Northwestern's Greatest Modern Teams: Ranking the Best Wildcats Squads of the 2000s
As the 2026 season approaches, Northwestern football fans are debating which modern Wildcats teams deserve the title of greatest in program history. This final installment of our three-part series examines the four most recent contenders: the 2000, 2017, 2018, and 2020 squads.
These teams transformed Northwestern from a Big Ten afterthought into a consistent bowl contender, with each season bringing its own memorable moments and historic achievements.
2000: The Spread Offense Revolution
The 2000 Wildcats shocked the college football world by winning a share of the Big Ten title just one year after finishing 3-8. Head coach Randy Walker's second season brought offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson's new no-huddle, run-first spread attack to Evanston.
Senior running back Damien Anderson became the star of the show, rushing for 2,063 yards and finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting. His 1,549 rushing yards in Big Ten games alone still stands as a conference record.
The season's defining moment came on Nov. 4, 2000, when Northwestern outlasted No. 12 Michigan in a wild 54-51 shootout at Ryan Field. The game is widely credited with putting the spread offense on the national radar, years before it became college football's default offensive scheme.
The Wildcats clinched their conference title share with a dominant 61-23 victory over rival Illinois, though the season ended with a disappointing 66-17 Alamo Bowl loss to Nebraska.
2017: Ten Wins Through Adversity
Pat Fitzgerald's 2017 squad started 2-3, including a 31-7 homecoming loss to Penn State, before rattling off eight straight wins to close the season.
The winning streak included three overtime victories in four weeks, against Iowa, Michigan State, and Nebraska. Senior running back Justin Jackson capped his career with 157 rushing yards in a 24-23 Music City Bowl win over Kentucky.
Jackson finished his Northwestern career with 5,440 rushing yards, third all-time in Big Ten history. The 10-win season marked the program's fifth and Fitzgerald's third.
2018: The First Big Ten West Title
After starting 1-3 with losses to Duke and Akron, the 2018 Wildcats won their final seven Big Ten games to capture the program's first Big Ten West Division title.
The division clincher came in freezing conditions at Iowa, where freshman Isaiah Bowser ran for 165 yards in a 14-10 victory. Northwestern then pushed Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game before falling 45-24.
The season ended with a dramatic 31-20 Holiday Bowl comeback against Utah, rallying from a 20-3 halftime deficit with 28 unanswered third-quarter points.
2020: A Pandemic Season to Remember
Despite COVID-19 nearly canceling the season entirely, the 2020 Wildcats delivered the program's best finish since 1995.
Indiana graduate transfer Peyton Ramsey threw for 291 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-19 Citrus Bowl win over Auburn. The victory capped a 7-2 season that included a second Big Ten West title in three years.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II anchored a defense that led the Big Ten with 10 passes defended, and the Wildcats finished ranked No. 10 in both major polls.
Which Modern Team Takes the Crown?
Each of these four teams brought something unique to Northwestern football history. The 2000 squad revolutionized offensive football. The 2017 team showed remarkable resilience. The 2018 squad broke through to the conference championship game. The 2020 team proved the program could thrive under unprecedented circumstances.
Northwestern fans will now vote to determine which of these modern greats advances in the tournament bracket, with the winner facing off against the program's legendary pre-2000 teams.