1987 Northwestern Wildcats football team

1987 Northwestern Wildcats football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record2–8–1 (2–6 Big Ten)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorBob Junko (2nd season)
CaptainGame captains[1]
Home stadiumDyche Stadium
1987 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 8 Michigan State $ 7 – 0 – 1 9 – 2 – 1
No. 16 Iowa 6 – 2 – 0 10 – 3 – 0
Indiana 6 – 2 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
No. 19 Michigan 5 – 3 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
Ohio State 4 – 4 – 0 6 – 4 – 1
Minnesota 3 – 5 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Purdue 3 – 5 – 0 3 – 7 – 1
Illinois 2 – 5 – 1 3 – 7 – 1
2 – 6 – 0 2 – 8 – 1
Wisconsin 1 – 7 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1987 Northwestern Wildcats team represented Northwestern University during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second year under head coach Francis Peay, the Wildcats compiled a 2–8–1 record (2–6 against Big Ten Conference opponents) and finished in ninth place in the Big Ten Conference.[2]

The team's offensive leaders were quarterback Mike Greenfield with 1,265 passing yards, Byron Sanders with 778 rushing yards, and George Jones with 668 receiving yards.[3]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 12at Duke*
L 16–3119,600[4]
September 19at Missouri*
L 3–2836,549[5]
September 261:00 p.m.Northern Illinois*
T 16–1627,336[6]
October 3at Indiana
L 18–3538,553[7]
October 1011:30 a.m.Minnesota
  • Dyche Stadium
  • Evanston, IL
RaycomL 33–4522,104[8]
October 171:05 p.m.No. 19 Michigan State
  • Dyche Stadium
  • Evanston, IL
L 0–3829,113[9]
October 24at Wisconsin
W 27–2470,012[10]
October 3112:00 p.m.at Michigan
L 6–29104,101[11]
November 7Iowa
  • Dyche Stadium
  • Evanston, IL
L 24–5238,694[12]
November 14at Purdue
L 15–2050,468[13]
November 21Illinois
  • Dyche Stadium
  • Evanston, IL (rivalry)
W 28–1027,104[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Personnel

1987 Northwestern Wildcats football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB Greg Bradshaw
RB Stanley Davenport
TE Bob Driscoll
QB Mike Greenfield
WR Marcus Lang
RB Torrio Osborne
RB Byron Sanders
RB Curtis Spears
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • Injured
    • Redshirt

    References

    1. ^ "Year-by-Year Results" (PDF). 2007. p. 149. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
    2. ^ "1987 Northwestern Wildcats Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
    3. ^ "1987 Northwestern Wildcats Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
    4. ^ "Duke maintains its mastery over NU". Chicago Tribune. September 13, 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
    5. ^ "Mizzou makes it two in row". Daily American Republic. September 20, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    6. ^ "NIU ties Wildcats with Ivanic kick". The Dispatch. September 27, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    7. ^ "Hoosiers locate ground game in victory over Northwestern". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 4, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    8. ^ "Gophers win again". The Forum. October 11, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    9. ^ Bill Jauss (October 18, 1987). "A rosy stampede for MSU: White runs for 187 yards as Spartan bowl over NU". Chicago Tribune. p. 6 (section 3) – via Newspapers.com.
    10. ^ "Frustrations mounting for Badgers". The Journal Times. October 25, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    11. ^ "Taylor directs run-happy Wolverines past Wildcats". Battle Creek Enquirer. November 1, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    12. ^ "Iowa's Hartlieb bombs Wildcats". Wisconsin State Journal. November 8, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    13. ^ "Purdue hangs on against Northwestern". The Kokomo Tribune. November 15, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    14. ^ "NU again overcomes dull Illini". Chicago Tribune. November 22, 1987. Retrieved May 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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