After Northwestern began the season with home losses to Western Michigan and Illinois State, the prospects of reaching a bowl game—let alone finishing with a winning record—were dim. There was a sense that, given the Wildcats' difficult road conference schedule, the final mark could get ugly. Like, 3-9 or 4-8 ugly.
Heading into Week 3, Ohio State was No. 3 in the AP Poll, Michigan State No. 12, Iowa No. 13 and Wisconsin No. 9. Games at Iowa, Michigan State and Ohio State were virtually penciled in as losses (as was the Nov. 5 home game against Wisconsin).