Pat Fitzgerald and Northwestern's football program did something for only the fourth time in school history in 2015: They won 10 games.
The Wildcats desperately needed a bit of a revival following back-to-back 5-7 campaigns and Fitzgerald led the charge to double-digit wins despite running out statistically the Big Ten's worst offense.
A terrific defense helped Northwestern win eight of its 10 games by 10 points or fewer, but when the Wildcats lost, they lost badly. Michigan thrashed Fitzgerald's bunch 38-0 then Iowa ruined homecoming the next weekend 40-10. Lest we forget the 45-6 beatdown Tennessee laid on the Wildcats in the Outback Bowl, which showed how far the program has come under Fitzgerald but how still how far away it is from being a true contender.
The Wildcats have road games at Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa in 2016, plenty of opportunities for the former linebacker turned head coach to get over the hump and record a few big wins in his 11th season. His team hopes to avoid a slip back to mediocrity.
Here is a closer look at the Wildcats.
Offense
The Wildcats finished dead last in the Big Ten in both points per game (19.5) and yards per game (327.1). That's uh, not great, Bob. The most points Northwestern scored in a game during 2015 came in a 41-0 home victory against Eastern Illinois, an FCS school.
However, some saving grace for Fitzgerald and offensive coordinator Mick McCall is the return of starting quarterback Clayton Thorson and perhaps the Big Ten's best kept secret at tailback Justin Jackson. Northwestern finished fourth in the Big Ten in rushing in 2015 and Jackson racked up 1,418 yards, second only to Ezekiel Elliott in the conference.
| Head Coach | Pat Fitzgerald (11th season, 70-56 career record) |
| 2015 Record | 10-3, 6-2 (Finished tied for second in the B1G West) |
| 2015 Postseason | Lost to Tennessee 45-6 in Outback Bowl |
| Biggest Losses | DEs Dean Lowry and Deonte Gibson, S Traveon Henry |
| Biggest Returnees | RB Justin Jackson, LB Anthony Walker, QB Clayton Thorson |
| Summary | Northwestern's defense is stout. Will its offense improve to match? |
| Matchup | Oct. 29, 2016: Northwestern at Ohio State, kickoff 5:30 p.m. |
The problem is, Jackson only found the end zone five times — the same amount as Thorson and backup running back Warren Long. For perspective: Elliott scored 23 rushing touchdowns last year. As a team, Northwestern only scored 16.
A few pieces back on the offensive line should continue the production from a yardage standpoint, but whether or not the offense takes a step forward depends on Thorson. He beat out then-senior Zack Oliver for the job as a redshirt freshman, but only completed 50.8 percent of his passes and threw just seven touchdowns against nine interceptions last season.
Northwestern's receiving corps didn't help out much, either. Cam Dickerson, Christian Jones and Mike McHugh are all gone in addition to Dan Vitale, a running back that led the team with 355 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Yeah, things were that bad.
Flynn Nagel showed some promise as a true freshman before a season-ending injury against Minnesota and former walk-on Austin Carr returns for his senior year. It doesn't matter who it is, but someone needs to step up and make some plays on the outside for Thorson.
Defense
For as bad as Northwestern's offense played last season, its defense resided at the other end of the spectrum. Mike Hankwitz' unit finished fourth in both scoring (18.6 points per game allowed) and total defense (318.9 yards per game allowed).
Star linebacker Anthony Walker (team-leading 120 tackles and 20.5 tackles for loss) returns to lead the unit, but must deal with some noticeable losses in front of him on the defensive line.
Ends Dean Lowry and Deonte Gibson both graduated. Gibson led the Wildcats with 9.0 sacks in 2015 and Lowry trailed only Walker in tackles for loss with 13.5. Their exits put stress on Ifeadi Odenigbo, Xavier Washington and redshirt freshmen Joe Gaziano and Trent Goens, all players that haven't made much of an impact in Evanston.
Defensive tackle depth is a luxury for Fitzgerald, however, especially because the NCAA granted C.J. Robbins a sixth year of eligibility. Tyler Lancaster and Jordan Thompson are also back and Lakewood St. Edward product Greg Kuhar is another year removed from an ACL tear. Provided Odenigbo, Washington and others can fill in admirably for Gibson and Lowry, Northwestern's front seven should be difficult to deal with once again.
In the secondary, safety Traveon Henry and corner Nick VanHoose and their seven interceptions graduated. Pickerington North product Godwin Igwebuike appears ready to take another step forward and become the leader of the back end of Fitzgerald's defense — he broke up five passes and forced a fumble in 2015 to go with his 87 total tackles.
Igwebuike is set to team up with senior Matthew Harris, who led Northwestern with 13 pass breakups in 11 games at corner last year. The losses of Henry and VanHoose will hurt, but there is depth to replace them.
To no surprise, Northwestern's defense should lead the way once again this fall.
After back-to-back road night games at Wisconsin and Penn State, Ohio State returns home to take on Northwestern in another late start. The game kicks off at the odd time of 5:30 p.m., but will finish under the lights.
The last time Northwestern played at Ohio Stadium it lost badly, a 58-7 defeat in which Todd Boeckman throw four touchdown passes. Urban Meyer beat the Wildcats in his only game against them as Ohio State head coach, a 40-30 hard-fought victory at Ryan Field in 2013.
Pat Fitzgerald has taken Northwestern to new heights in his tenure, making it to six bowl games since 2008 and notching a pair of 10-win seasons. In 2016, the onus is on him to avoid a step backward like those that happened in the past and grab a win or two against the upper-echelon of the Big Ten.
