1997 Northwestern Wildcats football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1997
| team = Northwestern Wildcats
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Big Ten Conference
| short_conf = Big Ten
| record = 5–7
| conf_record = 3–5
| head_coach = Gary Barnett
| hc_year = 6th
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme =
| codef_coach1 = Jerry Brown
| codc1_year = 1st
| codef_coach2 = Vince Okruch
| codc2_year = 1st
| def_scheme =
| captain2 = Barry Gardner
| captain3 = Nate Strikwerda
| stadium = Ryan Field
}}
{{1997 Big Ten Conference football standings}}
The 1997 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 1997 Big Ten Conference football season. They played their home games at Ryan Field and participated as members of the Big Ten Conference. They were coached by Gary Barnett.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1997
| poll = AP
| timezone = Central
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = August 23
| time = 11:00 am
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| opponent = Oklahoma
| site_stadium = Soldier Field
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| gamename = Pigskin Classic
| tv = ABC
| score = 24–0
| attend = 36,804
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 6
| time = 2:30 pm
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 21
| opponent = Wake Forest
| site_stadium = Groves Stadium
| site_cityst = Winston-Salem, NC
| tv = ABC
| score = 20–27
| attend = 24,320
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/northwest-herald-rude-a-wake-ning-wake/152100359/|work=Northwest Herald|title=Rude a-Wake-ning; Wake Forest stuns Northwestern for 2nd straight year|date=September 7, 1997|accessdate=July 26, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 13
| time = 1:00 pm
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Duke
| site_stadium = Ryan Field
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| tv =
| score = 24–20
| attend = 36,225
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-northwestern-edges-duke/152101267/|work=News and Record|title=Northwestern edges Duke|date=September 14, 1997|accessdate=July 26, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 20
| time = 11:30 am
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Rice
| site_stadium = Ryan Field
| site_cityst = Evanston, Illinois
| tv = SCC
| score = 34–40
| attend = 32,762
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 27
| time = 11:30 am
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Purdue
| site_stadium = Ross–Ade Stadium
| site_cityst = West Lafayette, IN
| tv = ESPN
| score = 9–21
| attend = 42,112
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 4
| time = 6:00 pm
| w/l = l
| opponent = Wisconsin
| site_stadium = Ryan Field
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| tv = ESPN
| score = 25–26
| attend = 47,129
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 11
| time = 11:30 am
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Michigan
| opprank = 6
| site_stadium = Michigan Stadium
| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI
| gamename = rivalry
| tv = ESPN
| score = 6–23
| attend = 106,048
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 18
| time = 2:30 pm
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| opponent = Michigan State
| opprank = 11
| site_stadium = Ryan Field
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| tv = ABC
| score = 19–17
| attend = 47,129
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 25
| time = 2:30 pm
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Ohio State
| opprank = 9
| site_stadium = Ohio Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbus, OH
| tv = ABC
| score = 6–49
| attend = 92,445
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 1
| time = 11:30 am
| w/l = l
| opponent = Penn State
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Ryan Field
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| tv = ESPN
| score = 27–30
| attend = 47,129
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 8
| time = 11:00 am
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Illinois
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename = rivalry
| tv = ESPN Plus
| score = 34–21
| attend = 41,195
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 15
| time = 11:30 am
| w/l = w
| opponent = Iowa
| opprank = 22
| site_stadium = Ryan Field
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| tv = ESPN2
| score = 15–14
| attend = 40,838
}}
}}
Rankings
{{see also|1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings}}
{{Ranking movements
| poll1title = AP
| poll1firstweek = 0
| poll1lastweek = 17
| poll1_0=NR
| poll1_1=24
| poll1_2=21т
| poll1_3=NR
| poll1_4=NR
| poll1_5=NR
| poll1_6=NR
| poll1_7=NR
| poll1_8=NR
| poll1_9=NR
| poll1_10=NR
| poll1_11=NR
| poll1_12=NR
| poll1_13=NR
| poll1_14=NR
| poll1_15=NR
| poll1_16=NR
| poll1_17=NR
| poll2title = Coaches
| poll2firstweek =0
| poll2lastweek =17
| poll2_0=NR
| poll2_1=
| poll2_2=24
| poll2_3=NR
| poll2_4=NR
| poll2_5=NR
| poll2_6=NR
| poll2_7=NR
| poll2_8=NR
| poll2_9=NR
| poll2_10=NR
| poll2_11=NR
| poll2_12=NR
| poll2_13=NR
| poll2_14=NR
| poll2_15=NR
| poll2_16=NR
| poll2_17=NR
}}
Roster
{{American football roster/Header
| year = 1997
| team = Northwestern Wildcats
| teamcolors = f
| offensive_players =
{{American football roster/Player|num=5|class=Jr|first=D'Wayne|last=Bates|pos=WR|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=74|class=Sr|first=Paul|last=Janus|pos=T|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=84|class=So|first=Jay|last=Tant|pos=TE|link=y}}
| defensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=36|class=Sr|first=Casey|last=Dailey|pos=DE|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=55|class=Jr|first=Barry|last=Gardner|pos=LB|link=y}}
| special_teams_players=
}}
{{American football roster/Footer
| head_coach = *Gary Barnett
| asst_coach =
| accessdate=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Northwestern Wildcats football navbox}}