1990 Northwestern Wildcats football team

1990 Northwestern Wildcats football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	2–9 (1–7 Big Ten)
Head coach	Francis Peay (5th season)
Defensive coordinator	Mike Knoll (1st season)
Captain	Bob Christian
Home stadium	Dyche Stadium

1990 Big Ten Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 7 Michigan +	6	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 16 Michigan State +	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	3	–	1
No. 25 Illinois +	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
No. 18 Iowa +	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Ohio State	5	–	2	–	1			7	–	4	–	1
Minnesota	5	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Indiana	3	–	4	–	1			6	–	5	–	1
Northwestern	1	–	7	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Purdue	1	–	7	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Wisconsin	0	–	8	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 1990 Northwestern Wildcats team represented Northwestern University during the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth year under head coach Francis Peay, the Wildcats compiled a 2–9 record (1–7 against Big Ten Conference opponents) and finished in last place in the Big Ten Conference.

The team's offensive leaders were quarterback Len Williams with 1,700 passing yards, Bob Christian with 939 rushing yards, and Richard Buchanan with 834 receiving yards. Three Northwestern players received All-Big Ten honors in 1990: (1) wide receiver Richard Buchanan (AP-1); (2) defensive lineman Mel Agee (AP-1); and (3) defensive lineman Don Davey (AP-1).

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 8		Duke*	Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL		L 24–27	28,177
September 22		at Rice*	Rice Stadium Houston, TX		L 14–31
September 29	11:30 a.m.	Northern Illinois*	Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL	ESPN	W 24–7	26,798
October 6	11:30 a.m.	Indiana	Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL		L 0–42
October 13	1:30 p.m.	at Minnesota	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN		L 25–35	32,522
October 20	1:00 p.m.	Wisconsin	Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL		W 44–34	32,966
October 27	1:00 p.m.	at No. 15 Iowa	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA		L 14–56	69,501
November 3	1:30 p.m.	at Ohio State	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		L 7–48	89,177
November 10	1:00 p.m.	Purdue	Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL		L 13–33	25,026
November 17	1:05 p.m.	No. 23 Michigan State	Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL		L 22–29	24,953
November 24	1:00 p.m.	at No. 22 Illinois	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry)		L 23–28	32,383
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Roster

1990 Northwestern Wildcats football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 1 Richard Buchanan RB 34 Bob Christian (C) WR 83 Lee Gissendaner QB 12 Len Williams Fr	Defense Pos. # Name Class LB 60 Thomas Homco LB 54 Ed Sutter	Special teams Pos. # Name Class	Head coach Francis Peay Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt