Northwestern record by year
Since 1892
571-710-40
Win %
.447
Bowl trips
18
Winning seasons
50
Best year
7-1 (1936)
| Season | W | L | T | Win % | PF | PA | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 132 | 67 | In progress |
| 2025 | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | 304 | 258 | Won GameAbove Sports Bowl |
| 2024 | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 214 | 316 | No bowl |
| 2023 | 8 | 5 | 0 | .615 | 287 | 293 | Won SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl |
| 2022 | 1 | 11 | 0 | .083 | 165 | 340 | No bowl |
| 2021 | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | 199 | 348 | No bowl |
| 2020 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 222 | 143 | Won Vrbo Citrus Bowl |
| 2019 | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | 196 | 283 | No bowl |
| 2018 | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 339 | 325 | Won Bowl game |
| 2017 | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | 380 | 261 | Won Bowl game |
| 2016 | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | 338 | 289 | Won NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL |
| 2015 | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | 254 | 242 | Lost OUTBACK BOWL |
| 2014 | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | 276 | 302 | No bowl |
| 2013 | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | 314 | 325 | No bowl |
| 2012 | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | 412 | 293 | Won TAXSLAYER.com GATOR BOWL |
| 2011 | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | 376 | 360 | Lost MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL OF TEXAS |
| 2010 | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | 343 | 377 | Lost TICKETCITY BOWL |
| 2009 | 8 | 5 | 0 | .615 | 337 | 318 | Lost OUTBACK BOWL |
| 2008 | 9 | 4 | 0 | .692 | 317 | 262 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2007 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | 310 | 372 | No bowl |
| 2006 | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 198 | 314 | No bowl |
| 2005 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | 388 | 407 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2004 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | 295 | 342 | No bowl |
| 2003 | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | 263 | 326 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2002 | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | 272 | 493 | No bowl |
| 2001 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | 320 | 378 | No bowl |
| 2000 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | 441 | 400 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1999 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | 141 | 301 | No bowl |
| 1998 | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | 214 | 337 | No bowl |
| 1997 | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | 243 | 288 | No bowl |
| 1996 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | 336 | 278 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1995 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | 311 | 181 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1994 | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | 210 | 351 | No bowl |
| 1993 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | 185 | 335 | No bowl |
| 1992 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | 170 | 373 | No bowl |
| 1991 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | 160 | 306 | No bowl |
| 1990 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | 210 | 370 | No bowl |
| 1989 | 0 | 11 | 0 | .000 | 241 | 497 | No bowl |
| 1988 | 2 | 8 | 1 | .227 | 192 | 350 | No bowl |
| 1987 | 2 | 8 | 1 | .227 | 186 | 328 | No bowl |
| 1986 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | 217 | 251 | No bowl |
| 1985 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | 170 | 332 | No bowl |
| 1984 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | 138 | 349 | No bowl |
| 1983 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | 101 | 398 | No bowl |
| 1982 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | 206 | 379 | No bowl |
| 1981 | 0 | 11 | 0 | .000 | 82 | 505 | No bowl |
| 1980 | 0 | 11 | 0 | .000 | 151 | 444 | No bowl |
| 1979 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | 115 | 386 | No bowl |
| 1978 | 0 | 10 | 1 | .045 | 92 | 440 | No bowl |
| 1977 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | 102 | 337 | No bowl |
| 1976 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | 134 | 311 | No bowl |
| 1975 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | 149 | 318 | No bowl |
| 1974 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | 140 | 385 | No bowl |
| 1973 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | 188 | 299 | No bowl |
| 1972 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | 146 | 290 | No bowl |
| 1971 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 211 | 183 | No bowl |
| 1970 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | 233 | 161 | No bowl |
| 1969 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | 137 | 306 | No bowl |
| 1968 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | 109 | 325 | No bowl |
| 1967 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | 149 | 213 | No bowl |
| 1966 | 3 | 6 | 1 | .350 | 137 | 213 | No bowl |
| 1965 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | 141 | 208 | No bowl |
| 1964 | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | 95 | 164 | No bowl |
| 1963 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | 162 | 124 | No bowl |
| 1962 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 237 | 158 | No bowl |
| 1961 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 131 | 105 | No bowl |
| 1960 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | 107 | 103 | No bowl |
| 1959 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 174 | 134 | No bowl |
| 1958 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | 199 | 148 | No bowl |
| 1957 | 0 | 9 | 0 | .000 | 57 | 271 | No bowl |
| 1956 | 4 | 4 | 1 | .500 | 107 | 112 | No bowl |
| 1955 | 0 | 8 | 1 | .056 | 66 | 241 | No bowl |
| 1954 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | 101 | 142 | No bowl |
| 1953 | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | 166 | 205 | No bowl |
| 1952 | 2 | 6 | 1 | .278 | 166 | 252 | No bowl |
| 1951 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | 112 | 124 | No bowl |
| 1950 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 155 | 143 | No bowl |
| 1949 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 137 | 156 | No bowl |
| 1948 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | 191 | 91 | Won Bowl game |
| 1947 | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | 129 | 196 | No bowl |
| 1946 | 4 | 4 | 1 | .500 | 156 | 136 | No bowl |
| 1945 | 4 | 4 | 1 | .500 | 127 | 148 | No bowl |
| 1944 | 1 | 7 | 1 | .167 | 102 | 160 | No bowl |
| 1943 | 6 | 2 | 0 | .750 | 189 | 64 | No bowl |
| 1942 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | 96 | 209 | No bowl |
| 1941 | 5 | 3 | 0 | .625 | 173 | 67 | No bowl |
| 1940 | 6 | 2 | 0 | .750 | 170 | 64 | No bowl |
| 1939 | 3 | 4 | 1 | .438 | 47 | 67 | No bowl |
| 1938 | 4 | 2 | 2 | .625 | 93 | 32 | No bowl |
| 1937 | 4 | 4 | 0 | .500 | 68 | 40 | No bowl |
| 1936 | 7 | 1 | 0 | .875 | 132 | 73 | No bowl |
| 1935 | 4 | 3 | 1 | .563 | 90 | 79 | No bowl |
| 1934 | 3 | 5 | 0 | .375 | 64 | 120 | No bowl |
| 1933 | 1 | 5 | 2 | .250 | 25 | 42 | No bowl |
| 1932 | 3 | 4 | 1 | .438 | 116 | 76 | No bowl |
| 1931 | 7 | 1 | 1 | .833 | 138 | 40 | No bowl |
| 1930 | 7 | 1 | 0 | .875 | 182 | 36 | No bowl |
| 1929 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 172 | 95 | No bowl |
| 1928 | 5 | 3 | 0 | .625 | 65 | 43 | No bowl |
| 1927 | 4 | 4 | 0 | .500 | 129 | 98 | No bowl |
| 1926 | 7 | 1 | 0 | .875 | 179 | 22 | No bowl |
| 1925 | 5 | 3 | 0 | .625 | 81 | 69 | No bowl |
| 1924 | 4 | 4 | 0 | .500 | 109 | 66 | No bowl |
| 1923 | 2 | 6 | 0 | .250 | 90 | 112 | No bowl |
| 1922 | 3 | 3 | 1 | .500 | 119 | 92 | No bowl |
| 1921 | 1 | 6 | 0 | .143 | 34 | 120 | No bowl |
| 1920 | 3 | 4 | 0 | .429 | 66 | 90 | No bowl |
| 1919 | 2 | 5 | 0 | .286 | 49 | 111 | No bowl |
| 1918 | 2 | 2 | 1 | .500 | 75 | 61 | No bowl |
| 1917 | 5 | 2 | 0 | .714 | 145 | 85 | No bowl |
| 1916 | 6 | 1 | 0 | .857 | 144 | 55 | No bowl |
| 1915 | 2 | 5 | 0 | .286 | 69 | 112 | No bowl |
| 1914 | 1 | 6 | 0 | .143 | 13 | 176 | No bowl |
| 1913 | 1 | 6 | 0 | .143 | 36 | 242 | No bowl |
| 1912 | 2 | 3 | 1 | .417 | 32 | 87 | No bowl |
| 1911 | 3 | 4 | 0 | .429 | 60 | 70 | No bowl |
| 1910 | 1 | 3 | 1 | .300 | 10 | 45 | No bowl |
| 1909 | 1 | 3 | 1 | .300 | 25 | 95 | No bowl |
| 1908 | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 72 | 90 | No bowl |
| 1905 | 8 | 2 | 1 | .773 | 214 | 122 | No bowl |
| 1904 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | 312 | 55 | No bowl |
| 1903 | 10 | 1 | 3 | .821 | 229 | 67 | No bowl |
| 1902 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | 83 | 117 | No bowl |
| 1901 | 8 | 2 | 1 | .773 | 161 | 77 | No bowl |
| 1900 | 7 | 2 | 3 | .708 | 112 | 49 | No bowl |
| 1899 | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | 144 | 177 | No bowl |
| 1898 | 9 | 4 | 1 | .679 | 229 | 123 | No bowl |
| 1897 | 5 | 3 | 0 | .625 | 69 | 55 | No bowl |
| 1896 | 6 | 1 | 2 | .778 | 156 | 46 | No bowl |
| 1895 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | 192 | 132 | No bowl |
| 1894 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 72 | 228 | No bowl |
| 1893 | 2 | 5 | 3 | .350 | 92 | 176 | No bowl |
| 1892 | 6 | 4 | 2 | .583 | 140 | 112 | No bowl |
About this table
These are the Northwestern records for every season since 1892, bowl and playoff games included, with the postseason result on the right. The numbers come straight from the game logs and update as each season plays out. For national titles and the program story, see the Northwestern team page and the History Vault.
Northwestern all-time record against every opponent
- Illinois55-59-5
- Wisconsin37-62-4
- Minnesota38-56-5
- Purdue36-53-1
- Iowa28-55-3
- Indiana47-37-1
- Ohio State14-66-1
- Michigan15-61-2
- Michigan State19-41
- Notre Dame9-37-2
- Chicago8-26-3
- Duke10-14
- Penn State7-16
- Nebraska7-11
- Beloit11-3-3
- Lake Forest14-1-2
- Miami (OH)4-7
- Syracuse6-5
- Missouri4-5
- Iowa State7-1
- Northern Illinois6-1-1
- Stanford2-4-2
- Pittsburgh4-3
- Rice3-4
- UCLA4-3
- Air Force2-4
- Evanston High6-0
- Rutgers2-4
- USC0-6
- Army3-2
- Boston College4-1
- Maryland4-1
- North Central College5-0
- Ohio4-1
- South Dakota5-0
- Tulane1-4
- Arizona State0-4
- Englewood High4-0
- Fort Sheridan4-0
- Great Lakes Navy1-2-1
- Knox3-1
- Miami2-2
- North Division High4-0
- Northwestern Alumni3-1
- Oklahoma3-1
- Oregon State3-1
- Physicians & Surgeons3-1
- Rush Medical3-1
- TCU1-3
- Utah3-1
- Vanderbilt2-1-1
- Wake Forest2-2
- Washington0-4
- Armour2-0-1
- Bowling Green1-2
- California2-1
- Colorado2-1
- DePauw3-0
- Eastern Illinois3-0
- Eastern Michigan3-0
- Illinois Wesleyan1-1-1
- Lombard3-0
- Navy3-0
- Nevada2-1
- UNLV3-0
- Arizona0-2
- Auburn1-1
- Butler2-0
- Carleton2-0
- Central Michigan2-0
- Chicago A.C.2-0
- Chicago Dental2-0
- Cincinnati2-0
- DePaul2-0
- Drake2-0
- Florida0-2
- Hawai'i1-1
- Illinois State1-1
- Kansas2-0
- Kansas State2-0
- Kentucky2-0
- Lake Forest Academy2-0
- Marquette2-0
- Monmouth2-0
- North Carolina0-2
- Oregon1-1
- Southern Illinois1-1
- Tennessee0-2
- Wabash2-0
- Western Illinois2-0
- Western Michigan1-1
- Akron0-1
- Arkansas0-1
- Ball State1-0
- Carlisle0-1
- Centre1-0
- Chicago Naval Reserve0-1
- Chicago YMCA1-0
- Colgate1-0
- Cornell (IA)1-0
- Dartmouth1-0
- Denver A.C.0-1
- Dixon1-0
- Hahnemann Medical1-0
- Howard1-0
- Hyde Park High1-0
- Indiana State1-0
- Iowa Pre-Flight0-1
- Lake View High1-0
- Maine1-0
- Massachusetts1-0
- Mississippi State1-0
- New Hampshire0-1
- North Dakota State1-0
- Northeastern1-0
- Northwest Division High1-0
- Northwestern Dental1-0
- Ohio Northern1-0
- Pacific1-0
- Princeton1-0
- SMU0-1
- South Carolina1-0
- South Dakota State1-0
- St. Viator1-0
- Texas1-0
- Texas A&M0-1
- Texas Tech0-1
- Towson1-0
- Transylvania0-0-1
- UL Monroe1-0
- University Club of Chicago0-1
- UTEP1-0
- Washington St. Louis1-0
- Washington State1-0
- Wisconsin-Oshkosh1-0
- Wyoming1-0
136 opponents on record. Each links to the full series, every meeting listed.
Every Northwestern season since 1892. Win-loss record, win percentage and how each year ended.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Northwestern record since 1892?
Northwestern is 571-710-40 since 1892, a .447 win percentage, with 18 bowl or playoff appearances.
What was the best Northwestern season since 1892?
Northwestern went 7-1 in 1936, the best record since 1892.
How many bowl games has Northwestern played since 1892?
Northwestern has played in the postseason 18 times since 1892.