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2008 Northwestern Wildcats football team

{{short description|American college football season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NCAA team season|sport=football

|year=2008

|team=Northwestern Wildcats

|image=NorthwesternWildcats.png

|image_size=125

|conference=Big Ten Conference

|division=

|short_conf=Big Ten

|BCSRank=

|CoachRank=

|APRank=

|record=9–4

|conf_record=5–3

|head_coach=Pat Fitzgerald

|hc_year= 3rd

|off_coach=Mick McCall

|oc_year= 1st

|def_coach=Mike Hankwitz

|dc_year= 1st

|off_scheme=Spread

|def_scheme=Multiple 4–3

|captain=C.J. Bachér{{Cite web|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/nusports.com/documents/2018/8/20/18_Northwestern_FB_Media_Guide.pdf#page=94|title=Year-by-Year Results|date=2018|page=93|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190316185334/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/nusports.com/documents/2018/8/20/18_Northwestern_FB_Media_Guide.pdf#page=94|archive-date=2019-03-16|url-status=live|access-date=2019-03-14}}

|captain2=Prince Kwateng

|captain3=Eric Peterman

|captain4=Brendan Smith

|stadium=Ryan Field

|champion=

|bowl=Alamo Bowl

|bowl_result= L 23–30 OT vs. Missouri

}}

{{2008 Big Ten football standings}}

The 2008 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the Big Ten Conference during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Pat Fitzgerald, in his third season at Northwestern, was the team's head coach. The Wildcats played their homes games at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 2008

| poll = AP

| timezone = Central

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = August 30

| time = 11:00 am{{cite web|url=http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/070208aaa.html|title=Kickoff Times Announced For NU's First Three Home Games|publisher=Northwestern University Department of Athletics|date=July 2, 2008|access-date=July 4, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705094510/http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/070208aaa.html|archive-date=July 5, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Syracuse

| site_stadium = Ryan Field

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 30–10

| attend = 20,015

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 6

| time = 6:00 pm{{cite web|url=http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=1477519|title=Kickoff Times Set For Duke's First Three Football Games|publisher=Duke University Department of Athletics|date=June 3, 2008|access-date=June 6, 2008}}

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Duke

| site_stadium = Wallace Wade Stadium

| site_cityst = Durham, NC

| tv =

| score = 24–20

| attend = 23,614

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 13

| time = 11:00 am

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank =

| opponent = Southern Illinois

| opprank = 11 (FCS)

| site_stadium = Ryan Field

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| tv = BTN

| score = 33–7

| attend = 19,062

| source = {{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Shannon |title=Wildcats keep a firm grip |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90480197/chicago-tribune/ |access-date=December 12, 2021 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=September 14, 2008 |page=3:4 |via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 20

| time = 11:00 am

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank =

| opponent = Ohio

| site_stadium = Ryan Field

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| tv = BTN

| score = 16–8

| attend = 22,069

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 27

| time = 11:00 am{{cite web|url=http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/051208aaa.html|title=Big Ten Announces Start Times for 2008 Homecoming Games|publisher=Northwestern University Department of Athletics|date=May 12, 2008|access-date=May 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212613/http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/051208aaa.html|archive-date=July 8, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank =

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Kinnick Stadium

| site_cityst = Iowa City, IA

| tv = ESPNC{{cite web|url=http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/nw-m-footbl-sched.html|title=Northwestern Official Athletics Site|publisher=Northwestern University Department of Athletics|date=September 29, 2008|access-date=September 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928144930/http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/nw-m-footbl-sched.html|archive-date=September 28, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

| score = 22–17

| attend = 70,585

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 11

| time = 2:30 pm

| w/l = l

| rank =

| opponent = Michigan State

| opprank = 23

| site_stadium = Ryan Field

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 20–37

| attend = 32,527

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 18

| time = 11:00 am

| w/l = w

| homecoming = y

| rank =

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Ryan Field

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 48–26

| attend = 27,163

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 25

| time = 11:00 am

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank =

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Bloomington, IN

| tv = BTN

| score = 19–21

| attend = 30,698

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 1

| time = 11:00 am

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank =

| opponent = Minnesota

| opprank = 20

| site_stadium = Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 24–17

| attend = 54,122

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 8

| time = 11:00 am

| w/l = l

| rank =

| opponent = Ohio State

| opprank = 12

| site_stadium = Ryan Field

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 10–45

| attend = 47,130

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 15

| time = 11:00 am

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank =

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Michigan Stadium

| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 21–14

| attend = 107,856

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 22

| time = 2:30 pm

| w/l = w

| rank =

| opponent = Illinois

| site_stadium = Ryan Field

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = BTN

| score = 27–10

| attend = 32,166

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 29

| time = 7:00 pm

| w/l = l

| neutral = y

| rank = 22

| opponent = Missouri

| opprank = 25

| site_stadium = Alamodome

| site_cityst = San Antonio, TX

| gamename = Alamo Bowl

| tv = ESPN

| score = 23–30

| overtime = OT

| attend = 55,986

}}

}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2008-2009/teamcume.html|title=Cumulative Season Statistics|publisher=Northwestern University Department of athletics|access-date=October 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405192131/http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2008-2009/teamcume.html|archive-date=April 5, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

Game summaries

=Syracuse=

{{see also|2008 Syracuse Orange football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Orange

|R1=3

|R2=0

|R3=7

|R4=0

|Home=Wildcats

|H1=0

|H2=9

|H3=14

|H4=7

}}

{{Clear}}

=Duke=

{{see also|2008 Duke Blue Devils football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Wildcats

|R1=7

|R2=10

|R3=0

|R4=7

|Home=Blue Devils

|H1=7

|H2=3

|H3=3

|H4=7

}}

{{Clear}}

=Southern Illinois=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Salukis

|R1=7

|R2=0

|R3=0

|R4=0

|Home=Wildcats

|H1=6

|H2=10

|H3=10

|H4=7

}}

{{Clear}}

=Ohio=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Bobcats

|R1=0

|R2=0

|R3=8

|R4=0

|Home=Wildcats

|H1=6

|H2=10

|H3=0

|H4=0

}}

{{Clear}}

=Iowa=

{{see also|2008 Iowa Hawkeyes football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Wildcats

|R1= 0

|R2= 10

|R3= 6

|R4= 6

|Home=Hawkeyes

|H1= 3

|H2= 14

|H3= 0

|H4= 0

}}

{{Clear}}

=Michigan State=

{{see also|2008 Michigan State Spartans football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Spartans

|R1=17

|R2=7

|R3=10

|R4=3

|Home=Wildcats

|H1=0

|H2=7

|H3=10

|H4=3

}}

{{Clear}}

=Purdue=

{{see also|2008 Purdue Boilermakers football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Boilermakers

|R1=6

|R2=6

|R3=0

|R4=14

|Home=Wildcats

|H1=0

|H2=24

|H3=10

|H4=14

}}

{{Clear}}

=Indiana=

{{see also|2008 Indiana Hoosiers football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Wildcats

|R1=3

|R2=6

|R3=10

|R4=0

|Home=Hoosiers

|H1=7

|H2=7

|H3=7

|H4=0

}}

{{Clear}}

=Minnesota=

{{see also|2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Wildcats

|R1=10

|R2=7

|R3=0

|R4=7

|Home=Golden Gophers

|H1=0

|H2=17

|H3=0

|H4=0

}}

{{Clear}}

=Ohio State=

{{see also|2008 Ohio State Buckeyes football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Buckeyes

|R1=7

|R2=17

|R3=7

|R4=14

|Home=Wildcats

|H1=7

|H2=0

|H3=3

|H4=0

}}

{{Clear}}

=Michigan=

{{see also|2008 Michigan Wolverines football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Wildcats

|R1=7

|R2=0

|R3=14

|R4=0

|Home=Wolverines

|H1=7

|H2=7

|H3=0

|H4=0

}}

{{Clear}}

=Illinois=

{{see also|2008 Illinois Fighting Illini football team|Illinois–Northwestern football rivalry}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Fighting Illini

|R1=0

|R2=0

|R3=7

|R4=3

|Home=Wildcats

|H1=6

|H2=7

|H3=3

|H4=11

}}

{{Clear}}

=Alamo Bowl, v. Missouri=

{{see also|2008 Missouri Tigers football team|2008 Alamo Bowl}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Tigers

|R1=0

|R2=10

|R3=10

|R4=3

|R5=7

|Home=Wildcats

|H1=7

|H2=3

|H3=13

|H4=0

|H5=0

}}

{{Clear}}

Rankings

{{See also|2008 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings}}

{{NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

| finalpollweek = 16 | harrisfirstweek = 6 | bcsfirstweek = 8

| AP_pre = NR

| coaches_pre = NR

| AP_1 = NR

| coaches_1 = NR

| AP_2 = NR

| coaches_2 = RV

| AP_3 = RV

| coaches_3 = RV

| AP_4 = RV

| coaches_4 = RV

| AP_5 = RV

| coaches_5 = RV

| harris_5 = RV

| AP_6 = RV

| coaches_6 = 22

| harris_6 = 23

| AP_7 = RV

| coaches_7 = RV

| harris_7 = RV

| AP_8 = RV

| coaches_8 = 24

| harris_8 = RV

| bcs_8 = 22

| AP_9 = RV

| coaches_9 = RV

| harris_9 = RV

| bcs_9 = NR

| AP_10 = RV

| coaches_10 = 25

| harris_10 = RV

| bcs_10 = 24

| AP_11 = RV

| coaches_11 = RV

| harris_11 = RV

| bcs_11 = NR

| AP_12 = RV

| coaches_12 = 24

| harris_12 = RV

| bcs_12 = NR

| AP_13 = 24

| coaches_13 = 20

| harris_13 = 24

| bcs_13 = 24

| AP_14 = 24

| coaches_14 = 22

| harris_14 = 22

| bcs_14 = 22

| AP_15 = 22

| coaches_15 = 20

| harris_15 = 21

| bcs_15 = 23

| AP_16 = RV

| coaches_16 = RV

}}

Statistics

=Team=

valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;"

! !! Team !! Opp

Scoring  
  Points per Game  
First Downs  
  Rushing  
  Passing  
  Penalty  
Total Offense  
  Avg per Play  
  Avg per Game  
Fumbles-Lost  
Penalties-Yards  
  Avg per Game  

| valign="top" |

class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;"

! !! Team !! Opp

Punts-Yards  
  Avg per Punt  
Time of Possession/Game  
3rd Down Conversions  
4th Down Conversions  
Touchdowns Scored  
Field Goals-Attempts-Long  
PAT-Attempts  
Attendance  
  Games/Avg per Game  

|}

==Scores by quarter==

align="left"

|{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Northwestern

|R1=52

|R2=100

|R3=80

|R4=62

|Home=Opponents

|H1=64

|H2=78

|H3=49

|H4=41

}}

=Offense=

==Rushing==

class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;"

! Name !! GP-GS !! Att !! Gain !! Loss !! Net !! Avg !! TD !! Long !! Avg/G

          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
TEAM         
Total         
Opponents         

==Passing==

class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;"

! Name !! CMP !! ATT !! YDS !! CMP% !! YPA !! LNG !! TD !! INT !! SACK !! RAT

C. J. Bachér218365212859.75.835314149113.68
Mike Kafka324633069.67.1736236131.13
Eric Peterman2255100.027.5030100496.0
Total252413251361.06.0853171715116.9
Opponents         

==Receiving==

class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;"

! Name !! GP-GS !! No. !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Long !! Avg/G

          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
Total         
Opponents         

=Defense=

class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;"

! rowspan="2" | Name

! rowspan="2" | GP

! colspan="4" | Tackles

! Sacks

! colspan="2" | Pass Defense

! colspan="4" | Interceptions

! colspan="2" | Fumbles

! rowspan="2" | Blkd
Kick

SoloAstTotalTFL-YdsNo-YdsBrUpQBHNo.-YdsAvgTDLongRcv-YdsFF

| Total

=Special teams=

class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;"

! rowspan="2" | Name

! colspan="8" | Punting

! colspan="5" | Kickoffs

No.YdsAvgLongTBFCI20Blkd

! No.

YdsAvgTBOB
Total

class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;"

! rowspan="2" | Name

! colspan="5" | Punt Returns

! colspan="5" | Kick Returns

No.YdsAvgTDLongNo.YdsAvgTDLong
Total

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Northwestern Wildcats football navbox}}

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Category:Northwestern Wildcats football seasons

Northwestern Wildcats football