Northwestern University Athletics
#B1GCats to Meet Kentucky in Music City Bowl
12/3/2017 2:35:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. — The No. 21 Northwestern Wildcats will take on Kentucky in the 20th Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl on Friday, December 29. This year's game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
2017 Music City Bowl Tickets | N Zone Tailgate Info
"We're thrilled for the opportunity to play one more game together, and experience everything that Nashville has to offer," said Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald. "The bowl experience is an incredible reward for our young men, and an unparalleled gathering place for the Wildcats community. We have an important few weeks of practice coming up, and look forward to seeing the Northwestern family in Tennessee later this month.
The Wildcats enter their eighth bowl game in the last 10 seasons riding a seven-game winning streak. The 'Cats are 9-3 overall and finished 7-2 in Big Ten play, earning nine wins for the ninth time in program history and seven conference victories for the third time.
"Bowl games are an unparalleled opportunity to gather our Northwestern community together from all corners of the country and around the world," said Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Jim Phillips. "We're so appreciative of this invitation from Scott Ramsey and the Nashville Sports Council. Our student-athletes have made us proud all year in the classroom, in the community and in competition, and we're excited to bring one of the hottest teams in college football to the 20th Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl."
Northwestern is led by four-time All-Big Ten running back Justin Jackson, the program's record holder in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and all-purpose yards. This season Jackson became just the second player in Big Ten history (Ron Dayne, Wisconsin) and ninth in FBS history to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing in four-straight seasons.
Jackson was among 12 Wildcats named to the All-Big Ten Team earlier this week, including three others on offense and eight on defense/special teams. The senior has amassed 1,154 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Defensively, the 'Cats rank ninth in the country in rushing defense and 20th in scoring defense (19.8/game). Redshirt first-year linebacker Paddy Fisher leads all FBS rookies with 110 tackles and 62 solo tackles, while ranking seventh in the country with four forced fumbles.
The Wildcats have won two of their last three bowl games. Northwestern earned a 31-24 victory over No. 23 Pittsburgh in the 2016 NewEra Pinstripe Bowl at iconic Yankee Stadium, and a 34-20 triumph over Mississippi State in the 2013 TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl. The Music City Bowl will be the 14th in program history, of which Pat Fitzgerald has played a role in 12 (two as a student-athlete, two as an assistant coach, eight as head coach).
Kentucky enters the game with a 7-5 record overall after finishing tied for third in the SEC East with a 4-4 record under fourth-year head coach Mark Stoops. The Wildcats are making their second consecutive bowl appearance and 17th in program history. Sophomore running back Benny Snell, Jr., finished the regular season second in the SEC and 23rd in the country with 1,318 rushing yards while leading the league with 18 touchdowns on the ground. This will be the second ever meeting between Northwestern and Kentucky and the first since 1928.
2017 Music City Bowl Tickets | N Zone Tailgate Info
"We're thrilled for the opportunity to play one more game together, and experience everything that Nashville has to offer," said Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald. "The bowl experience is an incredible reward for our young men, and an unparalleled gathering place for the Wildcats community. We have an important few weeks of practice coming up, and look forward to seeing the Northwestern family in Tennessee later this month.
The Wildcats enter their eighth bowl game in the last 10 seasons riding a seven-game winning streak. The 'Cats are 9-3 overall and finished 7-2 in Big Ten play, earning nine wins for the ninth time in program history and seven conference victories for the third time.
"Bowl games are an unparalleled opportunity to gather our Northwestern community together from all corners of the country and around the world," said Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Jim Phillips. "We're so appreciative of this invitation from Scott Ramsey and the Nashville Sports Council. Our student-athletes have made us proud all year in the classroom, in the community and in competition, and we're excited to bring one of the hottest teams in college football to the 20th Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl."
Northwestern is led by four-time All-Big Ten running back Justin Jackson, the program's record holder in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and all-purpose yards. This season Jackson became just the second player in Big Ten history (Ron Dayne, Wisconsin) and ninth in FBS history to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing in four-straight seasons.
Jackson was among 12 Wildcats named to the All-Big Ten Team earlier this week, including three others on offense and eight on defense/special teams. The senior has amassed 1,154 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Defensively, the 'Cats rank ninth in the country in rushing defense and 20th in scoring defense (19.8/game). Redshirt first-year linebacker Paddy Fisher leads all FBS rookies with 110 tackles and 62 solo tackles, while ranking seventh in the country with four forced fumbles.
The Wildcats have won two of their last three bowl games. Northwestern earned a 31-24 victory over No. 23 Pittsburgh in the 2016 NewEra Pinstripe Bowl at iconic Yankee Stadium, and a 34-20 triumph over Mississippi State in the 2013 TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl. The Music City Bowl will be the 14th in program history, of which Pat Fitzgerald has played a role in 12 (two as a student-athlete, two as an assistant coach, eight as head coach).
Kentucky enters the game with a 7-5 record overall after finishing tied for third in the SEC East with a 4-4 record under fourth-year head coach Mark Stoops. The Wildcats are making their second consecutive bowl appearance and 17th in program history. Sophomore running back Benny Snell, Jr., finished the regular season second in the SEC and 23rd in the country with 1,318 rushing yards while leading the league with 18 touchdowns on the ground. This will be the second ever meeting between Northwestern and Kentucky and the first since 1928.
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