In the last 11 years NU has an amazing three Big 10 Titles, one less than Ohio St and 2 less than Michigan. In 2000 the Big 10 media selected NU last in the league and I went out on a limb and called them the 4th most improved team in the country and they were an amazing 8-3. In 2001 the media overacted picking them first. I didn't make too many Wildcat fans happy when I pegged them 9th and they fell to 4-7. In 2002, with just 9 starters back, were 3-9. In 2003 they once again made my most improved list with 15 starters back and they went to their first bowl in 3 years. In 2003, despite being 4-4 in league play, they were actually outgained by 75.7 ypg but in 2004 they had 17 starters back. The Cats 0-line and D-line was also among the best in the Big 10 and they finished 5-3 in conf play including a solid win over Ohio St in which they had a 444-308 yard edge. Their 2004 record could have been better as they had a OT loss to TCU, a game in which they missed 5 FG's and also could have easily beaten both Ariz St and Hawaii. The Cats instead finished 6-6 and did not get to a bowl. Last year the Cats lost 4 projected starters (C, DE, CB, SS) over the summer so they had just 8 returning starters. They still became the first NU team since 1931 to win 6 or more games for 3 consecutive seasons. The Cats did so despite being outscored by a 32.3-33.9 avg. Against N Illinois, the Huskies failed on a 2 pt conv and the Cats escaped by 1. They led eventual Big 10 champ Penn St most of the game but allowed a 36 yard TD pass with :51 left. The Cats put up a school record 674 yards vs Wisconsin and then got a TD with 1:50 left to beat Purdue. The Cats beat Mich St 49-14, their largest Big 10 road win since 1943. They had a sellout crowd and national attention when they hosted Michigan in a night game but lost 33-17. They trailed Iowa 24-7 at the half but got 2 TD's in the final 2:00 to pull out the miracle win. Ohio St got revenge for the previous year's upset with a 48-7 rout where both were ranked in the meeting for the first time since 1970. Northwestern, which is 0-5 in bowls since 1948, led UCLA 22-0 in the 1Q but blew the big lead. After going 1 -7 in the Big 10 in 2002 including 49 and 52 point losses, they are 14-10 in Big 10 play the last 3 years. This is a more veteran team with 13 starters back but they lose QB Basanez. The Cats offense avg 32.3 ppg, their highest in five years, and was just the 2nd B10 offense to avg 500+ ypg. Despite a veteran 0-line and having their top RB and WR back, with the loss of Basanez, they will probably be a little less potent. With just three starters back on D the Cats' allowed 33.9 ppg last year, their worst since 2002 and with six starters back this year will have an improved stop unit. |
