigan State and Wisconsin, before falling to Notre Dame, which secured a winless non-conference slate. Regardless, the Wildcats clinched their first Big Ten West Division title by defeating No. 21 Iowa the following week.^[1] They won their remaining two conference games to finish the regular season with a conference record of 8–1. In the 2018 Big Ten Football Championship Game, they lost to East Division champion Ohio State 45–24. The team was invited to the Holiday Bowl to play Pac-12 Conference runner-up Utah. The Wildcats won by a score of 31–20, their third consecutive bowl victory, which was a program first.^[2] In the final AP Poll of the season, the Wildcats were ranked 21st.

Quarterback Clayton Thorson led the team's offense, finishing with 3,183 passing yards, third most in the Big Ten Conference, to go along with 17 passing touchdowns and nine rushing touchdowns. Thorson, a fourth-year starter, finished his career as the school's all-time leading passer.^[2] Freshman running back Isaiah Bowser led the team in rushing with 866 yards, and wide receiver Flynn Nagel led the team in receiving with 780 yards. On defense, linebacker Blake Gallagher led the Big Ten in total tackles with 127.^[3] Fellow linebacker Paddy Fisher was named first team all-conference by the coaches, while defensive back Montre Hartage was named to the first team by the media. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald received the conference's coach of the year award.^[4]

Preseason

Award watch lists

Award	Player	Position	Year
Lott Trophy^[5]	Nate Hall	LB	SR
Chuck Bednarik Award^[6]	Joe Gaziano	DE	JR
Chuck Bednarik Award^[6]	Paddy Fisher	LB	SO
Maxwell Award^[7]	Clayton Thorson	QB	SR
Doak Walker Award^[8]	Jeremy Larkin	RB	JR
Butkus Award^[9]	Paddy Fisher	LB	FR
Bronko Nagurski Trophy^[10]	Paddy Fisher	LB	SO
Bronko Nagurski Trophy^[10]	Joe Gaziano	DE	JR
Outland Trophy^[11]	Tommy Doles	OL	SR
Wuerffel Trophy^[12]	Tommy Doles	OL	SR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award^[13]	Clayton Thorson	QB	SR

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	7:00 p.m.	at Purdue		Ross-Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	ESPN	W 31–27	47,410
September 8	11:00 a.m.	Duke*		Ryan Field Evanston, IL	ESPNU	L 7–21	40,654
September 15	6:30 p.m.	Akron*		Ryan Field Evanston, IL	BTN	L 34–39	40,014
September 29	3:30 p.m.	No. 14 Michigan		Ryan Field Evanston, IL	FOX	L 17–20	47,330
October 6	11:00 a.m.	at No. 20 Michigan State		Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	FS1	W 29–19	72,850
October 13	11:00 a.m.	Nebraska		Ryan Field Evanston, IL	ABC	W 34–31 ^OT	47,330
October 20	11:00 a.m.	at Rutgers		HighPoint.com Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	W 18–15	32,514
October 27	11:00 a.m.	No. 20 Wisconsin		Ryan Field Evanston, IL	FOX	W 31–17	47,330
November 3	6:15 p.m.	No. 4 Notre Dame*		Ryan Field Evanston, IL (rivalry)	ESPN	L 21–31	47,330
November 10	2:30 p.m.	at No. 21 Iowa		Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	FOX	W 14–10	66,493
November 17	11:00 a.m.	at Minnesota	No. 22	TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN	BTN	W 24–14	32,134
November 24	2:30 p.m.	Illinois	No. 19	Ryan Field Evanston, IL (rivalry)	BTN	W 24–16	37,124
December 1	7:00 p.m.	vs. No. 6 Ohio State	No. 21	Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN (Big Ten Championship)	FOX	L 24–45	66,375
December 31	6:00 p.m.	vs. No. 17 Utah*	No. 22	SDCCU Stadium San Diego, CA (Holiday Bowl)	FS1	W 31–20	47,007
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after October 30 released prior to game All times are in Central time

Game summaries

At Purdue

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	14	17	0	0	31
Boilermakers	14	3	7	3	27

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	NU	PUR
1	7:58	11	64	4:42	NU	Jeremy Larkin 1-yard touchdown run, Charlie Kuhbander kick good	7	0
1	5:34	5	65	1:09	NU	John Moten IV 2-yard touchdown run, Charlie Kuhbander kick good	14	0
1	4:20	4	60	1:14	PUR	Rondale Moore 32-yard touchdown reception from Elijah Sindelar, Spencer Evans kick good	14	7
1	1:02	3	85	1:20	PUR	Rondale Moore 76-yard touchdown run, Spencer Evans kick good	14	14
2	13:37	8	59	2:25	NU	34-yard field goal by Charlie Kuhbander	17	14
2	7:06	3	55	0:58	NU	T.J. Green 1-yard touchdown run, Charlie Kuhbander kick good	24	14
2	3:44	10	44	3:22	PUR	38-yard field goal by Spencer Evans	24	17
2	0:37	5	30	2:04	NU	Jeremy Larkin 4-yard touchdown run, Charlie Kuhbander kick good	31	17
3	11:37	6	71	1:52	PUR	D.J. Knox 2-yard touchdown run, Spencer Evans kick good	31	24
4	14:56	13	76	6:36	PUR	27-yard field goal by Spencer Evans	31	27
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.

Duke

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Devils	0	21	0	0	21
Wildcats	7	0	0	0	7

^[14]

Akron

	1	2	3	4	Total
Zips	0	3	23	13	39
Wildcats	7	14	7	6	34

Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 14 Wolverines	0	7	6	7	20
Wildcats	10	7	0	0	17

At Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	7	7	0	15	29
No. 20 Spartans	3	3	13	0	19

Nebraska

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Cornhuskers	7	6	7	11	0	31
Wildcats	0	14	0	17	3	34

At Rutgers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	7	0	3	8	18
Scarlet Knights	0	12	3	0	15

Wisconsin

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 20 Badgers	7	3	0	7	17
Wildcats	7	7	10	7	31

Notre Dame

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 3 Fighting Irish	7	0	14	10	31
Wildcats	0	7	0	14	21

At Iowa

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	0	0	7	7	14
No. 21 Hawkeyes	0	3	7	0	10

At Minnesota

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 24 Wildcats	7	6	0	11	24
Golden Gophers	0	7	0	7	14

Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
Fighting Illini	3	3	0	10	16
No. 20 Wildcats	7	14	3	0	24

Vs. Ohio State (Big Ten Championship game)

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 21 Wildcats	7	0	14	3	24
No. 6 Buckeyes	14	10	7	14	45

Vs. Utah (Holiday Bowl)

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 20 Utes	14	6	0	0	20
Wildcats	0	3	28	0	31

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	RV	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	RV	24	20	21	RV	21
Coaches	RV	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	RV	RV	21	21	22	19
CFP	Not released									—	—	22	19	21	22	Not released

Roster

2018 Northwestern Wildcats football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
RB	`1`	Chad Hanaoka	Sr
WR	`2`	Flynn Nagel	Sr
WR	`4`	Solomon Vault	Sr
WR	`5`	Charles Fessler	Jr
WR	`6`	Jelani Roberts	Sr
QB	`7`	Jason Whittaker	Fr
WR	`8`	Kyric McGowan	So
QB	`10`	T. J. Green	Jr
QB	`11`	Aidan Smith	So
WR	`12`	J. J. Jefferson	Fr
QB	`13`	Andrew Marty	Fr
WR	`15`	Jace James	So
QB	`15`	Hunter Johnson (I)	So
WR	`16`	Berkeley Holman	Fr
WR	`17`	Jalen Brown	Sr
QB	`18`	Clayton Thorson	Sr
WR	`19`	Riley Lees	So
RB	`20`	John Moten IV	Jr
RB	`21`	Drake Anderson	Fr
WR	`23`	Steven Reese	Jr
RB	`24`	Alex Bousky	Sr
RB	`25`	Isaiah Bowser	Fr
RB	`28`	Jeremy Larkin	So
RB	`36`	Jesse Brown	So
SB	`44`	James Prather	Sr
SB	`48`	Brian Kaiser	Fr
OL	`52`	Sam Gerak	Fr
OL	`57`	Cam Kolwich	So
OL	`59`	J. B. Butler	Sr
OL	`61`	Jason Goosen	So
OL	`65`	Jared Thomas	Jr
OL	`66`	Nik Urban	So
OL	`67`	Willy Boatman	Fr
OL	`68`	Wyatt Blake	Fr
OL	`69`	Charlie Schmidt	Fr
OL	`70`	Rashawn Slater	So
OL	`71`	Tommy Doles	Sr
OL	`72`	Blake Hance	Sr
OL	`73`	Gunnar Vogel	So
OL	`74`	Payne He'Bert	Fr
OL	`76`	Ethan Wiederkehr	Fr
OL	`77`	Jesse Meyler	So
OL	`78`	Sam Stovall	Fr
OL	`79`	Trey Klock	Sr
SB	`80`	Trey Pugh	So
WR	`81`	Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman	So
SB	`82`	Alex Oelsner	Fr
WR	`83`	Will Lansbury	Fr
WR	`84`	Cameron Green	Jr
WR	`85`	Jack Tirmonia	So
SB	`86`	Cody Link	So
WR	`86`	Raymond Niro III	Fr
SB	`87`	Eric Eshoo	So
WR	`88`	Ben Skowronek	Jr
SB	`89`	Charlie Mangieri	Fr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DB	`3`	Trae Williams	Jr
DB	`7`	Travis Whillock	So
DB	`9`	Roderick Campbell	So
DB	`10`	Alonzo Mayo	Jr
DB	`11`	A. J. Hampton	Fr
DB	`13`	J. R. Pace	So
DB	`18`	Cameron Ruiz	Fr
DB	`22`	Bryce Jackson	Fr
CB	`24`	Montre Hartage	Sr
DB	`25`	Austin Hiller	Fr
DB	`26`	Brian Bullock	So
DB	`27`	Jeremiah McDonald	Fr
LB	`28`	Chris Bergin	So
DB	`29`	Greg Newsome II	Fr
LB	`31`	Jaylen Rivers	Fr
LB	`32`	Nate Hall	Sr
LB	`33`	Grayson Mann	Fr
LB	`34`	Chee Anyanwu	Fr
LB	`35`	Erik Mueller	Fr
DB	`37`	Donovan Sermons	Fr
LB	`40`	Peter McIntyre	Fr
S	`41`	Jared McGee	Sr
LB	`42`	Paddy Fisher	So
LB	`44`	Khalid Jones	Fr
LB	`45`	Nathan Fox	Jr
LB	`46`	Troy Hudetz	So
DL	`46`	Devin O'Rourke	Fr
DB	`47`	Joe Bergin	Jr
LB	`50`	Jango Glackin	So
LB	`51`	Blake Gallagher	So
DL	`53`	Eku Leota	Fr
DL	`54`	Trent Goens	Jr
DE	`55`	Mark Gooden	So
DL	`75`	Ben Oxley	Sr
DT	`90`	Jake Saunders	So
DL	`91`	Samdup Miller	So
DL	`92`	Fred Wyatt	Sr
DL	`93`	Joe Spivak	So
DE	`94`	Tommy Carnifax	So
DL	`95`	Alex Miller	Jr
DE	`96`	Trevor Kent	Fr
DL	`97`	Joe Gaziano	Jr
DE	`98`	Earnest Brown IV	So
DL	`99`	Jordan Thompson	Sr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K	`14`	Charlie Kuhbander	So
P	`17`	Daniel Kubiuk	Sr
P	`37`	Cody Gronewold	Fr
K, P	`38`	Drew Luckenbaugh	So
LS	`43`	Tyler Gillikin	So
LS	`48`	Peter Snodgrass	Fr
P	`49`	Jake Collins	Sr

Head coach

Pat Fitzgerald

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Lou Ayeni (running backs / recruiting coordinator)
Adam Cushing (offensive line)
Jeff Genyk (special teams coordinator)
Mike Hankwitz (defensive coordinator)
Bob Heffner (Superbacks)
Marty Long (defensive line)
Matt McPherson (Associate head coach / defensive backs)
Mick McCall (offensive coordinator / quarterbacks)
Tim McGarigle (linebackers)
Dennis Springer (wide receivers)
Chris Bowers (director of player personnel)
Cody Cejda (director of football operations)
Darby Dunnagan (director of Video Operations)
Jay Hooten (director of Sports Performance for Football)
Jacob Schmidt (director of player development)
Bryan Payton (director of Recruiting Communications)
Jonny Kovach (director of Recruiting Operations)
Todd McShane (director of Scouting)
John Holloway (assistant director of football operations)
Deonte Gibson (defensive graduate assistant)
Kevin Koch (defensive graduate assistant)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: August 16, 2018

Awards and honors

Individual Awards
Player	Award	Ref.
Pat Fitzgerald	Hayes–Schembechler Coach of the Year Dave McClain Coach of the Year	^[4]

All-Big Ten
Player	Position	Coaches	Media
Paddy Fisher	LB	1	2
Montre Hartage	DB	3	1
Joe Gaziano	DL	2	3
Rashawn Slater	OT	3	HM
Blake Gallagher	LB	HM	3
Cameron Green	WR	HM	HM
Clayton Thorson	QB	HM	HM
Flynn Nagel	WR	HM	HM
J.R. Pace	DB	HM	HM
Nate Hall	DB	HM	HM
HM = Honorable mention. Reference:^[4]

Players drafted into the NFL

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL Club
5	167	Clayton Thorson	QB	Philadelphia Eagles

References

^ "Northwestern clinches first Big Ten division title with win at Iowa". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 10, 2018.
^ ^a ^b Friedman, Caleb (January 5, 2019). "Clayton Thorson left Northwestern better than he found it". InsideNU.com. Vox Media.
^ "2018 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c "2018 All-Big Ten Football Teams and Individual Award Recipients" (PDF). BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
^ "2018 Watch List | Lott IMPACT Trophy | Honoring College Football's Defensive Best". lottimpacttrophy.org. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
^ "2018 Bednarik Award Watch List - Maxwell Football Club". Maxwell Football Club. July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
^ "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
^ "2018 Doak Walker Award Candidates". July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
^ "Butkus Award - 2018 Collegiate Watchlist". The Butkus Award. July 23, 2018. Archived from the original on August 20, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
^ "2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
^ "22018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
^ "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
^ "Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
^ "Duke vs. Northwestern - Game Summary - September 8, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved September 8, 2018.

[1] "Northwestern clinches first Big Ten division title with win at Iowa". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 10, 2018.

[thorson-2] Friedman, Caleb (January 5, 2019). "Clayton Thorson left Northwestern better than he found it". InsideNU.com. Vox Media.

[3] "2018 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2019.

[big_ten_awards-4] "2018 All-Big Ten Football Teams and Individual Award Recipients" (PDF). BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.

[5] "2018 Watch List | Lott IMPACT Trophy | Honoring College Football's Defensive Best". lottimpacttrophy.org. Retrieved July 17, 2018.

[6] "2018 Bednarik Award Watch List - Maxwell Football Club". Maxwell Football Club. July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.

[7] "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.

[8] "2018 Doak Walker Award Candidates". July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.

[9] "Butkus Award - 2018 Collegiate Watchlist". The Butkus Award. July 23, 2018. Archived from the original on August 20, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2018.

[10] "2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.

[11] "22018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.

[12] "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.

[13] "Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.

[14] "Duke vs. Northwestern - Game Summary - September 8, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved September 8, 2018.

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v t e Northwestern Wildcats football
Venues	Northwestern Field (1905–1925) Ryan Field (1926–2023) Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium (2024–2025)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Illinois Michigan: George Jewett Trophy Notre Dame
Culture and lore	Willie the Wildcat "Go U Northwestern" Marching band 2006 Michigan State game
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1876 1877–1881 1882 1883–1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906–1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024