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.
Schedule
Roster
Game summaries
Ohio
Statistics OHIONU 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 StatisticsOhio Passing Austin Everson 10/26, 157 yards, INT Rushing Kalvin McRae 10 rushes, 34 yards Receiving Scott Mayle 4 receptions, 100 yardsNorthwestern 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
Northern Illinois
Statistics NIUNU 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 StatisticsNorthern 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, TDNorthwestern 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
Statistics NUASU 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 StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Brett Basanez 24/37, 224 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tyrell Sutton 15 rushes, 98 yards Receiving Ross Lane 4 receptions, 73 yardsArizona 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
Penn State
Statistics PSUNU 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 StatisticsPenn 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 yardsNorthwestern Passing Brett Basanez 20/38, 229 yards, INT Rushing Tyrell Sutton 32 rushes, 112 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jonathan Fields 4 receptions, 70 yards
No. 14 Wisconsin
Statistics WISNU 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 StatisticsWisconsin 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 yardsNorthwestern 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
At Purdue
Statistics NUPUR 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 StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Brett Basanez 37/55, 463 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tyrell Sutton 13 rushes, 89 yards, TD Receiving Shaun Herbert 11 receptions, 96 yardsPurdue 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
Statistics NUMSU 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 StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Brett Basanez 24/30, 331 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tyrell Sutton 21 rushes, 109 yards, 2 TD Receiving Shaun Herbert 10 receptions, 138 yardsMichigan 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
No. 25 Michigan
Statistics MICHNU 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 StatisticsMichigan Passing Chad Henne 17/30, 174 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Jerome Jackson 24 rushes, 105 yards Receiving Jason Avant 5 receptions, 67 yardsNorthwestern 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
Iowa
Statistics IOWANU 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 StatisticsIowa Passing Drew Tate 21/35, 273 yards Rushing Albert Young 38 rushes, 202 yards, 2 TD Receiving Herb Grigsby 7 receptions, 84 yardsNorthwestern 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
Statistics NUOSU 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 StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Brett Basanez 15/31, 121 yards, TD, INT Rushing Tyrell Sutton 14 rushes, 93 yards Receiving Jonathan Fields 4 receptions, 45 yardsOhio State Passing Troy Smith 7/12, 77 yards, INT Rushing Antonio Pittman 18 rushes, 132 yards, TD Receiving Santonio Holmes 3 receptions, 49 yards
At Illinois
Statistics NUILL 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 StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Brett Basanez 25/31, 240 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tyrell Sutton 34 rushes, 212 yards Receiving Mark Philmore 5 receptions, 62 yards, TDIllinois 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)
Statistics NUUCLA 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 StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Brett Basanez 38/70, 416 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Tyrell Sutton 18 rushes, 84 yards Receiving Ross Lane 7 receptions, 136 yardsUCLA 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.
References