clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Round two: Determining the best football team in Northwestern history

Yes, I know the text is really small in the main graphic. Computers are hard.

By Daniel Olinger
Kirby Lee-USA Today Sports

For those of you that (understandably) can’t read that second line of teams, the winners of the first round were the teams from 1995, 1936, 2017, 1962, 1948 (15-seed upset the two!), 1940, 1996 and 2000.

To be honest, I’m completely floored that the 2012 Northwestern team was eliminated. They led in the fourth quarter of each of these three games they lost, and if just a couple of bounces go their way, they might have ended up going undefeated through their regular season schedule. But alas, I only created this bracket, and I am confident that you, our devoted fans, know what you’re doing when you vote in these polls.

The 12th seeded 1962 team also managed to advance to our elite eight, as did the 10th seeded 1940 Wildcats. The other five matchups went chalk, and for the most part, weren’t particularly close.

Let the second round of voting begin!

Poll

1995 Northwestern vs 1936 Northwestern

This poll is closed

  • 88%
    ‘95 Northwestern
    (235 votes)
  • 11%
    ‘36 Northwestern
    (32 votes)
267 votes total Vote Now

1995 Northwestern: 10-2 (8-0), Highest Ranking: #3, Final Ranking: #8

Best Win: 17-15 @ #9 Notre Dame. Worst Loss: 28-30 vs Miami (OH)

1936 Northwestern: 7-1 (6-0), Highest Ranking: #1 (three times), Final Ranking: #7

Best Win: 6-0 vs #1 Minnesota. Worst Loss: 6-26 vs #11 Notre Dame

Poll

2017 Northwestern vs 1962 Northwestern

This poll is closed

  • 60%
    ‘17 Northwestern
    (159 votes)
  • 39%
    ‘62 Northwestern
    (102 votes)
261 votes total Vote Now

2017 Northwestern: 10-3 (7-2), Highest Ranking: #17, Final Ranking: #17

Best Win: 39-31 vs #16 Michigan State. Worst Loss: 17-41 @ Duke

1962 Northwestern: 7-2 (4-2), Highest Ranking: #1, Final Ranking: Unranked

Best Win: 18-14 @ #6 Ohio State. Worst Loss: 7-31 vs Michigan State

Poll

1948 Northwestern vs 1940 Northwestern

This poll is closed

  • 89%
    ‘48 Northwestern
    (220 votes)
  • 10%
    ‘40 Northwestern
    (26 votes)
246 votes total Vote Now

1948 Northwestern: 8-2 (5-1), Highest Ranking: #3, Final Ranking: #7

Best Win: 20-14 vs #4 California, Worst Loss: 0-28 @ #4 Michigan

1940 Northwestern: 6-2 (4-2), Highest Ranking: #17, Final Ranking: #8

Best Win: 20-0 vs #14 Notre Dame. Worst Loss: 13-20 @ #6 Michigan

Poll

1996 Northwestern vs 2000 Northwestern

This poll is closed

  • 76%
    ‘96 Northwestern
    (195 votes)
  • 23%
    ‘00 Northwestern
    (61 votes)
256 votes total Vote Now

1996 Northwestern: 9-3 (7-1), Highest Ranking: #11, Final Ranking: #15

Best Win: 17-16 vs #6 Michigan. Worst Loss: 27-28 @ Wake Forest

2000 Northwestern: 8-4 (6-2), Highest Ranking: #12, Final Ranking: Unranked

Best Win: 54-51 vs #12 Michigan. Worst Loss: 14-41 @ #20 TCU

More From Inside NU