When did Northwestern final make bowl recreation? Wildcats hoping so as to add to bowl historical past – USA As we speak

Because the college football season rolls into November, Northwestern football finds itself one step nearer to crossing off a season aim.
The Wildcats, who’re answerable for one of many greatest upsets this faculty soccer season with their Week 7 upset win at Penn State, enter Week 11 of the season nonetheless one win away from turning into bowl-eligible for the second time within the David Braun period in Evanston, Illinois.
Changing into bowl-eligible is not a given for any FBS crew, because it sometimes requires a crew to win at the very least six video games in a 12-game common season schedule. It has been traditionally harder for Northwestern, with the Wildcats having solely 17 bowl recreation appearances since they fielded their first crew in 1876.
(Although that can be due, partially, to the Massive Ten’s coverage from 1946 by 1974 that allowed just one bowl-eligible crew per 12 months).
Northwestern’s first try at punching its ticket to the postseason is 9 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 7 when it travels out to LA Memorial Coliseum to tackle No. 21 USC. The Wildcats additionally face No. 20 Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois to spherical out the season.
This is what to know on Northwestern’s bowl recreation eligibility historical past, together with its file in bowl video games:
If Northwestern can win at the very least yet another recreation this season, the Wildcats can be bowl eligible for the primary time since their 8-5 season in 2023.
The Wildcats defeated Utah 14-7 within the Las Vegas Bowl for the primary bowl win underneath Braun, who was elevated to full-time coach in November of that season after beginning in an interim function. Quarterback Ben Bryant accomplished 23 of 34 passes for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns within the win over the Utes, whereas the Wildcat protection pressured three turnovers.
Northwestern holds a 7-10 file in 17 bowl recreation appearances in program historical past, with the Wildcats successful their most up-to-date journey in 2023.
The Wildcats’ first bowl look and win got here within the 1949 Rose Bowl, once they beat California 20-14. Northwestern would not attain one other bowl recreation till the 1996 Rose Bowl towards Southern California, and would not win one other postseason recreation till the 2013 Gator Bowl towards Mississippi State, which snapped a nine-game bowl recreation dropping skid.
Since that recreation, Northwestern has gone 6-1 in bowl video games, which features a five-game bowl streak that dates again to the 2016 Pinstripe Bowl towards Pitt. This is a have a look at how Northwestern has fared in bowl video games in its program historical past, according to the Wildcats’ media guide:
Observe: Final result and opponent in parentheses

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