View source for 2005 Northwestern Wildcats football team

{{NCAA team season
  |Year=2005
  |Team=Northwestern Wildcats
  |Image=NorthwesternWildcats.png
  |ImageSize=125
  |Conference=Big Ten Conference
  |Division=
  |ShortConference=Big Ten
  |CoachRank=
  |APRank=
  |Record=7&ndash;5
  |ConfRecord=5&ndash;3
  |HeadCoach=[[Randy Walker (American football coach)|Randy Walker]]
  |HCYear=7th
  |OffCoach=[[Mike Dunbar]]
  |OCYear=4th
  |OScheme=
  |DefCoach=[[Greg Colby]]
  |DCYear=4th
  |DScheme=
|Captain=Brett Basanez<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nw/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/nu-mg-07-history.pdf#page=9|title=Year-by-Year Results|date=2007|page=150|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190316165052/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nw/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/nu-mg-07-history.pdf#page=9|archive-date=2019-03-16|dead-url=no|access-date=2019-03-14|df=}}</ref>
|Captain2=Zach Strief
|Captain3=Barry Cofield
|Captain4=Tim McGarigle
  |StadiumArena=[[Ryan Field (stadium)|Ryan Field]] (Capacity: 47,130)
  |Champion=
  |BowlTourney= [[2005 Sun Bowl|Sun Bowl]]
  |BowlTourneyResult= L 38&ndash;50 vs. [[2005 UCLA Bruins football team|UCLA]]
}}
{{2005 Big Ten football standings}}
The '''2005 Northwestern Wildcats football team''' represented [[Northwestern University]] during the [[2005 NCAA Division I-A football season]]. They played their home games at [[Ryan Field (stadium)|Ryan Field]] and participated as members of the [[Big Ten Conference]]. They were coached by [[Randy Walker (American football coach)|Randy Walker]]. This was Randy's last season as the Wildcats' coach, as he would die from a heart attack following the season. The Wildcats finished tied for 3rd place in the Big Ten with a conference record of 5-3.

==Schedule==
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 2005
| poll = AP
| timezone = Central

|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 3
| time = 11:00 AM
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 
| opponent = [[2005 Ohio Bobcats football team|Ohio]]
| site_stadium = [[Ryan Field (stadium)|Ryan Field]]
| site_cityst = [[Evanston, Illinois|Evanston, IL]]
| tv = [[ESPNU]]
| score = 38–14
| attend = 20,115
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 10
| time = 3:00 PM
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 
| opponent = [[2005 Northern Illinois Huskies football team|Northern Illinois]]
| site_stadium = Ryan Field
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| tv = [[ESPN Classic|ESPNC]]
| score = 38–37
| attend = 35,114
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 17
| time = 9:00 PM
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 
| opponent = [[2005 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|Arizona State]]
| site_stadium = [[Sun Devil Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Tempe, Arizona|Tempe, AZ]]
| tv = 
| score = 21–52
| attend = 55,029
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 24
| time = 11:00 AM
| w/l = l
| rank = 
| opponent = [[2005 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]]
| site_stadium = Ryan Field
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| tv = [[ESPN2]]
| score = 29–34
| attend = 24,395
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 8
| time = 11:00 AM
| w/l = w
| rank = 
| opponent = [[2005 Wisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin]]
| opprank = 14
| site_stadium = Ryan Field
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| tv = [[ESPN]]
| score = 51–48
| attend = 33,859
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 15
| time = 11:00 AM
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 
| opponent = [[2005 Purdue Boilermakers football team|Purdue]]
| site_stadium = [[Ross–Ade Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[West Lafayette, Indiana|West Lafayette, IN]]
| tv = ESPN2
| score = 34–29
| attend = 62,866
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 22
| time = 11:00 AM
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 
| opponent = [[2005 Michigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State]]
| opprank = 22
| site_stadium = [[Spartan Stadium (East Lansing)|Spartan Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[East Lansing, Michigan|East Lansing, MI]]
| tv = ESPN2
| score = 49–14
| attend = 74,636
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 29
| time = 6:00 PM
| w/l = l
| homecoming = y
| rank = 21
| opponent = [[2005 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]]
| opprank = 25
| site_stadium = Ryan Field
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| tv = ESPN
| score = 17–33
| attend = 47,130
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 5
| time = 11:00 AM
| w/l = w
| rank = 
| opponent = [[2005 Iowa Hawkeyes football team|Iowa]]
| site_stadium = Ryan Field
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| tv = ESPN
| score = 28–27
| attend = 34,550
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 12
| time = 11:00 AM
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 25
| opponent = [[2005 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]]
| opprank = 10
| site_stadium = [[Ohio Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus, OH]]
| tv = [[ESPN on ABC|ABC]]
| score = 7–48
| attend = 105,181
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 19
| time = 11:00 AM
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 
| opponent = [[2005 Illinois Fighting Illini football team|Illinois]]
| gamename = [[Illinois–Northwestern football rivalry|Sweet Sioux Tomahawk]]
| site_stadium = [[Memorial Stadium (Champaign)|Memorial Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign, IL]]
| tv = [[ESPN Events|ESPN+]]
| score = 38–21
| attend = 31,465
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 30
| time = 1:00 PM
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| rank = 
| opponent = [[2005 UCLA Bruins football team|UCLA]]
| opprank = 17
| gamename = [[2005 Sun Bowl|Sun Bowl]]
| site_stadium = [[Sun Bowl Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[El Paso, Texas|El Paso, TX]]
| tv = [[CBS Sports|CBS]]
| score = 38–50
| attend = 50,426
}}
}}

==Game summaries==

===Ohio===
{{Empty section|date=October 2014}}

===Northern Illinois===
{{Empty section|date=October 2014}}

===Arizona State===
{{Empty section|date=October 2014}}

===Penn State===
{{Empty section|date=October 2014}}

===Wisconsin===
{{AFB game box start
|Title=
|Visitor=Wisconsin
|V1=7 |V2=10 |V3=10 |V4=21
|Host=Northwestern
|H1=0 |H2=10 |H3=27 |H4=14
|Date=October 8
|Location=[[Ryan Field (stadium)|Ryan Field]], [[Evanston, IL]]
|StartTime=11:00 a.m.
|TimeZone=CST
|ElapsedTime=3:47
|Attendance=33,859
|Weather=Overcast; 54°F; wind 17 NE
|Referee=Dan Capron
|TVAnnouncers=[[Pam Ward]] (Play-by-play), [[David Norrie]] (Color) & [[Jimmy Dykes (basketball)|Jimmy Dykes]] (Sideline)
|TVStation=[[ESPN2]]
}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry=yes |Quarter= Q1|Time= 8:47|Team= WIS|Event= Orr 15 yard pass from Stocco (Mehlhaff kick) |Score= WIS 7–0}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=Q2 |Time=12:25 |Team=NW |Event=Basanez 4 yard run (Howells kick) |Score= Tie 7–7}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=Q2 |Time=6:36 |Team=WIS |Event=Stanley 5 yard run (Mehlhaff kick) |Score= WIS 14–7}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=Q2 |Time=1:59 |Team=WIS |Event=Mehlhaff 27 yard field goal |Score= WIS 17–7}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q2|Time=0:04 |Team=NW |Event= Howells 21 yard field goal |Score=WIS 17–10}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q3|Time=12:43 |Team=NW |Event= Philmore 4 yard pass from Basanez (kick blocked) |Score= WIS 17–16}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q3|Time=5:52 |Team= NW|Event= Sutton 1 yard run (Howells kick) |Score=NW 23–17}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q3|Time=3:34 |Team= WIS|Event= Mehlhaff 46 yard field goal |Score= NW 23–20}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q3|Time= 2:22|Team= NW|Event=Thompson 52 yard pass from Basanez (Howells kick) |Score= NW 30–20}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q3|Time=1:15 |Team=WIS |Event=Calhoun 1 yard run (Mehlhaff kick) |Score= NW 30–27}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q3|Time=0:47 |Team=NW |Event=Sutton 14 yard run (Howells kick) |Score= NW 37–27}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q4|Time=14:13 |Team=WIS |Event=Orr 9 yard pass from Stocco (Mehlhaff kick) |Score= NW 37–34}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q4|Time=9:44 |Team=NW |Event=Sutton 9 yard pass from Basanez (Howells kick) |Score= NW 44–34}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q4|Time=4:22 |Team=NW |Event=Sutton 62 yard run (Howells kick) |Score= NW 51–34}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q4|Time=3:53 |Team=WIS |Event=Orr 13 yard pass from Stocco (Mehlhaff kick) |Score= NW 51–41}}
    {{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter= Q4|Time=2:48 |Team=WIS |Event=Orr 21 yard pass from Stocco (Mehlhaff kick) |Score= NW 51–48|LastEntry=yes}}
{{AFB game box end}}

*[[Brett Basanez]] 26/36, 361 Yds
*[[Tyrell Sutton]] 29 Rush, 244 Yds
<ref>{{cite web|title=Northwestern Knocks Off No. 14 Wisconsin|url=http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/100805aaa.html|publisher=Northwestern University Department of Athletics|date=October 8, 2005|accessdate=October 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016154115/http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/100805aaa.html|archive-date=2014-10-16|dead-url=yes|df=}}</ref>

===UCLA (Sun Bowl)===
{{See also|2005 Sun Bowl}}

The Wildcats were invited to play in the [[2005 Sun Bowl]]. They lost 38-50 to the UCLA Bruins, who staged a 22 point comeback, a record for the Bruins at the time.

{{-}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{Northwestern Wildcats football navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2004 Northwestern Wildcats Football Team}}
[[Category:2005 Big Ten Conference football season|Northwestern]]
[[Category:Northwestern Wildcats football seasons]]
[[Category:2005 in sports in Illinois|Northwestern Wildcats f]]


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