Big Ten Football: Picking the best season for each program since 2000

Northwestern has decades of futility with a sprinkling of success. Most of the success occurred in the mid 1990s under Gary Barnett and since Pat Fitzgerald took over in the 2006 season. The 2012 season was the Wildcats best this century.

The Wildcats used a two quarterback system during the 2012 campaign and surprisingly it worked. The tandem of Kain Colter and Trevor Siemian split time and each played well. Running back Venric Mark was a monster out of the backfield. The offense averaged over 31 points per game. The defense was stout with playmakers located all over the field, led by linebacker and team captain David Nwabuisi.

Northwestern would start off with a road win at Syracuse followed by four straight home victories. At 5-0, the Wildcats entered the polls at No. 24. It would be short lived as they would lose at Penn State the following week.

The Wildcats would alternate wins and losses over the next four weeks. The losses were close, losing to Nebraska by only a point and succumbing at Michigan in overtime by seven points. Northwestern would then win their final two games of the year, including a shellacking of rival Illinois.

With a record of 9-3, the Wildcats would be invited to the Gator Bowl to take on Mississippi State. They would never trail in the game, beating the Bulldogs 34-20. Finally after 64 years and having the longest bowl losing streak in the country, it was broken.

The 2012 edition of Northwestern not only broke the long bowl drought, it was a well-rounded team. The two close losses prevented the Wildcats from a berth in the Big Ten championship, however it was a great season for them and they have sustained some success since 2012.