2016 Northwestern Wildcats football team

2016 Northwestern Wildcats football
Pinstripe Bowl champion
Pinstripe Bowl, W 31–24 vs. Pittsburgh
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record7–6 (5–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMick McCall (9th season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorMike Hankwitz (9th season)
Base defenseMultiple 4–3
CaptainAustin Carr
Matthew Harris
Connor Mahoney
Anthony Walker
Home stadiumRyan Field
Seasons
← 2015
2017 →
2016 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 7 Penn State xy$   8 1     11 3  
No. 6 Ohio State x^   8 1     11 2  
No. 10 Michigan   7 2     10 3  
Indiana   4 5     6 7  
Maryland   3 6     6 7  
Michigan State   1 8     3 9  
Rutgers   0 9     2 10  
West Division
No. 9 Wisconsin xy   7 2     11 3  
Iowa   6 3     8 5  
Nebraska   6 3     9 4  
Minnesota   5 4     9 4  
Northwestern   5 4     7 6  
Illinois   2 7     3 9  
Purdue   1 8     3 9  
Championship: Penn State 38, Wisconsin 31
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2016 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University during the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by Pat Fitzgerald who is in his 11th season as the team's head coach. The Wildcats home games were played at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. They were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference.