2012 Northwestern Wildcats football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2012 2012 Northwestern Wildcats football Northwestern Wildcats logo.svg 150 Big Ten Conference Legends Division Big Ten 16 17 10–3 5–3 Pat Fitzgerald 7th Mick McCall 5th Mike Hankwitz 5th Brian Arnfelt Kain Colter Brian Mulroe David Nwabuisi Spread Multiple 4–3 Ryan Field Gator Bowl champion Gator Bowl W 34–20 vs. Mississippi State The 2012 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Pat Fitzgerald, in his seventh season at Northwestern, was the team's head coach. The Wildcats home games were played at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. They were members of the Legends Division of the Big Ten Conference. The Wildcats won their first bowl game since the 1949 Rose Bowl against California by defeating Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl 34–20.Northwestern Wins Gator Bowl to End Drought Teddy Greenstein http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-0102-gator-bowl-northwestern--20130102,0,6183293.story Chicago Tribune January 1, 2013 January 1, 2013 They finished the season 10–3 (5–3 Big Ten). Preseason Recruiting Northwestern signed 21 recruits to letters-of-intent on National Signing Day on February 1, 2012.John Taylor Northwestern announces 2012 recruiting class http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/01/northwestern-announces-2012-recruiting-class/ NBC Sports February 1, 2012 February 22, 2012 Transfers Wide receiver Kyle Prater transferred to Northwestern from USC on January 28, 2012, after being injured during most of the 2011 season and redshirting in 2010.WR Prater transfers from So. Cal to Northwestern http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/01/28/prater.transfers.to.usc.ap/index.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120201042549/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/01/28/prater.transfers.to.usc.ap/index.html dead February 1, 2012 Sports Illustrated January 28, 2012 February 22, 2012 The Wildcats requested a waiver to allow Prater to play immediately in 2012, as he transferred to a school close to home in order to care for a family member.Teddy Greenstein Prater, NU Expect to Hear From NCAA in July http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-prater-northwestern-expect-to-hear-from-ncaa-in-july-20120627,0,4607439.story Chicago Tribune June 27, 2012 June 29, 2012 Sophomore running back Adonis Smith, who was thought to be a candidate for the starting running back job in 2012 after rushing for 266 yards in 2011, announced his intent to transfer from Northwestern on February 22.Scott Powers Adonis Smith Leaving Northwestern https://www.espn.com/chicago/ncf/story/_/id/7604016/adonis-smith-transferring-northwestern-wildcats ESPN February 22, 2012 February 22, 2012 He decided to transfer to UNLV.John Taylor Ex-Northwestern RB Headed to UNLV http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/08/ex-northwestern-rb-headed-to-unlv/ NBC Sports March 8, 2012 March 8, 2012 Defensive back Quinn Evans transferred to Northwestern after graduating from Stanford in June 2012. After missing the entire 2011 season because of injury, he chose to attend Northwestern as a graduate student with a year of college football eligibility remaining.Northwestern Announces Addition of Transfer Quinn Evans http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/061112aab.html Northwestern University Department of Athletics June 11, 2012 June 11, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120614024951/http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/061112aab.html June 14, 2012 dead mdy-all Schedule The schedule is as follows:2012 Northwestern Football Schedule http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/nw-m-footbl-sched.html Northwestern University Department of Athletics February 22, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20100620110643/http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/nw-m-footbl-sched.html June 20, 2010 dead mdy-all 2012 AP Central September 1 11:00 am w y y Syracuse Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY ESPN2 42–41 37,830https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=322450183 Northwestern Wildcats vs. Syracuse Orange Box Score ESPN September 1, 2012 September 30, 2012 September 8 7:00 pm w y Vanderbilt Ryan Field Evanston, IL BTN 23–13 31,644https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=322520077 Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score ESPN September 8, 2012 September 30, 2012 September 15 2:30 pm w y Boston College Ryan Field Evanston, IL BTN 22–13 32,597https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=322590077 Boston College Eagles vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score ESPN September 15, 2012 September 30, 2012 September 22 2:30 pm w y South Dakota Ryan Field Evanston, IL BTN 38–7 28,641https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=322660077 South Dakota Coyotes vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score ESPN September 22, 2012 September 30, 2012 September 29 11:00 am w Indiana Ryan Field Evanston, IL BTN 44–29 33,129https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=322730077 Indiana Hoosiers vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score ESPN September 29, 2012 September 30, 2012 October 6 11:00 am l y 24 Penn State Beaver Stadium University Park, PA ESPN 28–39 95,796https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=322800213 Northwestern Wildcats vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Box Score ESPN October 6, 2012 October 7, 2012 October 13 11:00 am w y Minnesota TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN ESPN2 21–13 49,651http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=32287013 Northwestern Wildcats vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Box Score ESPN October 13, 2012 October 13, 2012July 2024 medicmedic October 20 2:30 pm l Nebraska Ryan Field Evanston, IL ABC/ESPN2 28–29 47,330https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=322940077 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score ESPN October 20, 2012 October 21, 2012 October 27 11:00 am w y Iowa Ryan Field Evanston, IL ESPN2 28–17 44,121https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=323010077 Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score ESPN October 27, 2012 October 27, 2012 November 10 11:00 am l y 24 Michigan rivalry Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI ESPN 31–38 OT 112,510https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=323150130 Northwestern Wildcats vs. Michigan Wolverines Box Score ESPN November 10, 2012 November 12, 2012 November 17 11:00 am w y Michigan State Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN2 23–20 75,101https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=323220127 Northwestern Wildcats vs. Michigan State Spartans Box Score ESPN November 17, 2012 November 17, 2012 November 24 11:00 am w Illinois Land of Lincoln Trophy Ryan Field Evanston, IL BTN 50–14 32,415https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=323290077 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score ESPN November 24, 2012 November 24, 2012 January 1 11:00 am w y 21 Mississippi State Gator Bowl EverBank Field Jacksonville, FL ESPN2 34–20 48,612https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=330010077 Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Northwestern Wildcats Box Score ESPN January 1, 2013 January 1, 2013 Rankings 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings 15 6 7 NR NR RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 24 22 RV RV RV RV RV RV NR NR RV RV NR RV RV RV NR RV 21 24 24 RV RV RV NR RV RV RV NR 22 20 21 22 21 17 20 20 17 16 Game summaries Syracuse 2012 Syracuse Orange football team Northwestern 7 14 14 7 Syracuse 6 7 14 14 September 1 Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY 11:00 a.m. CDT 4:00 37,830 80 F at kickoff, reaching 95 F inside the dome by the 2nd half John O'Neill Beth Mowins (Play-by-play), Joey Galloway (Color) & Jenn Brown (Sideline) ESPN2 Sources:Northwestern 42, Syracuse 41 http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/090112.html Northwestern University Department of Athletics September 1, 2012 September 1, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20141227194206/http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/090112.html December 27, 2014 dead mdy-all yes 1 10:47 SYR Ross Krautman 22 yd field goal SYR 0–3 1 3:57 SYR Ross Krautman 33 yd field goal SYR 0–6 1 0:23 NU Venric Mark 82 yd punt return (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 7–6 2 10:58 SYR Prince-Tyson Gulley 14 yd run (Ross Krautman kick) SYR 7–13 2 6:53 NU Venric Mark 21 yd pass from Kain Colter (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 14–13 2 3:49 NU Christian Jones 14 yd pass from Kain Colter (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 21–13 3 13:32 NU Chi Chi Ariguzo 33 yd fumble return (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 28–13 3 7:34 NU Kain Colter 1 yd run (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 35–13 3 2:21 SYR Marcus Sales 7 yd pass from Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman kick) NU 35–20 3 0:00 SYR Jeremiah Kobena 50 yd pass from Ryan Nassib (Ross Krautman kick) NU 35–27 4 6:42 SYR Jeremiah Kobena 7 yd pass from Ryan Nassib (two-point conversion failed) NU 35–33 4 2:40 SYR Christopher Clark 20 yd pass from Ryan Nassib (Prince-Tyson Gulley run for two-point conversion) SYR 35–41 4 0:44 NU Demetrius Fields 9 yd pass from Trevor Siemian (Jeff Budzien kick) Nu 42–41 yes The game got off to a slow start with some notable miscues on Northwestern's special teams play. All of which was quickly forgotten when Venric Mark scored an 82-yard touchdown on a punt return, the first return touchdown of his career. Northwestern continued to dominate offensively on the work of Mark and Kain Colter, taking a 35–13 lead in the middle of the 3rd quarter. The Orange then scored 4 straight touchdowns to lead 41–35 by attacking the young Northwestern secondary with deep passes to the outside. With under 3 minutes left and needing a score to win, Northwestern changed quarterbacks. Trevor Siemian came on to lead a 75-yard drive that scored the go-ahead touchdown. Northwestern survived to win and remain 7–0 in season openers under Pat Fitzgerald. Vanderbilt 2012 Vanderbilt Commodores football team Vanderbilt 7 3 0 3 Northwestern 3 0 3 17 September 8 Ryan Field, Evanston, IL 7:03 p.m. CDT 3:15 31,644 71 F, mostly cloudy, wind 9 mph on NW Matt Laeffler Eric Collins (Play-by-play), Derek Rackley (Color) & Lisa Byington (Sideline) BTN Sources:Northwestern 23, Vanderbilt 13 http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/090812.html Northwestern University Department of Athletics September 8, 2012 September 8, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20141227190437/http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/090812.html December 27, 2014 dead mdy-all yes 1 10:11 Vandy Jordan Matthews 22 yd pass from Jordan Rodgers (Carey Spear kick) Vandy 7–0 1 7:14 NU Jeff Budzien 40 yd field goal Vandy 7–3 2 12:38 Vandy Carey Spear 32 yd field goal Vandy 10–3 3 10:16 NU Jeff Budzien 37 yd field goal Vandy 10–6 4 9:28 NU Venric Mark 7 yd run (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 10–13 4 5:21 Vandy Carey Spear 26 yd field goal Tied 13–13 4 2:01 NU Jeff Budzien 18 yd field goal NU 13–16 4 1:24 NU Kain Colter 29 yd run (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 13–23 yes Boston College 2012 Boston College Eagles football team Boston College 3 7 0 3 Northwestern 6 6 3 7 September 15 Ryan Field, Evanston, IL 2:43 p.m. CDT 3:19 32,597 75 F, sunny, wind 8 mph on NE Gary Patterson Josh Lewin (Play-by-play), Jon Jansen (Color) & Evan Fitzgerald (Sideline) BTN Sources:Northwestern 22, Boston College 13 http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/091512.html Northwestern University Department of Athletics September 15, 2012 September 16, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20141227193955/http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/091512.html December 27, 2014 dead mdy-all yes 1 12:25 NU Jeff Budzien 42 yd field goal NU 0–3 1 8:03 BC Nate Freese 21 yd field goal Tied 3–3 1 3:36 NU Jeff Budzien 20 yd field goal NU 3–6 2 13:21 NU Jeff Budzien 29 yd field goal NU 3–9 2 1:38 BC Johnathan Coleman 31 yd pass from Chase Rettig (Nate Freese kick) BC 10–9 2 0:02 NU Jeff Budzien 41 yd field goal NU 10–12 3 2:50 NU Jeff Budzien 19 yd field goal NU 10–15 4 14:50 BC Nate Freese 34 yd field goal NU 13–15 4 1:37 NU Mike Trumpy 27 yd run (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 13–22 yes South Dakota 2012 South Dakota Coyotes football team South Dakota 0 0 7 0 Northwestern 14 14 7 3 September 22 Ryan Field, Evanston, IL 2:42 p.m. CDT 2:58 28,641 55 F, mostly sunny, wind 15 mph on WNW Todd Geerlings Wayne Larrivee (Play-by-play), Jon Jansen (Color) & Evan Fitzgerald (Sideline) BTN Sources:Northwestern 38, South Dakota 7 http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/092212.html Northwestern University Department of Athletics September 22, 2012 September 23, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20141227195147/http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/092212.html December 27, 2014 dead mdy-all yes 1 11:29 NU Venric Mark 3 yd run (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 0–7 1 7:28 NU Tyris Jones 5 yd run (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 0–14 2 8:16 NU Venric Mark 6 yd run (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 0–21 2 0:52 NU Venric Mark 4 yd run (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 0–28 3 11:33 NU Treyvon Green 33 yd run (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 0–35 3 4:10 SD Josh Vander Maten 4 yd run (Kevin Robb kick) NU 7–35 4 10:00 NU Steve Flaherty 39 yd field goal NU 7–38 yes Indiana 2012 Indiana Hoosiers football team Indiana 0 0 21 8 Northwestern 7 13 17 7 September 29 Ryan Field, Evanston, IL 11:01 a.m. CDT 3:18 33,129 66 F, partly cloudy, wind 6 mph on WNW Mike Cannon Kevin Kugler (Play-by-play) & Chris Martin (Color) BTN Sources:Indiana vs Northwestern http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/092912.html Northwestern University Department of Athletics September 29, 2012 September 30, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20141227185236/http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2012-2013/092912.html December 27, 2014 dead mdy-all yes 1 5:52 NU Kain Colter 8 yd run (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 0–7 2 11:41 NU Jeff Budzien 44 yd field goal) NU 0–10 2 7:59 NU Kain Colter 8 yd run (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 0–17 2 0:56 NU Jeff Budzien 34 yd field goal) NU 0–20 3 11:52 NU Kain Colter 15 yd run (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 0–27 3 9:24 IU Stephen Houston 20 yd run (Mitch Ewald kick) NU 7–27 3 7:28 IU Kofi Hughes 35 yd pass from Nate Sudfeld (Mitch Ewald kick) NU 14–27 3 4:43 NU Venric Mark 1 yd run (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 14–34 3 4:29 IU Tevin Coleman 96 yd kickoff return (Mitch Ewald kick) NU 21–34 3 1:16 NU Jeff Budzien 29 yd field goal NU 21–37 4 14:06 IU D'Angelo Roberts 2 yd run (Kofi Hughes run for two-point conversion) NU 29–37 4 5:07 NU Kain Colter 22 yd run (Jeff Budzien kick) NU 29–44 yes Penn State 2012 Penn State Nittany Lions football team #24 Northwestern 0 14 14 0 Penn State 3 7 7 22 October 6 Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA 11:00 a.m. CDT 3:20 95,769 54 - 56 F, cloudy and cool, wind W 12 mph on John O'Neill Dave Pasch (Play-by-play), Brian Griese (Color) & Jenn Brown (Sideline) ESPN Roster 2012 Northwestern Wildcats rosterhttp://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/nw-m-footbl-mtt.html 2012 Northwestern Wildcats football roster October 4, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20140729224459/http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/nw-m-footbl-mtt.html July 29, 2014 dead mdy-all http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082412aac.html 2012 Northwestern Wildcats captains announcement October 4, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121119084600/http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082412aac.html November 19, 2012 dead mdy-all Quarterbacks 2 Kain Colter (C) – Junior 10 Zack Oliver – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 13 Trevor Siemian – Sophomore 15 P. J. Carollo – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 18 Christian Salem – Freshman Running backs 3 Tyris Jones – Senior 5 Venric Mark – Junior 20 Malin Jones – Freshman 21 Jordan Perkins – Freshman 22 Treyvon Green – Sophomore 25 Jordan Perkins – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 27 Mike Panico – Freshman 28 Tim Hanrahan – Sophomore 29 Stephen Buckley – Freshman 32 Mike Trumpy – Junior 34 Michael Odom – Freshman Wide receivers 6 Tony Jones – Sophomore 8 Demetrius Fields – Senior 8 Jack Mitchell – Freshman 11 Pierre Youngblood-Ary – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 12 Cermak Bland – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 14 Christian Jones – Sophomore 17 Rashad Lawrence – Junior 19 Cameron Dickerson – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 21 Kyle Prater – Sophomore 80 Mike Jensen – Junior 82 Andrew Scanlan – Freshman 83 Mike McHugh – Freshman 84 Drew Moulton – Junior 89 Austin Carr – Freshman Superbacks 40 Dan Vitale – Freshman 41 Doug Diedrick – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 43 Tim Riley – Junior 81 Evan Watkins – Junior 85 Mark Szott – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 86 Jack Schwaba – Freshman 87 Brian Smith – Junior Offensive line 53 Geoff Mogus – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 57 Matt Frazier – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 61 Alex Pietrzak – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 62 Taylor Paxton – Junior 63 Ian Park – Freshman 65 Hayden Baker – Sophomore 66 Brandon Vitabile – Sophomore 70 Patrick Ward – Senior 71 Shane Mertz – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 72 Brian Mulroe (C) – Senior 73 Adam DePietro – Freshman 74 Chuck Porcelli – Senior 75 Jack Konopka – Sophomore 76 Eric Olson – Freshman 77 Kenton Playko – Freshman 79 Neal Deiters – Senior 81 Paul Jorgensen – Sophomore Defensive line 1 Bo Cisek – Senior 67 Sean McEvilly – Sophomore 68 Connor Mahoney – Freshman 88 Quentin Williams – Senior 89 Max Chapman – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 90 C. J. Robbins – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 91 Brian Arnfelt (C) – Senior 92 Will Hampton – Junior 93 Greg Kuhar – Freshman 94 Dean Lowry – Freshman 95 Davon Custis – Junior 96 Anthony Battle – Junior 97 Tyler Scott – Junior 98 Deonte Gibson – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 99 Chance Carter – Sophomore Linebackers 18 Ifeadi Odenigbo – Freshman 33 David Nwabuisi (C) – Senior 35 Eric Wilson – Freshman 44 Chi Chi Ariguzo – Sophomore 45 Collin Ellis – Sophomore 46 Damien Proby – Junior 48 Roderick Goodlow – Senior 50 Timmy Vernon – Junior 51 Jaylen Prater – Freshman 54 Eric Hauser – Freshman 55 Drew Smith – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 56 Will Studlien – Junior Defensive backs 3 Sean Oliver – Freshman 4 Jarrell Williams – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 9 Jimmy Hall – Sophomore 15 Daniel Jones – Sophomore 16 Davion Fleming – Junior 23 Nick VanHoose – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 24 Ibraheim Campbell – Sophomore 36 Mike Eshun – Sophomore 39 Joe Cannon – Sophomore 47 Troy Sheppard – Freshman Cornerbacks 2 Dwight White – Freshman 13 C.J. Bryant – Sophomore 22 Demetrius Dugar – Senior 31 Quinn Evans – Senior Safeties 7 Hunter Bates – Senior 10 Traveon Henry – Freshman 26 Terrance Brown – Freshman 27 Jared Carpenter – Senior 42 Joseph Jones – Freshman Punters 31 Chris Gradone – 10px|Redshirt Freshman 39 Zak Kucera – Freshman 49 Brandon Williams – Junior Punters/kickers 33 Matt Micucci – Freshman Kickers 34 Steve Flaherty – Senior 37 Jeff Budzien – Junior 38 Arthur Omilian – 10px|Redshirt Freshman Long snappers 52 Chris Fitzpatrick – Freshman 59 Pat Hickey – Junior Head coach Pat Fitzgerald Coordinators/Assistant coaches Randy Bates – Linebackers coach Jerry brown – Assistant head coach/defensive backs coach Adam Cushing – Offensive line coach Mike Hankwitz – Defensive coordinator Bob heffner – Superbacks coach Marty long – Defensive line coach Matt macpherson – Running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Mick mccall – Offensive coordinator/QBs coach Dennis springer – Wide receivers coach Legend (C) Team captain 8px|Redshirt Redshirt References External links Northwestern Category:Northwestern Wildcats football seasons Category:Gator Bowl champion seasons Northwestern Wildcats football