Bowling Green Adds Northwestern To Football Schedule

September 19, 2001 | Football

Sept. 19, 2001

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) - Northwestern will play 11 regular season games after all.

The Wildcats said Tuesday they will play a home game against Bowling Green on Nov. 17 to make up for last week's scheduled game against Navy, which was canceled due to the terrorist attacks.

"We're excited about having an opportunity to play an 11th game," Wildcats coach Randy Walker said. "You only get 44 regular-season opportunities during a four-year career, so getting the chance to play another game is meaningful to our players."

Northwestern could have simply settled for a 10-game schedule. The NCAA has already said schools will qualify for bowl games with a 5-5 record if they can't make up a postponed game.

But playing 10 games could have ramifications in both the polls and the bowl matchups for the Wildcats, a favorite to win the Big Ten. They're already playing a conference schedule that doesn't include Wisconsin or Michigan, two of the league's tougher teams.