The 2016 season's largest margin: Northwestern 45, Purdue 17. A 28-point win — the year's high-water mark.
2016 — The 2016 Season
Northwestern's 2016 season (7-6) is a middle chapter: table-stakes progress, no crown in the ledger, the program still writing the book.
The Shape — week-by-week · cumulative W–L below
Who carried it
- Clayton ThorsonQB3,182 passing yards
- Justin JacksonRB1,524 rushing yards
- John Moten IVRB340 rushing yards
- Austin CarrWR1,247 receiving yards
- Flynn NagelWR447 receiving yards
- Andrew ScanlanWR331 receiving yards
- Godwin IgwebuikeS108 tackles
- Anthony WalkerLB105 tackles
- Nate HallLB73 tackles
- Ifeadi OdenigboDL10 sacks
- Xavier WashingtonDE4.5 sacks
- Joe GazianoDL4.5 sacks
Season leaders, 2016.
The season's deepest loss: Northwestern 12, Minnesota 29. A 17-point margin the season is remembered by.
The season's last act: Northwestern beat Pittsburgh 31-24 in the postseason.
"Go Cats"
2016 is a middle chapter for Northwestern — neither a crown year nor a crisis. It is the kind of season that fills the ledger between the named ones and gives the arc its shape.