Northwestern has crept into both the AP and Coaches polls after a solid Week 2 performance against FCS foe Eastern Illinois. While most NU fans are excited by this news, yours truly couldn’t be more upset. NU has a huge challenge ahead of them next week on the road at Duke, and now that both the members of the media and head coaches have chosen us worthy of their top-25 lists, we’re almost assuredly going to lose.
Why, you ask? Well let’s take a look at all games during the Fitz era where NU first entered the polls.
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Result | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31, 2013 | at California | #22 | W | 44–30 | |
| October 6, 2012 | at Penn State | #24 | L | 28–39 | |
| November 10, 2012 | at Michigan | #24 | L | 31–38 OT | |
| October 9, 2010 | Purdue | #25 | L | 17–20 | |
| November 20, 2010 | Illinois | #25 | L | 27–48 | at Wrigley Field |
| December 29, 2008 | #25 Missouri | #22 | L | 23–30 OT | Valero Alamo Bowl |
Other than the season opener in 2013 where Collin Ellis put the team on his back, NU has lost every single game after debuting in the polls. You could even argue that they didn’t technically debut in the polls at Cal since they finished the 2012 season ranked in the final polls.
Let me just say – this trend is frightening. The only games NU has won as a ranked team during the Fitz era all came in 2013 (@Cal, Syracuse, Western Michigan, and Maine), arguably the most disappointing season in Northwestern football history. Is the coaching to blame? Was it just the luck of the schedule? It’s tough to say.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m as excited as you are that the ‘Cats are 2-0. I just wish we could have stayed out of the polls for at least another week.
Gator bowl???