The 2005 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season . They played their home games at Ryan Field and participated as members of the Big Ten Conference . They were led by seventh-year head coach Randy Walker . The Wildcats finished tied for 3rd place in the Big Ten with a conference record of 5–3.
This would be Walker's last season as the Wildcats' coach, as he would die suddenly from a heart attack on June 29, 2006 at the age of 52. Linebackers coach/recruiting coordinator and Northwestern alum Pat Fitzgerald would be promoted to head coach on July 7, 2006.[ 2] [ 3]
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 3 11:00 am Ohio * ESPNU W 38–1420,115
September 10 3:00 pm Northern Illinois * ESPNC W 38–3735,114
September 17 9:00 pm at No. 18 Arizona State * L 21–5255,029
September 24 11:00 am Penn State ESPN2 L 29–3424,395
October 8 11:00 am No. 14 Wisconsin ESPN W 51–4833,859
October 15 11:00 am at Purdue ESPN2 W 34–2962,866
October 22 11:00 am at No. 22 Michigan State ESPN2 W 49–1474,636
October 29 6:00 pm No. 25 Michigan No. 21 ESPN L 17–3347,130
November 5 11:00 am Iowa ESPN W 28–2734,550
November 12 11:00 am at No. 10 Ohio State No. 25 ABC L 7–48105,181
November 19 11:00 am at Illinois ESPN+ W 38–2131,465
December 30 1:00 pm vs. No. 17 UCLA * CBS L 38–5050,426
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
1
2
3
4
Total
Bobcats
0
7
0
7
14
Wildcats
3
28
7
0
38
Statistics
OHIO
NU
First downs
13
28
Total yards
239
550
Rushing yards
62
194
Passing yards
177
356
Turnovers
3
3
Time of possession
20:58
39:02
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ohio
Passing
Austin Everson
10/26, 157 yards, INT
Rushing
Kalvin McRae
10 rushes, 34 yards
Receiving
Scott Mayle
4 receptions, 100 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Brett Basanez
27/37, 353 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Tyrell Sutton
17 rushes, 104 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Kim Thompson
5 receptions, 99 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
Huskies
7
7
14
9
37
Wildcats
3
21
7
7
38
Statistics
NIU
NU
First downs
28
33
Total yards
539
502
Rushing yards
256
282
Passing yards
283
220
Turnovers
2
1
Time of possession
32:08
27:52
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northern Illinois
Passing
Phil Horvath
24/36, 283 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Garrett Wolfe
34 rushes, 245 yards, 3 TD
Receiving
Sam Hurd
7 receptions, 90 yards, TD
Northwestern
Passing
Brett Basanez
21/32, 220 yards
Rushing
Tyrell Sutton
30 rushes, 214 yards, 4 TD
Receiving
Shaun Herbert
6 receptions, 73 yards
At No. 18 Arizona State
edit
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
7
7
0
7
21
No. 18 Sun Devils
7
31
7
7
52
Statistics
NU
ASU
First downs
24
30
Total yards
416
773
Rushing yards
180
290
Passing yards
236
483
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
24:13
35:47
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Brett Basanez
24/37, 224 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Tyrell Sutton
15 rushes, 98 yards
Receiving
Ross Lane
4 receptions, 73 yards
Arizona State
Passing
Sam Keller
20/31, 409 yards, 4 TD
Rushing
Keegan Herring
23 rushes, 197 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Matt Miller
3 receptions, 103 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Nittany Lions
0
14
3
17
34
Wildcats
10
13
0
6
29
Statistics
PSU
NU
First downs
21
24
Total yards
480
427
Rushing yards
209
198
Passing yards
271
229
Turnovers
4
1
Time of possession
20:01
39:59
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Penn State
Passing
Michael Robinson
17/36, 271 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT
Rushing
Tony Hunt
13 rushes, 99 yards
Receiving
Jordan Norwood
5 receptions, 83 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Brett Basanez
20/38, 229 yards, INT
Rushing
Tyrell Sutton
32 rushes, 112 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Jonathan Fields
4 receptions, 70 yards
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 14 Badgers
7
10 10 21
48
• Wildcats
0
10 27 14
51
Scoring summary Q1 8:47 WIS Orr 15 yard pass from Stocco (Mehlhaff kick) WIS 7–0
Q2 12:25 NW Basanez 4 yard run (Howells kick) Tie 7–7
Q2 6:36 WIS Stanley 5 yard run (Mehlhaff kick) WIS 14–7
Q2 1:59 WIS Mehlhaff 27 yard field goal WIS 17–7
Q2 0:04 NW Howells 21 yard field goal WIS 17–10
Q3 12:43 NW Philmore 4 yard pass from Basanez (kick blocked) WIS 17–16
Q3 5:52 NW Sutton 1 yard run (Howells kick) NW 23–17
Q3 3:34 WIS Mehlhaff 46 yard field goal NW 23–20
Q3 2:22 NW Thompson 52 yard pass from Basanez (Howells kick) NW 30–20
Q3 1:15 WIS Calhoun 1 yard run (Mehlhaff kick) NW 30–27
Q3 0:47 NW Sutton 14 yard run (Howells kick) NW 37–27
Q4 14:13 WIS Orr 9 yard pass from Stocco (Mehlhaff kick) NW 37–34
Q4 9:44 NW Sutton 9 yard pass from Basanez (Howells kick) NW 44–34
Q4 4:22 NW Sutton 62 yard run (Howells kick) NW 51–34
Q4 3:53 WIS Orr 13 yard pass from Stocco (Mehlhaff kick) NW 51–41
Q4 2:48 WIS Orr 21 yard pass from Stocco (Mehlhaff kick) NW 51–48
Statistics
WIS
NU
First downs
27
28
Total yards
515
674
Rushing yards
189
313
Passing yards
326
361
Turnovers
2
2
Time of possession
30:36
29:24
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Wisconsin
Passing
John Stocco
24/31, 326 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Brian Calhoun
23 rushes, 122 yards, TD
Receiving
Brian Calhoun
11 receptions, 128 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Brett Basanez
26/36, 361 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Tyrell Sutton
29 rushes, 244 yards, 3 TD
Receiving
Mark Philmore
6 receptions, 97 yards, TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
14
14
0
6
34
Boilermakers
3
6
14
6
29
Statistics
NU
PUR
First downs
32
30
Total yards
603
505
Rushing yards
128
127
Passing yards
475
378
Turnovers
1
4
Time of possession
27:50
32:10
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Brett Basanez
37/55, 463 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Tyrell Sutton
13 rushes, 89 yards, TD
Receiving
Shaun Herbert
11 receptions, 96 yards
Purdue
Passing
Brandon Kirsch
37/58, 360 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
Jerod Void
7 rushes, 37 yards, TD
Receiving
Dorien Bryant
16 receptions, 153 yards
At No. 22 Michigan State
edit
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
7
14
21
7
49
No. 22 Spartans
7
0
0
7
14
Statistics
NU
MSU
First downs
31
28
Total yards
533
480
Rushing yards
202
189
Passing yards
331
291
Turnovers
1
4
Time of possession
27:25
32:35
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Brett Basanez
24/30, 331 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Tyrell Sutton
21 rushes, 109 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Shaun Herbert
10 receptions, 138 yards
Michigan State
Passing
Drew Stanton
20/38, 234 yards, TD, 3 INT
Rushing
Javon Ringer
18 rushes, 104 yards
Receiving
Kyle Brown
1 reception, 53 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 25 Wolverines
14
13
0
6
33
No. 21 Wildcats
7
10
0
0
17
Statistics
MICH
NU
First downs
22
18
Total yards
427
415
Rushing yards
253
89
Passing yards
174
326
Turnovers
4
3
Time of possession
38:01
21:59
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Michigan
Passing
Chad Henne
17/30, 174 yards, TD, 3 INT
Rushing
Jerome Jackson
24 rushes, 105 yards
Receiving
Jason Avant
5 receptions, 67 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Brett Basanez
26/49, 326 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Tyrell Sutton
10 rushes, 50 yards
Receiving
Mark Philmore
9 receptions, 139 yards, 2 TD
1
2
3
4
Total
Hawkeyes
14
10
0
3
27
Wildcats
0
7
7
14
28
Statistics
IOWA
NU
First downs
27
25
Total yards
492
453
Rushing yards
216
115
Passing yards
276
338
Turnovers
0
2
Time of possession
30:42
29:18
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Iowa
Passing
Drew Tate
21/35, 273 yards
Rushing
Albert Young
38 rushes, 202 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Herb Grigsby
7 receptions, 84 yards
Northwestern
Passing
Brett Basanez
31/51, 338 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Tyrell Sutton
17 rushes, 65 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Mark Philmore
10 receptions, 123 yards
At No. 10 Ohio State
edit
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 25 Wildcats
7
0
0
0
7
No. 10 Buckeyes
14
14
10
10
48
Statistics
NU
OSU
First downs
16
23
Total yards
251
422
Rushing yards
98
317
Passing yards
153
105
Turnovers
2
1
Time of possession
25:38
34:22
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Brett Basanez
15/31, 121 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Tyrell Sutton
14 rushes, 93 yards
Receiving
Jonathan Fields
4 receptions, 45 yards
Ohio State
Passing
Troy Smith
7/12, 77 yards, INT
Rushing
Antonio Pittman
18 rushes, 132 yards, TD
Receiving
Santonio Holmes
3 receptions, 49 yards
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
7
17
7
7
38
Fighting Illini
0
21
0
0
21
Statistics
NU
ILL
First downs
36
24
Total yards
596
440
Rushing yards
356
199
Passing yards
240
241
Turnovers
0
1
Time of possession
32:24
27:36
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Brett Basanez
25/31, 240 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Tyrell Sutton
34 rushes, 212 yards
Receiving
Mark Philmore
5 receptions, 62 yards, TD
Illinois
Passing
Tim Brasic
20/35, 241 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
Pierre Thomas
18 rushes, 97 yards, TD
Receiving
Kendrick Jones
3 receptions, 95 yards
Vs. No. 17 UCLA (Sun Bowl)
edit
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
22
0
3
13
38
No. 17 Bruins
7
22
7
14
50
Statistics
NU
UCLA
First downs
33
24
Total yards
584
453
Rushing yards
168
310
Passing yards
416
143
Turnovers
3
4
Time of possession
30:50
29:10
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Northwestern
Passing
Brett Basanez
38/70, 416 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Tyrell Sutton
18 rushes, 84 yards
Receiving
Ross Lane
7 receptions, 136 yards
UCLA
Passing
Drew Olson
10/24, 143 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT
Rushing
Chris Markey
24 rushes, 161 yards
Receiving
Ryan Moya
1 reception, 58 yards, TD
The Wildcats were invited to play in the 2005 Sun Bowl . They lost 38–50 to the UCLA Bruins, who staged a 22-point comeback, a record for the Bruins at the time.