Program history
Northwestern Record vs Ranked Teams
Every opponent's AP Top 25 rank is taken from the time of the game—not the final poll—with all-time, site, decade, and season splits.
Big TenLanny and Sharon Martin Stadium
- Overall record
- 50-216-3
- Win percentage
- 19.1%
- Current streak
- 6L
AP-ranked opponent summary
All Top 25
50-216-3
269 games · 19.1%
Against Top 10
12-117-2
131 games · 9.9%
Against Top 5
2-59-1
62 games · 4%
Streaks
6L
Current ranked-opponent streak · longest win streak 4
Record by site
| Site | Record | Games | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 29-94-1 | 124 | 23.8% |
| Road | 15-109-2 | 126 | 12.7% |
| Neutral | 6-13 | 19 | 31.6% |
Record by decade
| Decade | Record | Games | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 3-14 | 17 | 17.6% |
| 2010s | 11-25 | 36 | 30.6% |
| 2000s | 12-29 | 41 | 29.3% |
| 1990s | 10-31-1 | 42 | 25% |
| 1980s | 0-20 | 20 | 0% |
| 1970s | 2-29 | 31 | 6.5% |
| 1960s | 0-25 | 25 | 0% |
| 1950s | 2-29 | 31 | 6.5% |
| 1940s | 8-12-2 | 22 | 40.9% |
| 1930s | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
Record by season
| Season | Record | Games | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2024 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2023 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 2022 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 2021 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2020 | 2-1 | 3 | 66.7% |
| 2019 | 0-5 | 5 | 0% |
| 2018 | 3-3 | 6 | 50% |
| 2017 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 2016 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 2015 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 2014 | 2-1 | 3 | 66.7% |
| 2013 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 2012 | 1-0 | 1 | 100% |
| 2011 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 2010 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 2009 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 2008 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 2007 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 2006 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 2005 | 2-4 | 6 | 33.3% |
| 2004 | 2-3 | 5 | 40% |
| 2003 | 1-5 | 6 | 16.7% |
| 2002 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2001 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 2000 | 3-3 | 6 | 50% |
| 1999 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1998 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1997 | 2-3 | 5 | 40% |
| 1996 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 1995 | 4-1 | 5 | 80% |
| 1994 | 0-4-1 | 5 | 10% |
| 1993 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 1992 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1991 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 1990 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1989 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1988 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1987 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1986 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1985 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1984 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1983 | 0-5 | 5 | 0% |
| 1981 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1980 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1979 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1978 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1977 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1976 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1975 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1974 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1973 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1972 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1971 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 1970 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1969 | 0-5 | 5 | 0% |
| 1968 | 0-6 | 6 | 0% |
| 1967 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1966 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1965 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1964 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1962 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1961 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1960 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1959 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 1958 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 1957 | 0-6 | 6 | 0% |
| 1956 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1955 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1954 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1953 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1952 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1951 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1950 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1949 | 1-1 | 2 | 50% |
| 1948 | 3-1 | 4 | 75% |
| 1947 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1946 | 1-0-1 | 2 | 75% |
| 1945 | 0-1-1 | 2 | 25% |
| 1944 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1943 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1942 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1941 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1939 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1938 | 1-0 | 1 | 100% |
| 1936 | 1-0 | 1 | 100% |
Highest-ranked wins
Win over No. 5
Michigan, 1949
21-20 · Home · Northwestern was unranked
Win over No. 5
California, 1948
20-14 · Neutral · Northwestern was No. 7
Win over No. 6
Michigan, 1996
17-16 · Home · Northwestern was No. 22
Win over No. 7
Ohio State, 2004
33-27 · Home · Northwestern was unranked
Win over No. 7
Wisconsin, 2000
47-44 · Road · Northwestern was unranked
Win over No. 7
Michigan, 1995
19-13 · Road · Northwestern was No. 25
Win over No. 8
Iowa, 2009
17-10 · Road · Northwestern was unranked
Win over No. 9
Nebraska, 2011
28-25 · Road · Northwestern was unranked
Win over No. 9
Notre Dame, 1995
17-15 · Road · Northwestern was unranked
Win over No. 10
Wisconsin, 2020
17-7 · Home · Northwestern was No. 19
All 269 qualifying games
| Season | Result | Opponent at game time | Team rank | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | L 22-24 | No. 18 Michigan | Unranked | Neutral |
| 2025 | L 17-38 | No. 20 USC | Unranked | Road |
| 2025 | L 14-34 | No. 4 Oregon | Unranked | Home |
| 2024 | L 28-38 | No. 22 Illinois | Unranked | Neutral |
| 2024 | L 7-31 | No. 2 Ohio State | Unranked | Neutral |
| 2024 | L 24-41 | No. 23 Indiana | Unranked | Neutral |
| 2023 | W 14-7 | No. 16 Utah | Unranked | Neutral |
| 2023 | L 13-41 | No. 6 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 2023 | L 14-38 | No. 21 Duke | Unranked | Road |
| 2022 | L 7-21 | No. 2 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2022 | L 7-17 | No. 11 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 2021 | L 7-35 | No. 20 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2021 | L 12-17 | No. 19 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 2021 | L 7-33 | No. 6 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2020 | W 35-19 | No. 22 Auburn | No. 15 | Neutral |
| 2020 | L 10-22 | No. 3 Ohio State | No. 15 | Neutral |
| 2020 | W 17-7 | No. 10 Wisconsin | No. 19 | Home |
| 2019 | L 22-38 | No. 11 Minnesota | Unranked | Home |
| 2019 | L 0-20 | No. 20 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 2019 | L 3-52 | No. 4 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2019 | L 15-24 | No. 8 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2019 | L 7-17 | No. 25 Stanford | Unranked | Road |
| 2018 | W 31-20 | No. 20 Utah | No. 21 | Neutral |
| 2018 | L 24-45 | No. 6 Ohio State | No. 21 | Neutral |
| 2018 | L 21-31 | No. 3 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 2018 | W 31-17 | No. 20 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 2018 | W 29-19 | No. 20 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 2018 | L 17-20 | No. 14 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2017 | W 39-31 | No. 16 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 2017 | L 7-31 | No. 4 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 2017 | L 24-33 | No. 10 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2016 | W 31-24 | No. 22 Pittsburgh | Unranked | Neutral |
| 2016 | L 7-21 | No. 8 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 2016 | L 20-24 | No. 6 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2016 | L 13-24 | No. 20 Nebraska | Unranked | Home |
| 2015 | L 6-45 | No. 23 Tennessee | No. 12 | Neutral |
| 2015 | W 13-7 | No. 21 Wisconsin | No. 20 | Road |
| 2015 | L 10-40 | No. 17 Iowa | No. 20 | Home |
| 2015 | L 0-38 | No. 18 Michigan | No. 13 | Road |
| 2014 | W 43-40 | No. 15 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 2014 | L 17-38 | No. 19 Nebraska | Unranked | Home |
| 2014 | W 20-14 | No. 17 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 2013 | L 6-30 | No. 13 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 2013 | L 30-40 | No. 4 Ohio State | No. 16 | Home |
| 2012 | W 34-20 | No. 25 Mississippi State | No. 21 | Neutral |
| 2011 | L 22-33 | No. 16 Texas A&M | Unranked | Neutral |
| 2011 | L 17-31 | No. 11 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 2011 | W 28-25 | No. 9 Nebraska | Unranked | Road |
| 2011 | L 24-42 | No. 12 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2011 | L 35-38 | No. 24 Illinois | Unranked | Road |
| 2010 | L 23-70 | No. 5 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2010 | W 21-17 | No. 13 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 2010 | L 27-35 | No. 8 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 2009 | L 35-38 | No. 17 Auburn | Unranked | Neutral |
| 2009 | W 33-31 | No. 17 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 2009 | W 17-10 | No. 8 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 2009 | L 13-34 | No. 12 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 2008 | L 23-30 | No. 19 Missouri | No. 24 | Neutral |
| 2008 | L 10-45 | No. 12 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2008 | W 24-17 | No. 20 Minnesota | Unranked | Road |
| 2008 | L 20-37 | No. 23 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 2007 | L 22-41 | No. 20 Illinois | Unranked | Road |
| 2007 | L 7-58 | No. 8 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2006 | L 10-54 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2006 | L 3-17 | No. 2 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2005 | L 38-50 | No. 11 UCLA | No. 25 | Road |
| 2005 | L 7-48 | No. 10 Ohio State | No. 25 | Road |
| 2005 | L 17-33 | No. 25 Michigan | No. 21 | Home |
| 2005 | W 49-14 | No. 22 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 2005 | W 51-48 | No. 14 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 2005 | L 21-52 | No. 18 Arizona State | Unranked | Road |
| 2004 | L 20-42 | No. 9 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2004 | W 13-10 | No. 17 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 2004 | L 12-24 | No. 6 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2004 | W 33-27 | No. 7 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2004 | L 17-43 | No. 19 Minnesota | Unranked | Road |
| 2003 | L 24-28 | No. 20 Bowling Green | Unranked | Road |
| 2003 | L 10-41 | No. 5 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2003 | L 14-34 | No. 18 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 2003 | W 16-7 | No. 20 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 2003 | L 17-42 | No. 21 Minnesota | Unranked | Home |
| 2003 | L 0-20 | No. 4 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2002 | L 10-62 | No. 6 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 2002 | L 0-49 | No. 20 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 2002 | L 16-27 | No. 5 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2001 | L 28-34 | No. 10 Illinois | Unranked | Road |
| 2001 | L 27-32 | No. 24 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 2001 | W 27-26 | No. 23 Michigan State | No. 16 | Home |
| 2000 | L 17-66 | No. 9 Nebraska | No. 18 | Neutral |
| 2000 | W 54-51 | No. 12 Michigan | No. 21 | Home |
| 2000 | L 28-41 | No. 21 Purdue | No. 17 | Home |
| 2000 | W 37-17 | No. 18 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 2000 | W 47-44 | No. 7 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2000 | L 14-41 | No. 20 TCU | Unranked | Road |
| 1999 | L 0-34 | No. 17 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1999 | L 3-37 | No. 16 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1999 | L 19-35 | No. 11 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 1999 | L 23-31 | No. 13 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1998 | L 10-41 | No. 16 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 1998 | L 10-36 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1998 | L 7-38 | No. 13 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 1997 | W 15-14 | No. 22 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 1997 | L 27-30 | No. 2 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 1997 | L 6-49 | No. 9 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1997 | W 19-17 | No. 12 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1997 | L 6-23 | No. 6 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1996 | L 28-48 | No. 9 Tennessee | No. 11 | Neutral |
| 1996 | W 40-13 | No. 23 Iowa | No. 18 | Road |
| 1996 | L 9-34 | No. 15 Penn State | No. 11 | Road |
| 1996 | W 17-16 | No. 6 Michigan | No. 22 | Home |
| 1995 | L 32-41 | No. 17 USC | No. 3 | Neutral |
| 1995 | W 21-10 | No. 12 Penn State | No. 6 | Home |
| 1995 | W 35-0 | No. 24 Wisconsin | No. 11 | Home |
| 1995 | W 19-13 | No. 7 Michigan | No. 25 | Road |
| 1995 | W 17-15 | No. 9 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1994 | L 17-45 | No. 2 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 1994 | L 14-46 | No. 24 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 1994 | L 15-17 | No. 20 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1994 | T 41-41 | No. 24 Stanford | Unranked | Road |
| 1994 | L 15-42 | No. 3 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1993 | L 21-43 | No. 14 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 1993 | L 14-53 | No. 21 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 1993 | L 3-51 | No. 7 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1993 | W 22-21 | No. 22 Boston College | Unranked | Home |
| 1993 | L 12-27 | No. 7 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1992 | L 7-40 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1992 | L 24-35 | No. 18 Stanford | Unranked | Road |
| 1992 | L 7-42 | No. 3 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1991 | L 10-24 | No. 9 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 1991 | L 14-59 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1991 | W 17-11 | No. 17 Illinois | Unranked | Home |
| 1991 | L 3-34 | No. 18 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1990 | L 23-28 | No. 16 Illinois | Unranked | Road |
| 1990 | L 22-29 | No. 24 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1990 | L 14-56 | No. 13 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 1990 | L 0-42 | No. 22 Indiana | Unranked | Home |
| 1989 | L 14-63 | No. 11 Illinois | Unranked | Home |
| 1988 | L 7-52 | No. 14 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1987 | L 0-38 | No. 14 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1986 | L 9-30 | No. 9 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1986 | L 20-27 | No. 11 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 1985 | L 17-35 | No. 4 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1985 | L 10-49 | No. 1 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 1984 | L 3-52 | No. 11 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1984 | L 0-26 | No. 16 Washington | Unranked | Road |
| 1983 | L 24-56 | No. 4 Illinois | Unranked | Home |
| 1983 | L 7-55 | No. 10 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1983 | L 0-35 | No. 10 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1983 | L 21-61 | No. 14 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 1983 | L 0-34 | No. 16 Washington | Unranked | Home |
| 1981 | L 0-38 | No. 18 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1981 | L 0-64 | No. 18 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 1980 | L 31-52 | No. 17 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 1980 | L 0-63 | No. 9 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1980 | L 7-45 | No. 13 Washington | Unranked | Road |
| 1980 | L 10-17 | No. 14 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1979 | L 16-20 | No. 15 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1979 | L 7-16 | No. 8 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1979 | L 7-49 | No. 6 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1978 | L 3-52 | No. 14 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1978 | L 14-59 | No. 7 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1978 | L 0-31 | No. 12 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1978 | L 7-55 | No. 13 Colorado | Unranked | Road |
| 1977 | L 20-63 | No. 6 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1977 | L 15-35 | No. 3 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1977 | L 7-19 | No. 19 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 1976 | L 7-38 | No. 1 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1976 | L 0-48 | No. 18 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1976 | L 0-12 | No. 16 North Carolina | Unranked | Road |
| 1975 | L 0-69 | No. 7 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1975 | L 6-41 | No. 17 Arizona | Unranked | Road |
| 1975 | L 7-31 | No. 7 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1974 | L 7-55 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1974 | L 7-49 | No. 10 Nebraska | Unranked | Road |
| 1974 | L 3-49 | No. 1 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1973 | L 0-60 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1973 | L 0-44 | No. 7 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1972 | L 14-27 | No. 9 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1972 | L 0-37 | No. 13 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1972 | L 0-7 | No. 11 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1971 | W 28-7 | No. 19 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1971 | W 14-10 | No. 16 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1971 | L 20-21 | No. 20 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 1971 | L 7-50 | No. 2 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1970 | L 10-24 | No. 3 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1970 | L 7-12 | No. 15 UCLA | Unranked | Road |
| 1970 | L 14-35 | No. 4 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1969 | L 6-35 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1969 | L 20-45 | No. 13 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1969 | L 0-36 | No. 11 UCLA | Unranked | Home |
| 1969 | L 6-48 | No. 5 USC | Unranked | Road |
| 1969 | L 10-35 | No. 9 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1968 | L 0-35 | No. 9 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1968 | L 21-45 | No. 2 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1968 | L 7-27 | No. 5 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1968 | L 6-43 | No. 1 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 1968 | L 7-24 | No. 3 USC | Unranked | Home |
| 1968 | L 7-28 | No. 19 Miami | Unranked | Road |
| 1967 | L 16-25 | No. 2 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1966 | L 0-22 | No. 2 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1966 | L 7-35 | No. 3 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1965 | L 7-49 | No. 1 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 1965 | L 7-38 | No. 7 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1965 | L 14-24 | No. 8 Florida | Unranked | Home |
| 1964 | L 0-10 | No. 9 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1964 | L 0-35 | No. 6 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1962 | L 6-37 | No. 4 Wisconsin | No. 9 | Road |
| 1961 | L 13-21 | No. 8 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 1961 | L 0-10 | No. 6 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1960 | L 18-21 | No. 12 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1960 | L 0-7 | No. 10 Minnesota | Unranked | Road |
| 1960 | L 0-42 | No. 3 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 1959 | L 0-28 | No. 13 Illinois | Unranked | Road |
| 1959 | L 10-15 | No. 11 Michigan State | No. 8 | Road |
| 1959 | L 19-24 | No. 7 Wisconsin | No. 6 | Home |
| 1959 | W 14-10 | No. 10 Iowa | No. 2 | Road |
| 1958 | L 6-23 | No. 8 Purdue | No. 20 | Home |
| 1958 | L 13-17 | No. 5 Wisconsin | No. 13 | Road |
| 1958 | W 21-0 | No. 16 Ohio State | No. 4 | Home |
| 1958 | L 20-26 | No. 2 Iowa | No. 11 | Road |
| 1957 | L 6-47 | No. 6 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1957 | L 0-6 | No. 3 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 1957 | L 14-34 | No. 20 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1957 | L 6-41 | No. 4 Minnesota | Unranked | Home |
| 1957 | L 13-22 | No. 7 Oregon State | Unranked | Home |
| 1957 | L 6-26 | No. 17 Stanford | Unranked | Road |
| 1956 | L 2-6 | No. 7 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1956 | L 20-34 | No. 5 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1955 | L 0-49 | No. 15 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1955 | L 2-14 | No. 1 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1954 | L 13-34 | No. 16 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 1954 | L 7-14 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1954 | L 7-26 | No. 18 Minnesota | Unranked | Road |
| 1954 | L 7-12 | No. 9 USC | Unranked | Home |
| 1953 | L 14-39 | No. 6 Illinois | Unranked | Home |
| 1953 | L 13-27 | No. 16 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1953 | L 12-20 | No. 5 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1952 | L 20-24 | No. 13 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 1952 | L 14-48 | No. 15 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1952 | L 0-31 | No. 7 USC | Unranked | Road |
| 1951 | L 0-41 | No. 9 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 1950 | L 0-32 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1950 | L 13-14 | No. 15 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 1949 | L 7-24 | No. 5 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1949 | W 21-20 | No. 5 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1948 | W 20-14 | No. 5 California | No. 7 | Neutral |
| 1948 | W 21-7 | No. 17 Ohio State | No. 7 | Home |
| 1948 | L 0-28 | No. 1 Michigan | No. 8 | Road |
| 1948 | W 19-16 | No. 19 Minnesota | No. 10 | Home |
| 1947 | L 21-49 | No. 2 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1947 | W 27-26 | No. 19 UCLA | Unranked | Home |
| 1947 | L 0-3 | No. 19 Vanderbilt | Unranked | Home |
| 1946 | T 14-14 | No. 10 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1946 | W 28-0 | No. 18 Wisconsin | No. 6 | Home |
| 1945 | L 7-20 | No. 7 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1945 | T 7-7 | No. 5 Indiana | No. 20 | Road |
| 1944 | L 0-27 | No. 8 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1944 | L 0-25 | No. 12 Great Lakes Navy | Unranked | Home |
| 1943 | L 7-21 | No. 7 Michigan | No. 15 | Home |
| 1942 | L 6-20 | No. 3 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1942 | L 16-34 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1942 | W 3-0 | No. 14 Texas | Unranked | Home |
| 1941 | L 7-8 | No. 1 Minnesota | No. 9 | Road |
| 1941 | W 14-7 | No. 14 Ohio State | No. 10 | Road |
| 1941 | L 7-14 | No. 7 Michigan | No. 8 | Home |
| 1939 | L 0-13 | No. 8 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1939 | L 0-23 | No. 6 Oklahoma | Unranked | Home |
| 1938 | W 6-3 | No. 10 Minnesota | No. 19 | Home |
| 1936 | W 14-13 | No. 18 Ohio State | No. 1 | Home |
Methodology and coverage
A game qualifies when the opponent was ranked in the AP Top 25 at kickoff. Regular-season games use the poll recorded for that game week; postseason games use the last regular-season AP poll before bowl and playoff results. Final-season rankings never change qualification. Top 5 is a subset of Top 10, and Top 10 is a subset of Top 25. Games without a final score or a matching game-time poll row are excluded. Records use the final scores stored in the database and are not adjusted for wins or losses that were later vacated.
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