CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

Northwestern record book

The school’s records in every stat, career, season and game, and its record year by year, as Northwestern’s Wikipedia lists give them from the school’s media guide. Names lead to each player’s page where he has one.

Passing

Passing yards

Career

  1. 10,731Clayton Thorson 2015–⁠18
  2. 10,580Brett Basanez 2002–⁠05
  3. 7,487Len Williams 1990–⁠93
  4. 7,319C.J. Bachér 2005–⁠08
  5. 5,931Trevor Siemian 2011–⁠14

Season

  1. 3,656C.J. Bachér 2007
  2. 3,622Brett Basanez 2005
  3. 3,430Mike Kafka 2009
  4. 3,183Clayton Thorson 2018
  5. 3,182Clayton Thorson 2016

Game

  1. 532Mike Kafka 2009 vs. Auburn (Outback Bowl)
  2. 520C.J. Bachér 2007 vs. Michigan State
  3. 513Brett Basanez 2004 vs. TCU
  4. 470C.J. Bachér 2007 vs. Minnesota
  5. 463Brett Basanez 2005 vs. Purdue

Passing touchdowns

Career

  1. 61Clayton Thorson 2015–⁠18
  2. 44Len Williams 1990–⁠93
  3. 44Brett Basanez 2002–⁠05
  4. 43C.J. Bachér 2005–⁠08
  5. 42Zak Kustok 1999–⁠01

Season

  1. 22Clayton Thorson 2016
  2. 21Brett Basanez 2005
  3. 20Zak Kustok 2001
  4. 19Zak Kustok 2000
  5. 19C.J. Bachér 2007

Game

  1. 5Mitch Anderson 1973 vs. Minnesota
  2. 5C.J. Bachér 2007 vs. Michigan State

Rushing

Rushing yards

Career

  1. 4,485Damien Anderson 1998–⁠01
  2. 3,886Tyrell Sutton 2005–⁠08
  3. 3,793Darnell Autry 1994–⁠96
  4. 2,643Bob Christian 1987–⁠90
  5. 2,625Jason Wright 2000–⁠03

Season

  1. 2,063Damien Anderson 2000
  2. 1,785Darnell Autry 1995
  3. 1,524Justin Jackson 2016
  4. 1,474Tyrell Sutton 2005
  5. 1,452Darnell Autry 1996

Game

  1. 316Mike Adamle 1969 vs. Wisconsin
  2. 295Byron Sanders 1987 vs. Minnesota
  3. 292Damien Anderson 2000 vs. Indiana
  4. 268Damien Anderson 2000 vs. Michigan
  5. 251Jason Wright 2003 vs. Illinois

Rushing touchdowns

Career

  1. 41Justin Jackson 2014–⁠17
  2. 38Damien Anderson 1998–⁠01
  3. 35Darnell Autry 1994–⁠96
  4. 32Jason Wright 2000–⁠03
  5. 31Tyrell Sutton 2005–⁠08

Season

  1. 23Damien Anderson 2000
  2. 20Jason Wright 2003
  3. 17Darnell Autry 1995
  4. 17Darnell Autry 1996
  5. 16Tyrell Sutton 2005

Game

  1. 4Mike Adamle 1970 vs. Minnesota
  2. 4Darnell Autry 1996 vs. Iowa
  3. 4Damien Anderson 2000 vs. Illinois
  4. 4Damien Anderson 2000 vs. Indiana
  5. 4Damien Anderson 2001 vs. Duke

Receiving

Receptions

Career

  1. 210D’Wayne Bates 1995–⁠98
  2. 197Richard Buchanan 1987–⁠90
  3. 173Jeremy Ebert 2008–⁠11
  4. 171Kunle Patrick 2000–⁠03
  5. 168Shaun Herbert 2003–⁠06

Season

  1. 94Richard Buchanan 1989
  2. 91Zeke Markshausen 2009
  3. 90Austin Carr 2016
  4. 83Ricky Edwards 1983
  5. 83D’Wayne Bates 1998

Game

  1. 17Jon Harvey 1982 vs. Michigan
  2. 16Zeke Markshausen 2009 vs. Michigan State
  3. 15Todd Jenkins 1982 vs. Purdue
  4. 14Richard Buchanan 1989 vs. Minnesota
  5. 14Evan Hull 2022 vs. Duke

Receiving yards

Career

  1. 3,370D’Wayne Bates 1995–⁠98
  2. 2,474Richard Buchanan 1987–⁠90
  3. 2,400Jeremy Ebert 2008–⁠11
  4. 2,068Ross Lane 2005–⁠08
  5. 2,011Eric Peterman 2005–⁠08

Season

  1. 1,247Austin Carr 2016
  2. 1,245D’Wayne Bates 1998
  3. 1,196D’Wayne Bates 1996
  4. 1,115Richard Buchanan 1989
  5. 953Jeremy Ebert 2010

Game

  1. 226Jim Lash 1972 vs. Michigan State
  2. 226Todd Sheets 1980 vs. Purdue
  3. 215Bryce Kirtz 2023 vs. Minnesota
  4. 213Evan Hull 2022 vs. Duke
  5. 208Jon Harvey 1982 vs. Michigan

Receiving touchdowns

Career

  1. 26D’Wayne Bates 1995–⁠98
  2. 22Richard Buchanan 1987–⁠90
  3. 21Jeremy Ebert 2008–⁠11
  4. 14Sam Simmons 1998–⁠01
  5. 14Steve Bogan 1978–⁠81

Season

  1. 12D’Wayne Bates 1996
  2. 12Austin Carr 2016
  3. 11Jeremy Ebert 2011
  4. 9Richard Buchanan 1989
  5. 9D’Wayne Bates 1998

Game

  1. 4Drake Dunsmore 2011 vs. Indiana

Total offense

Total offense yards

Career

  1. 11,576Brett Basanez 2002–⁠05
  2. 11,139Clayton Thorson 2015–⁠18
  3. 8,029Len Williams 1990–⁠93
  4. 7,571C.J. Bachér 2005–⁠08
  5. 7,116Zak Kustok 1999–⁠01

Season

  1. 4,045Brett Basanez 2005
  2. 3,725Mike Kafka 2009
  3. 3,687C.J. Bachér 2007
  4. 3,280Clayton Thorson 2016
  5. 3,272Zak Kustok 2001

Game

  1. 566Mike Kafka 2009 vs. Auburn (Outback Bowl)
  2. 548Brett Basanez 2004 vs. TCU
  3. 532Zak Kustok 2001 vs. Bowling Green
  4. 525C.J. Bachér 2007 vs. Michigan State
  5. 506Brett Basanez 2005 vs. Purdue

Total touchdowns

Career

  1. 88Clayton Thorson 2015–⁠18
  2. 64Zak Kustok 1999–⁠01
  3. 62Brett Basanez 2002–⁠05
  4. 55Len Williams 1990–⁠93
  5. 51C.J. Bachér 2005–⁠08

Season

  1. 31Zak Kustok 2001
  2. 28Zak Kustok 2000
  3. 28Brett Basanez 2005
  4. 27Clayton Thorson 2016
  5. 26Clayton Thorson 2018

Defense

Interceptions

Career

  1. 15Brett Whitley 1984–⁠87
  2. 14Tom Worthington 1946–⁠49
  3. 11Malcolm Hunter 1974–⁠77
  4. 11Brian Peters 2008–⁠11
  5. 10Eric Hutchinson 1969–⁠71

Season

  1. 7Brett Whitley 1987
  2. 7Willie Lindsey 1991
  3. 6Tom Worthington 1947
  4. 6Eric Hutchinson 1970
  5. 6Brandon Joseph 2020

Tackles

Career

  1. 545Tim McGarigle 2002–⁠05
  2. 503Chuck Kern 1977–⁠80
  3. 468Barry Gardner 1995–⁠98
  4. 429Ed Sutter 1988–⁠91
  5. 418William Bennett 1992–⁠95

Season

  1. 227Chuck Kern 1979
  2. 218Chuck Kern 1978
  3. 192John Voorhees 1971
  4. 175Barry Gardner 1998
  5. 174Barry Gardner 1997

Game

  1. 31Chuck Kern 1979 vs. Purdue

Sacks

Career

  1. 30.0Joe Gaziano 2016–⁠19
  2. 28.0Casey Dailey 1994–⁠97
  3. 23.5Ifeadi Odenigbo 2013–⁠16
  4. 21.0Steve Shine 1990–⁠93
  5. 20.5Aidan Hubbard 2022–⁠25

Season

  1. 12.0Casey Dailey 1997

Game

  1. 4.0Ifeadi Odenigbo 2016 vs. Iowa

Kicking

Field goals made

Career

  1. 58Brian Gowins 1995–⁠98
  2. 48Jeff Budzien 2010–⁠13
  3. 46John Duvic 1983–⁠86
  4. 43Charlie Kuhbander 2017–⁠21
  5. 40Jack Mitchell 2013–⁠16

Season

  1. 23Jeff Budzien 2013
  2. 20Brian Gowins 1997
  3. 20Amado Villarreal 2008
  4. 19Jeff Budzien 2012
  5. 19John Duvic 1986

Game

  1. 5Jeff Howells 2005 vs. Penn State
  2. 5Jeff Budzien 2012 vs. Boston College
  3. 4Sam Valenzisi 1993 vs. Minnesota
  4. 4Sam Valenzisi 1995 vs. Michigan
  5. 4Brian Gowins 1998 vs. Hawaii

Field goal percentage

Career

  1. 87.3%Jeff Budzien 2010–⁠13
  2. 78.4%Jack Olsen 2021–⁠25
  3. 76.5%Luke Akers 2024–⁠25
  4. 75.0%Amado Villarreal 2005–⁠08
  5. 73.6%Sam Valenzisi 1992–⁠95

Season

  1. 95.0%Jeff Budzien 2012
  2. 93.8%Sam Valenzisi 1995
  3. 92.0%Jeff Budzien 2013
  4. 90.5%Jack Olsen 2025
  5. 82.6%John Duvic 1986

Season by season

138 seasons; 1 differ from our games on file (marked)
SeasonCoachRecordConferenceBowlAP
2025David Braun7–⁠64–⁠5, T–10thGameAbove Sports W
2024David Braun4–⁠82–⁠7, 16th
2023David Braun8–⁠55–⁠4, T–2nd (West)Las Vegas W
2022Pat Fitzgerald1–⁠111–⁠8, 7th (West)
2021Pat Fitzgerald3–⁠91–⁠8, T–6th (West)
2020Pat Fitzgerald7–⁠26–⁠2, 1st (West), division championsCitrus W10
2019Pat Fitzgerald3–⁠91–⁠8, 7th (West)
2018Pat Fitzgerald9–⁠58–⁠1, 1st (West), division championsHoliday W21
2017Pat Fitzgerald10–⁠37–⁠2, 2nd (West)Music City W17
2016Pat Fitzgerald7–⁠65–⁠4, T–4th (West)Pinstripe W
2015Pat Fitzgerald10–⁠36–⁠2, T–2nd (West)Outback L23
2014Pat Fitzgerald5–⁠73–⁠5, T–5th (West)
2013Pat Fitzgerald5–⁠71–⁠7, 6th (Legends)
2012Pat Fitzgerald10–⁠35–⁠3, 3rd (Legends)Gator W17
2011Pat Fitzgerald6–⁠73–⁠5, 5th (Legends)Texas L
2010Pat Fitzgerald7–⁠63–⁠5, T–6thTicketCity L
2009Pat Fitzgerald8–⁠55–⁠3, T–4thOutback L
2008Pat Fitzgerald9–⁠45–⁠3, T–4thAlamo L
2007Pat Fitzgerald6–⁠63–⁠5, T–7th
2006Pat Fitzgerald4–⁠82–⁠6, T–8th
2005Randy Walker7–⁠55–⁠3, T–3rdSun L
2004Randy Walker6–⁠65–⁠3, 4th
2003Randy Walker6–⁠74–⁠4, T–7thMotor City L
2002Randy Walker3–⁠91–⁠7, T–10th
2001Randy Walker4–⁠72–⁠6, T–10th
2000Randy Walker8–⁠46–⁠2, T–1st, conference championsAlamo L
1999Randy Walker3–⁠81–⁠7, 10th
1998Gary Barnett3–⁠90–⁠8, 11th
1997Gary Barnett5–⁠73–⁠5, 8th
1996Gary Barnett9–⁠37–⁠1, T–1st, conference championsCitrus L15
1995Gary Barnett10–⁠28–⁠0, 1st, conference championsRose L8
1994Gary Barnett3–⁠7–⁠12–⁠6, T–8th
1993Gary Barnett2–⁠90–⁠8, T–9th
1992Gary Barnett3–⁠83–⁠5, T–6th
1991Francis Peay3–⁠82–⁠6, T–8th
1990Francis Peay2–⁠91–⁠7, T–8th
1989Francis Peay0–⁠110–⁠8, 10th
1988Francis Peay2–⁠8–⁠12–⁠5–⁠1, T–7th
1987Francis Peay2–⁠8–⁠12–⁠6, 9th
1986Francis Peay4–⁠72–⁠6, T–8th
1985Dennis Green3–⁠81–⁠7, T–9th
1984Dennis Green2–⁠92–⁠7, 9th
1983Dennis Green2–⁠92–⁠7, T–8th
1982Dennis Green3–⁠82–⁠7, T–8th
1981Dennis Green0–⁠110–⁠9, 10th
1980Rick Venturi0–⁠110–⁠9, 10th
1979Rick Venturi1–⁠100–⁠9, 10th
1978Rick Venturi0–⁠10–⁠10–⁠8–⁠1, 10th
1977John Pont1–⁠101–⁠8, 10th
1976John Pont1–⁠101–⁠7, 10th
1975John Pont3–⁠82–⁠6, 9th
1974John Pont3–⁠82–⁠6, T–7th
1973John Pont4–⁠74–⁠4, T–4th
1972Alex Agase2–⁠91–⁠8, 10th
1971Alex Agase7–⁠46–⁠3, 2nd
1970Alex Agase6–⁠46–⁠1, T–2nd
1969Alex Agase3–⁠73–⁠4, T–5th
1968Alex Agase1–⁠91–⁠6, T–8th
1967Alex Agase3–⁠72–⁠5, 8th
1966Alex Agase3–⁠6–⁠12–⁠4–⁠1, T–7th
1965Alex Agase4–⁠63–⁠4, 6th
1964Alex Agase3–⁠62–⁠5, T–7th
1963Ara Parseghian5–⁠43–⁠4, T–5th
1962Ara Parseghian7–⁠24–⁠2, T–3rd
1961Ara Parseghian4–⁠52–⁠4, T–8th
1960Ara Parseghian5–⁠43–⁠4, T–5th
1959Ara Parseghian6–⁠34–⁠3, 5th
1958Ara Parseghian5–⁠43–⁠4, 7th
1957Ara Parseghian0–⁠90–⁠7, 10th
1956Ara Parseghian4–⁠4–⁠13–⁠3–⁠1, 6th
1955Lou Saban0–⁠8–⁠10–⁠6–⁠1, 10th
1954Robert Voigts2–⁠71–⁠5, T–8th
1953Robert Voigts3–⁠60–⁠6, 10th
1952Robert Voigts2–⁠6–⁠12—5, T–6th
1951Robert Voigts5–⁠42–⁠4, 6th
1950Robert Voigts6–⁠33–⁠3, 5th
1949Robert Voigts4–⁠53–⁠4, 7th
1948Robert Voigts8–⁠25–⁠1, 2ndRose W7
1947Robert Voigts3–⁠62–⁠4, 8th
1946Pappy Waldorf4–⁠4–⁠12–⁠3–⁠1, T–6th
1945Pappy Waldorf4–⁠4–⁠13–⁠3–⁠1, 4th
1944Pappy Waldorf1–⁠7–⁠10–⁠5–⁠1, 8th
1943Pappy Waldorf6–⁠25–⁠1, 3rd9
1942Pappy Waldorf1–⁠90–⁠6, 9th
1941Pappy Waldorf5–⁠34–⁠2, 4th11
1940Pappy Waldorf6–⁠24–⁠2, 3rd8
1939Pappy Waldorf3–⁠4–⁠13–⁠2–⁠1, 5th
1938Pappy Waldorf4–⁠2–⁠22–⁠1–⁠2, 4th17
1937Pappy Waldorf4–⁠43–⁠3, T–4th
1936Pappy Waldorf7–⁠16–⁠0, 1st, conference champions7
1935Pappy Waldorf4–⁠3–⁠12–⁠3–⁠1, 5th
1934Dick Hanley3–⁠52–⁠3, T–5th
1933Dick Hanley1–⁠5–⁠21–⁠4–⁠1, 7th
1932Dick Hanley3–⁠4–⁠12–⁠3–⁠1, 5th
1931Dick Hanley7–⁠1–⁠15–⁠1, T–1st, conference champions
1930Dick Hanley7–⁠15–⁠0, T–1st, conference champions
1929Dick Hanley6–⁠33–⁠2, T–3rd
1928Dick Hanley5–⁠32–⁠3, T–7th
1927Dick Hanley4–⁠42–⁠3, T–6th
1926Glenn Thistlethwaite7–⁠15–⁠0, T–1st, conference champions
1925Glenn Thistlethwaite5–⁠33–⁠1, 2nd
1924Glenn Thistlethwaite4–⁠41–⁠3, T–8th
1923Glenn Thistlethwaite2–⁠60–⁠6, 10th
1922Glenn Thistlethwaite3–⁠3–⁠11–⁠3–⁠1, 8th
1921Elmer McDevitt1–⁠60–⁠5, 10th
1920Elmer McDevitt3–⁠42–⁠3, 7th
1919Charlie Bachman2–⁠51–⁠4, T–7th
1918Fred Murphy2–⁠2–⁠11–⁠1, 6th
1917Fred Murphy5–⁠23–⁠2, T–3rd
1916Fred Murphy6–⁠14–⁠1, 2nd
1915Fred Murphy2–⁠50–⁠5, 9th
1914Fred Murphy1–⁠60–⁠6, 9th
1913Dennis Grady1–⁠60–⁠6, 9th
1912Charles Hammett2–⁠3–⁠12–⁠3, 5th
1911Charles Hammett3–⁠41–⁠4, 7th
1910Charles Hammett1–⁠3–⁠11–⁠2–⁠1, T–6th
1909Bill Horr1–⁠3–⁠11–⁠3, T–5th
1908Alton Johnson2–⁠20–⁠2, T–7th
1905Walter McCornack8–⁠2–⁠10—2, T–7th
1904Walter McCornack8–⁠21–⁠2, T–5th
1903Walter McCornack10–⁠1–⁠31–⁠0–⁠2, T–1st, conference champions
1902Charles Hollister6–⁠60–⁠4, T–8th
1901Charles Hollister8–⁠2–⁠13–⁠2, 5th
1900Charles Hollister7–⁠2–⁠32–⁠1–⁠2, 5th
1899Charles Hollister7–⁠62–⁠2, 3rd
1898W. H. Bannard9–⁠4–⁠10–⁠4, 7th
1897Jesse Van Doozer5–⁠30–⁠2, 6th
1896Alvin Culver6–⁠1–⁠22–⁠1–⁠1, 3rd
1895Alvin Culver6–⁠5
1894A. A. Ewing4–⁠5
1893Paul Noyes2–⁠5–⁠30–⁠2, 4th
1892Knowlton Ames5–⁠3–⁠2 (ours 6–⁠4–⁠2)1–⁠3, 4th
1891Knowlton Ames2–⁠2–⁠3
1890No coach4–⁠1–⁠1
1889No coach2–⁠2
1888No coach2–⁠1
1886No coach0–⁠1
1882No coach1–⁠1

From Wikipedia’s record book and season list for the program (CC BY-SA), which cite the school’s media guide. Browse every program’s in the data.