College Football Playoff Top 25: Final Championship Week Projections

For the third time in the past six years, Pat Fitzgerald has Northwestern on pace to finish with a 10-win season. It is a remarkable accomplishment for the only private school in the Big Ten. The Wildcats finished as the second-best team in the Big Ten West, with only undefeated Wisconsin finishing ahead of them at the end of the regular season.

Northwestern didn’t overwhelm opponents, but they did do a few things really well en route to a 9-3 record in the regular season. The Wildcats defense was great at shutting down opposing rushing attacks. They also clamped down in the red zone, holding opponents scoreless on more than a quarter of their trips inside the 20.

They also proved unstoppable in extra time, becoming the first team in FBS history to win three consecutive games in overtime. It all adds up to a third straight postseason appearance for the Wildcats. As one of the best teams in the Big Ten, Northwestern will remain in the final College Football Playoff rankings as they prepare for a trip south for a bowl game.