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Best Northwestern football team of all time: Championship (and third-place) vote

Here. We. Go.

By Daniel Olinger
Northwestern University Archives-1949 Rose Bowl Pep Rally

The semifinals made clear what had been developing in the previous rounds: Northwestern fans love them some Rose Bowl appearances. I expected the 1995 team to be here in the final round. Can’t say I thought the same of the ‘48 Rose Bowl champion ‘Cats. But here we are, with one final vote to go to determine the winner of this makeshift bracket.

Again, feel free to leave comments down below about who you think deserves to wear the crown as the best Northwestern football team ever. In addition, at special request of the comments section from the last post, I’ve included a consolation poll of sorts where you can all vote on who you think should be the third team on the final podium. Hope that satisfies you guys, go ‘Cats!

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

Schedule:

W - @ UCLA: 19-0

W - Purdue: 21-0

W - #8 Minnesota: 19-16

L - @ #4 Michigan: 0-28

W - Syracuse: 48-0

W - Ohio State: 21-7

W - @ Wisconsin: 16-7

L - @ #2 Notre Dame: 7-12

W - Illinois: 20-7

W - California: 20-14

Team Stats:

19.1 points per game (53rd out of 117)

9.1 points allowed per game (11th out of 117)

Rated 8th-best out of 117 teams by College Football Reference’s simple rating system

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

Schedule:

W - @ #9 Notre Dame: 17-15

L - Miami (OH): 28-30

W - Air Force: 30-6

W - Indiana: 31-7

W - @ #7 Michigan: 19-13

W - @ Minnesota: 27-17

W - #24 Wisconsin: 35-0

W - @ Illinois: 17-14

W - #12 Penn State: 21-10

W - Iowa: 31-20

W - @ Purdue: 23-8

L - USC: 32-41

Team Stats:

25.9 points per game (46th out of 108)

15.1 points allowed per game (7th out of 108)

Rated 4th-best out of 108 teams by College Football Reference’s simple rating system

Poll

1948 Northwestern vs 1995 Northwestern

This poll is closed

  • 14%
    ‘48 Northwestern
    (46 votes)
  • 85%
    ‘95 Northwestern
    (278 votes)
324 votes total Vote Now

The Consolation Poll (!!!)

Poll

Who should get the honorary bronze medal?

This poll is closed

  • 25%
    1996 Northwestern
    (75 votes)
  • 24%
    2017 Northwestern
    (72 votes)
  • 13%
    2012 Northwestern (still my dark horse darling)
    (39 votes)
  • 10%
    1936 Northwestern
    (31 votes)
  • 13%
    2000 Northwestern
    (38 votes)
  • 11%
    1962 Northwestern
    (34 votes)
289 votes total Vote Now

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