2003: 6-7 overall, 4-4 Big Ten (T-7th)

Coach: Randy Walker 24-35 in 5 years at the school

Returning starters: 18; 8 offense, 9 defense, kicker/punter

Players to watch: QB Brett Basanez (162-302, 1,916 yds., 4 TD, 12 Int.), RB Noah Herron (739 yds., 119 att., 5 TD), OG Matt Ulrich, OT Zach Strief, DE Loren Howard (8 sacks, 16 TFL), LB Tim McGarigle (140 tackles), DT Luis Castillo (2.5 sacks, 6.5 TFL)

Hot topics: Every starters and key reserve returns on both sides of the line, including two All-Big ten candidates on each side of the ball. Herron looks like he's ready to take over for 1,300-yard back Jason Wright, while Howard and McGarigle give the Wildcats two standouts on defense.

Cold facts: Basanez slumped horribly as a sophomore, throwing three times as many interceptions as TDs. But he's the only quarterback in the program who has ever played in a game.

Overview: Five of Northwestern's six wins last season were over teams with losing records, so it's hard to say where this program stands. At a school where academics still mean more than athletics, a second-straight 6-6 season and accompanying bowl trip would be considered a rousing success.

--Jon Spencer

Originally published Wednesday, September 8, 2004