As much as Pat Fitzgerald has improved his team and level of play in recent seasons, Northwestern is still being relegated to the "spoiler role". Building off another impressive season in 2012 the Wildcats are looking to shed their current stereotype and get the respect from the country that they feel they deserve. With teams like Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Michigan bombarding the conferences; Northwestern often gets left in the dust when it comes to the national spotlight. Could this be the year they make the leap into Big Ten stardom? I've got five reasons why the answer is yes...
5. Head Coach
Pat Fitzgerald has done a phenomenal job turning around Northwestern's program. Coming off a 10 win season and their first bowl victory in 64 years, Fitzgerald is now getting the attention he deserves and being regarded as one of the best coaches in the Big Ten and one of the best up and coming coaches in college football. This squad has only gotten better under his recruiting, coaching, and mentoring and there's no reason to think that won't continue as he has improved his team year after year.
4. Schedule
Its important that you understand saying the Wildcats have a difficult schedule is an understatement. They suit up against Ohio State, Wisconsin, MIchigan, and MIchigan State which will give any fan a couple premature grey hairs. However, Fitzgerald will have his team thinking "glass half-full" and make them realize if they want to be the best they have to beat the best. Its an opportunity to show the nation that they belong with the cream of the crop. The silver lining here is all those games are at home as they only must travel to Wisconsin making their schedule far less daunting than at first glance. If they can win three of those four match-ups Northwestern will surely be floating near the top of the conference.
3. Continuity/Talent
The Wildcats are returning 15 starters to the team making them one of the most cohesive ball clubs in the conference. Specifically they have almost all their offensive starters coming back which was one of the most explosive units in the country as they averaged 31.7 points per game. Led by Mr. Do-It-All quarterback Kain Colter (who lined up under center, in the backfield, and split out-wide) who netted almost 900 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing which wasn't even the best on the team. Tailback Venric Mark took it a step further leading the conference in rushing with 1,366 yards and 12 touchdowns. These two are dangerous when on the field together and when you add in all three starting wide receivers are returning this team won't take anytime to show their connection as they will be in mid-season form in week one.
2. Everyone Else
Lets take the spotlight off Northwestern for a second and put it on the other top teams in the Big Ten. We've assumed so far that Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, and Nebraska will all be as good if not better than last year, but didn't your mom tell you never to assume anything? The Cornhuskers have one of the worst defenses in the country. The Spartans lost five games within a total of 13 points and now with shaky quarterback play and the loss of their leading rusher Le'Von Bell those games will be even tougher to close out. The Wolverines do have talent and a great recruiting class coming up the next couple of seasons but seem to be a year or two away from pushing for the conference title. The Nittnay Lions were over-acheivers last year and will be hard pressed to duplicate that success. Wisconsin is bringing back 14 starters on an 8-6 team while losing Monte Ball. Finally, it's tough to predict the Buckeyes struggling too much this season but they do play the Wildcats in week five. Northwestern will have to win that game and take care of business the rest of the way but if they can they will be the ones crowned Big Ten Champs.
1. Luck
You can play good football, you can win a lot of games, but you can't be crowned Big Ten winner without a little luck along the way. Luck as in your team stays healthy for a full season. Luck as in the ball bounces in your favor when you need it the most. Luck as in the referees make a close call that leans in your favor. It could be anything that helps Northwestern that could have just as easily hurt them. Its why we watch the game, because as much predicting and assuming we do, in the end anything can happen at anytime and thats why the Wildcats winning the conference isn't as far fetched as you may think.