Northwestern Schedule 2024

The Northwestern Wildcats football team will begin its 2024 season on Saturday, August 31, when they host the Purdue Boilermakers at Ryan Field. The Wildcats will then travel to Ireland to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Dublin on Saturday, September 7.

Northwestern’s home schedule also includes games against the Indiana Hoosiers (September 21), the Maryland Terrapins (October 5), the Wisconsin Badgers (October 19), and the Iowa Hawkeyes (November 9). The Wildcats will also travel to face the Ohio State Buckeyes (September 14), the Penn State Nittany Lions (October 12), and the Minnesota Golden Gophers (November 2).

The Wildcats will be looking to improve on their 10-3 record from 2023, which included a victory in the Citrus Bowl. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald is entering his 17th season at the helm of the program, and he will be looking to lead the Wildcats to their first Big Ten Championship since 2000.

The Northwestern Wildcats football team will have a challenging schedule in 2024, as they will face six teams that finished in the top 25 of the final College Football Playoff rankings in 2023.

Purdue Boilermakers (home)
Nebraska Cornhuskers (Dublin, Ireland)
Indiana Hoosiers (home)
Ohio State Buckeyes (away)
Penn State Nittany Lions (away)
Maryland Terrapins (home)
Wisconsin Badgers (home)
Iowa Hawkeyes (home)
Minnesota Golden Gophers (away)

The Wildcats will be looking to improve on their 10-3 record from 2023, which included a victory in the Citrus Bowl.

Purdue Boilermakers (home)

The Northwestern Wildcats will open their 2024 season at home against the Purdue Boilermakers. Purdue finished 8-5 in 2023, including a 5-4 record in Big Ten play. The Boilermakers return several key players from last season, including quarterback Aidan O’Connell and wide receiver Charlie Jones.

Aidan O’Connell is a talented quarterback.
O’Connell threw for 3,490 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2023. He is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the Big Ten and will be a tough test for the Northwestern defense.
Charlie Jones is a dynamic playmaker.
Jones led the Big Ten in receiving yards in 2023 with 1,361 yards. He is a big-play threat who can score from anywhere on the field.
The Boilermakers have a strong defense.
Purdue allowed just 21.5 points per game in 2023, which was fourth in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers return several key players from that defense, including linebacker Jalen Graham and safety Chris Jefferson.
The Wildcats will need to be at their best to beat Purdue.
The Boilermakers are a tough opponent, and the Wildcats will need to play their best game to win. Northwestern will need to control the tempo of the game and limit Purdue’s big plays. The Wildcats will also need to generate pressure on O’Connell and force him into mistakes.

The Wildcats and Boilermakers have a long history, dating back to 1892. Northwestern holds a 56-33-6 record in the series, but Purdue has won the last two meetings.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (Dublin, Ireland)

The Northwestern Wildcats will travel to Dublin, Ireland to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on Saturday, September 7. This will be the first meeting between the two schools since 2018, and it will be the first time that either school has played a game in Ireland.

The Cornhuskers finished 4-8 in 2023, but they return several key players from that team, including quarterback Casey Thompson and running back Anthony Grant. Nebraska also has a new head coach in Matt Rhule, who was previously the head coach at Baylor. Rhule is known for his ability to turn around struggling programs, and he will be looking to do the same at Nebraska.

The Wildcats will need to be at their best to beat Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are a tough opponent, and they will be playing with extra motivation in front of their home crowd in Dublin. Northwestern will need to control the tempo of the game and limit Nebraska’s big plays. The Wildcats will also need to generate pressure on Thompson and force him into mistakes.

The game will be played at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which is the home stadium of the Irish national rugby team. The stadium has a capacity of over 50,000, and it is expected to be sold out for the game. This will be a great opportunity for Northwestern to showcase its program on a global stage.

Indiana Hoosiers (home)

The Northwestern Wildcats will host the Indiana Hoosiers at Ryan Field on Saturday, September 21. This will be the first meeting between the two schools since 2022, and it will be the first time that Indiana has played a game at Ryan Field since 2016.

The Hoosiers finished 4-8 in 2023, but they return several key players from that team, including quarterback Connor Bazelak and running back Josh Henderson. Indiana also has a new head coach in Tom Allen, who was previously the head coach at Indiana State. Allen is known for his defensive prowess, and he will be looking to improve Indiana’s defense, which allowed 32.8 points per game in 2023.

The Wildcats will need to be at their best to beat Indiana. The Hoosiers are a tough opponent, and they will be looking to avenge their loss to Northwestern in 2022. Northwestern will need to control the tempo of the game and limit Indiana’s big plays. The Wildcats will also need to generate pressure on Bazelak and force him into mistakes.

The game will be played at Ryan Field, which is the home stadium of the Northwestern Wildcats. The stadium has a capacity of over 47,000, and it is expected to be sold out for the game. This will be a great opportunity for Northwestern to showcase its program in front of a large home crowd.

Ohio State Buckeyes (away)

The Northwestern Wildcats will travel to Columbus, Ohio to face the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, September 14. This will be the first meeting between the two schools since 2022, and it will be the first time that Northwestern has played a game at Ohio Stadium since 2018.

Ohio State is a perennial powerhouse.
The Buckeyes have won 11 national championships, and they are always a contender for the College Football Playoff. Ohio State is led by head coach Ryan Day, who is one of the best coaches in the country.
The Buckeyes have a lot of talent.
Ohio State has one of the most talented rosters in the country. The Buckeyes have several players who are considered to be among the best in the nation at their respective positions.
The Wildcats will need to play their best game to beat Ohio State.
Northwestern will need to be at their best to beat Ohio State. The Wildcats will need to control the tempo of the game and limit Ohio State’s big plays. Northwestern will also need to generate pressure on the quarterback and force him into mistakes.
The game will be a tough test for Northwestern.
The game against Ohio State will be a tough test for Northwestern. The Buckeyes are one of the best teams in the country, and they will be playing at home. However, Northwestern has a good team, and they will be looking to prove that they can compete with the best teams in the country.

The game will be played at Ohio Stadium, which is the home stadium of the Ohio State Buckeyes. The stadium has a capacity of over 102,000, and it is one of the largest stadiums in the country. This will be a great opportunity for Northwestern to showcase its program on a national stage.

Penn State Nittany Lions (away)

The Northwestern Wildcats will travel to State College, Pennsylvania to face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday, October 12. This will be the first meeting between the two schools since 2022, and it will be the first time that Northwestern has played a game at Beaver Stadium since 2018.

Penn State is a tough opponent.
The Nittany Lions finished 11-2 in 2023, and they were ranked No. 10 in the final College Football Playoff rankings. Penn State is led by head coach James Franklin, who is one of the best coaches in the country.
The Nittany Lions have a lot of talent.
Penn State has one of the most talented rosters in the country. The Nittany Lions have several players who are considered to be among the best in the nation at their respective positions.
The Wildcats will need to play their best game to beat Penn State.
Northwestern will need to be at their best to beat Penn State. The Wildcats will need to control the tempo of the game and limit Penn State’s big plays. Northwestern will also need to generate pressure on the quarterback and force him into mistakes.
The game will be a tough test for Northwestern.
The game against Penn State will be a tough test for Northwestern. The Nittany Lions are one of the best teams in the country, and they will be playing at home. However, Northwestern has a good team, and they will be looking to prove that they can compete with the best teams in the country.

The game will be played at Beaver Stadium, which is the home stadium of the Penn State Nittany Lions. The stadium has a capacity of over 106,000, and it is one of the largest stadiums in the country. This will be a great opportunity for Northwestern to showcase its program on a national stage.

Maryland Terrapins (home)

The Northwestern Wildcats will host the Maryland Terrapins at Ryan Field on Saturday, October 5. This will be the first meeting between the two schools since 2022, and it will be the first time that Maryland has played a game at Ryan Field since 2018.

Maryland is a rising program.
The Terrapins finished 8-5 in 2023, and they were ranked No. 25 in the final College Football Playoff rankings. Maryland is led by head coach Mike Locksley, who is one of the best up-and-coming coaches in the country.
The Terrapins have a lot of talent.
Maryland has one of the most talented rosters in the Big Ten. The Terrapins have several players who are considered to be among the best in the conference at their respective positions.
The Wildcats will need to play their best game to beat Maryland.
Northwestern will need to be at their best to beat Maryland. The Wildcats will need to control the tempo of the game and limit Maryland’s big plays. Northwestern will also need to generate pressure on the quarterback and force him into mistakes.
The game will be a tough test for Northwestern.
The game against Maryland will be a tough test for Northwestern. The Terrapins are one of the best teams in the Big Ten, and they will be looking to avenge their loss to Northwestern in 2022. However, Northwestern has a good team, and they will be looking to prove that they can compete with the best teams in the conference.

Wisconsin Badgers (home)

The Northwestern Wildcats will host the Wisconsin Badgers at Ryan Field on Saturday, October 19. This will be the first meeting between the two schools since 2022, and it will be the first time that Wisconsin has played a game at Ryan Field since 2018.

Wisconsin is a physical team.
The Badgers are known for their tough, physical style of play. Wisconsin has one of the best running games in the country, and they are also very good at stopping the run on defense.
The Badgers have a lot of experience.
Wisconsin has a lot of experienced players on both sides of the ball. The Badgers have several players who have started multiple games, and they are very well-coached.
The Wildcats will need to play their best game to beat Wisconsin.
Northwestern will need to be at their best to beat Wisconsin. The Wildcats will need to control the tempo of the game and limit Wisconsin’s big plays. Northwestern will also need to generate pressure on the quarterback and force him into mistakes.
The game will be a tough test for Northwestern.
The game against Wisconsin will be a tough test for Northwestern. The Badgers are one of the best teams in the Big Ten, and they will be looking to avenge their loss to Northwestern in 2022. However, Northwestern has a good team, and they will be looking to prove that they can compete with the best teams in the conference.

Iowa Hawkeyes (home)

The Northwestern Wildcats will host the Iowa Hawkeyes at Ryan Field on Saturday, November 9. This will be the first meeting between the two schools since 2022, and it will be the first time that Iowa has played a game at Ryan Field since 2018.

The Hawkeyes finished 8-5 in 2023, and they were ranked No. 23 in the final College Football Playoff rankings. Iowa is led by head coach Kirk Ferentz, who is the longest-tenured coach in the FBS. Ferentz is known for his tough, physical style of play, and he has led Iowa to several Big Ten championships and bowl games.

The Hawkeyes have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Iowa has one of the best defenses in the country, and they also have a very good running game. The Hawkeyes are led by quarterback Spencer Petras, who is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the Big Ten. Petras is a very good passer, and he is also a threat to run.

The Wildcats will need to play their best game to beat Iowa. Northwestern will need to control the tempo of the game and limit Iowa’s big plays. Northwestern will also need to generate pressure on Petras and force him into mistakes. The game will be a tough test for Northwestern, but the Wildcats have a good team, and they will be looking to prove that they can compete with the best teams in the Big Ten.

Minnesota Golden Gophers (away)

The Northwestern Wildcats will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday, November 2. This will be the first meeting between the two schools since 2022, and it will be the first time that Northwestern has played a game at Huntington Bank Stadium since 2018.

Minnesota is a rising program.
The Golden Gophers finished 9-4 in 2023, and they were ranked No. 20 in the final College Football Playoff rankings. Minnesota is led by head coach P.J. Fleck, who is one of the most successful coaches in the Big Ten. Fleck is known for his high-powered offense, and he has led Minnesota to several bowl games.
The Golden Gophers have a lot of talent.
Minnesota has one of the most talented offenses in the Big Ten. The Golden Gophers have several players who are considered to be among the best in the conference at their respective positions.
The Wildcats will need to play their best game to beat Minnesota.
Northwestern will need to be at their best to beat Minnesota. The Wildcats will need to control the tempo of the game and limit Minnesota’s big plays. Northwestern will also need to generate pressure on the quarterback and force him into mistakes.
The game will be a tough test for Northwestern.
The game against Minnesota will be a tough test for Northwestern. The Golden Gophers are one of the best teams in the Big Ten, and they will be playing at home. However, Northwestern has a good team, and they will be looking to prove that they can compete with the best teams in the conference.

The game will be played at Huntington Bank Stadium, which is the home stadium of the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The stadium has a capacity of over 50,000, and it is expected to be sold out for the game. This will be a great opportunity for Northwestern to showcase its program on a national stage.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Northwestern Wildcats 2024 football schedule:

Question 1: When does the Northwestern Wildcats 2024 football season start?
Answer: The Northwestern Wildcats 2024 football season starts on Saturday, August 31, when they host the Purdue Boilermakers at Ryan Field.

Question 2: Where can I find the Northwestern Wildcats 2024 football schedule?
Answer: The Northwestern Wildcats 2024 football schedule can be found on the Northwestern Athletics website.

Question 3: How many home games do the Northwestern Wildcats have in 2024?
Answer: The Northwestern Wildcats have six home games in 2024.

Question 4: Who is the Northwestern Wildcats’ toughest opponent in 2024?
Answer: The Northwestern Wildcats’ toughest opponent in 2024 is Ohio State.

Question 5: What is the Northwestern Wildcats’ biggest rivalry?
Answer: The Northwestern Wildcats’ biggest rivalry is with the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Question 6: Where can I buy tickets to Northwestern Wildcats football games?
Answer: Tickets to Northwestern Wildcats football games can be purchased on the Northwestern Athletics website.

Question 7: What is the capacity of Ryan Field?
Answer: The capacity of Ryan Field is 47,130.

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For more information about the Northwestern Wildcats 2024 football schedule, please visit the Northwestern Athletics website.

Here are some tips for attending a Northwestern Wildcats football game:

Tips

Here are some tips for attending a Northwestern Wildcats football game:

Tip 1: Arrive early.
Traffic and parking can be difficult around Ryan Field on game days, so it is important to arrive early to avoid missing any of the action.

Tip 2: Wear comfortable shoes.
You will be doing a lot of walking on game day, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

Tip 3: Bring sunscreen and a hat.
Ryan Field is an outdoor stadium, so it is important to protect yourself from the sun.

Tip 4: Be respectful of other fans.
Northwestern football games are a great opportunity to socialize and have fun, but it is important to be respectful of other fans, even if they are cheering for the opposing team.

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By following these tips, you can help ensure that you have a great time at your next Northwestern Wildcats football game.

Conclusion:

The Northwestern Wildcats 2024 football schedule is a challenging one, but it is also an exciting one. The Wildcats have a chance to make a statement in the Big Ten and on the national stage. With a talented team and a supportive fan base, the Wildcats are poised for a successful season in 2024.

Conclusion

The Wildcats will open their season at home against the Purdue Boilermakers. They will then travel to Dublin, Ireland to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Wildcats will also host the Indiana Hoosiers, Maryland Terrapins, Wisconsin Badgers, and Iowa Hawkeyes at Ryan Field in 2024. The Wildcats will travel to face the Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, and Minnesota Golden Gophers on the road in 2024.

The Wildcats will need to be at their best to compete in the Big Ten in 2024. The Big Ten is one of the toughest conferences in the country, and the Wildcats will need to be prepared for every game. The Wildcats have a good team, and they are capable of making a run at the Big Ten Championship in 2024.