| NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL: GAMEDAY INFORMATION | |||||
| DATE | Opponent | TIME | LOCATION | TELEVISION | RADIO |
| Saturday, Oct. 24 | Maryland | 6:30 p.m. CT | Ryan Field | Big Ten Network | AM-720 WGN Radio |
| 2020 VIRTUAL PRESS BOX | |||||
EVANSTON, Ill.- The Northwestern Wildcats begin their 2020 season at Ryan Field on Saturday, hosting the Maryland Terrapins. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network and WGN 720 AM radio.
Despite Maryland being in the Big Ten since 2014 and a former member of the ACC, this is the 'Cats second game all-time against the 'Terps. The two programs first squared off in 2017, where Northwestern came out on top with a 37-21 victory. NU was led by former running back Justin Jackson, who rushed for 171 yards on 28 carries and scored two touchdowns. Jackson passed Damien Anderson as the program's all-time leading rusher in that game as well.
Saturday's opener marks the beginning of the first eight-game season for the 'Cats since 1943, where they went 6-2 overall and 5-1 in Big Ten play. Northwestern has had 19 8-game seasons in its history, 11 of which it recorded a winning record.
STORYLINES:
Fitz Approaches Century Mark: The Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach needs just one more victory to reach 100 for his career.
New Look Offense: Northwestern will debut a new-look offense this Saturday as offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian enters his first season as the Wildcats' signal caller. At Monday's press conference, Coach Fitzgerald annouced that Indiana transfer Peyton Ramsey will start at quarterback.
Looking to Make it Two: The Wildcats have not won their home opener in back-to-back seasons since the 2012 & 2013 campaigns. Northwestern is 10-4 all-time in home openers while Fitzgerald has been at the helm and 11-3 in season lidlifters.