1996 Northwestern Wildcats football team
The 1996 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A college football season.
Season
Northwestern finished the season with a 9–3 record. Under head coach Gary Barnett, the Wildcats won a share of the Big Ten title for the second straight year. They faced off against Tennessee in the Florida Citrus Bowl where the Wilcats' season came to an abrupt halt with a 48–28 loss.
Schedule
| Date |
Time |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
|---|
| September 6 |
5:30 PM |
at Wake Forest* |
#13 |
Groves Stadium • Winston-Salem, NC |
SCC |
L 27–28 |
21,749 |
| September 14 |
2:30 PM |
at Duke* |
|
Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NC |
ABC |
W 38–13 |
29,321 |
| September 21 |
11:30 AM |
Ohio* |
|
Dyche Stadium • Evanston, IL |
SCC |
W 28–7 |
38,148 |
| September 28 |
11:30 AM |
Indiana |
#25 |
Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN |
ESPN |
W 35–17 |
36,714 |
| October 5 |
11:30 AM |
#6 Michigan |
#22 |
Dyche Stadium • Evanston, IL |
ABC |
W 17–16 |
48,187 |
| October 12 |
11:30 AM |
Minnesota |
#15 |
Dyche Stadium • Evanston, IL |
ESPN2 |
W 26–24 |
35,848 |
| October 19 |
11:30 AM |
at Wisconsin |
#14 |
Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI |
ESPN2 |
W 34–30 |
79,576 |
| October 26 |
11:00 AM |
Illinois |
#11 |
Dyche Stadium • Evanston, IL |
ESPN+ |
W 27–24 |
48,187 |
| November 2 |
2:30 PM |
at #15 Penn State |
#11 |
Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA |
ABC |
L 9–34 |
96,596 |
| November 9 |
2:30 PM |
at #23 Iowa |
#18 |
Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA |
ABC |
W 40–13 |
70,397 |
| November 16 |
1:00 PM |
Purdue |
#13 |
Dyche Stadium • Evanston, IL |
|
W 27–24 |
41,178 |
| January 1 |
12:00 PM |
vs. #9 Tennessee* |
#11 |
Florida Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FL (Florida Citrus Bowl) |
ABC |
L 28–48 |
63,467 |
*Non-conference game.  Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Central Time. |
[1]
Season summary
Wisconsin
#14 Northwestern at Wisconsin
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| • Northwestern |
7 |
7 | 6 | 14 |
34 |
| Wisconsin |
10 |
3 | 3 | 14 |
30 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
|
| 1 |
13:44 | WIS | Bob Adamov recovered fumble in end zone (John Hall kick) | Wisconsin 7-0 |
|
| 1 |
9:08 | NW | Darnell Autry 20-yard run (Brian Gowins kick) | Tie 7-7 |
|
| 1 |
3:53 | WIS | John Hall 50-yard field goal | Wisconsin 10-7 |
|
| 2 |
9:15 | WIS | John Hall 29-yard field goal | Wisconsin 13-7 |
|
| 2 |
3:59 | NW | D'Wayne Bates 12-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Brian Gowins kick) | Northwestern 14-13 |
|
| 3 |
9:58 | WIS | John Hall 21-yard field goal | Wisconsin 16-14 |
|
| 3 |
4:38 | NW | Adrian Autry 14-yard run (two-point conversion failed) | Northwestern 20-16 |
|
| 4 |
14:57 | WIS | Ron Dayne 7-yard run (John Hall kick) | Wisconsin 23-20 |
|
| 4 |
13:31 | WIS | Cecil Martin 2-yard run (John Hall kick) | Wisconsin 30-20 |
|
| 4 |
5:02 | NW | Adrian Autry 2-yard run (Brian Gowins kick) | Wisconsin 30-27 |
|
| 4 |
:37 | NW | D'Wayne Bates 20-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Brian Gowins kick) | Northwestern 34-30 |
|
[2]
Team players drafted into the NFL
[3]
References
|
|---|
| | Venues | |
|---|
| | Bowls & rivalries |
- Bowl games
- Illinois (Sweet Sioux Tomahawk, 1945–2008; Land of Lincoln Trophy, 2009–present)
- Notre Dame (Shillelagh Trophy 1930–c. 1973)
|
|---|
| | Culture & lore | |
|---|
| | People | |
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| | Seasons | |
|---|
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