Northwestern University Athletics
NU to Commemorate 30-Year Anniversary of 1995 Rose Bowl Squad
10/16/2025 11:15:00 PM | Football
Former Northwestern running back Darnell Autry still finds it "nearly impossible" to put into perspective the legacy he and his teammates forged in the 1995 season.
"I'm still learning the magnitude of what it really, really meant," Autry said. "Every year, you get further away and realize, 'Oh, it's been 30 years since we've been in the Rose Bowl.' You don't know when the next time is until time passes. The further away you get the more impactful it becomes, because you realize, 'Wow it's far rarer than I could ever imagine.'"
That year, Autry turned in one of the most prolific individual seasons in program history. He amassed a Big Ten-best 1,785 rushing yards and finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting. But from a team standpoint, Autry helped propel the Wildcats to unprecedented heights.
From finishing second to last in Big Ten play in 1994, Northwestern launched one of college football's most remarkable turnarounds, finishing 10-2 — including an 8-0 conference record — and clinching the school's first Rose Bowl appearance since 1949.
Behind Autry and other program legends, such as quarterback Steve Schnur and linebacker Pat Fitzgerald, the 'Cats stormed out of the gates with a colossal upset at No. 9 Notre Dame. They closed the regular season with nine straight wins before falling 41-32 to USC in front of 100,102 fans.
"It was a monumental jump from '94 to '95 in terms of what it looked like on the record books and to everyone who was watching," Schnur said. "For those of us in the program, we hadn't seen the tangible evidence of it yet, but we felt like we were on the verge of turning it around. We didn't know we'd have quite the success we did."
Head coach Gary Barnett's motto of "Expect Victory" became more than a catchy mantra. The phrase personified a newfound belief in a program that had long been overlooked. After three years of building, Barnett's vision to take the purple to Pasadena finally took root in Year Four.
"It was surreal, and because in college football you just go from one week to the next, you never get to pick your head up and look around," said Schnur, who became the lone quarterback in program history to lead NU to back-to-back Big Ten titles in 1995 and 1996. "I wound up doing Good Morning America three times that year."
"The media circus after our practice — you're walking off the field and they'd converted this giant alumni tent on the north end zone to a media tent. You've got NBC Nightly News and all the programs waiting as we're coming off the field. We were soaking it all up. People were having a blast."
During Saturday's Big Ten matchup with Purdue, Northwestern will commemorate the 30-year anniversary of its 1995 Rose Bowl squad. Former coaches and players will descend upon Evanston at a major crossroads in program history. For Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun, the opportunity to honor such a storied group cannot be overstated. Braun said the best way for his team to celebrate such a significant milestone is to perform to its standard on the field.
Braun, who has paid homage to Barnett's famed motto in recent weeks, said he has learned countless lessons through diving into the program's past.
"The best programs I've been around have a certain level of reverence for what has come before them," Braun said. "That's something I never want to lose at Northwestern. Whether you go back to coach Barnett, coach Walk, coach Fitz, we acknowledge and appreciate the successes that this program has seen, both on and off the field."
While Autry said he still learns about his team's impact whenever he's approached with a new perspective, Braun has taken it upon himself to learn about the 1995 team as the commemoration approaches. A conversation this season with Fox Sports commentator Joel Klatt, who played for Barnett at Colorado, gave Braun a revelation just before the bye week.
"We talked about the phrase 'Expect Victory,' but [Klatt] actually took me through an exercise coach Barnett went through every year at the beginning of the season," Braun said. "Who are we? Where are we going? How are we going to get there? I'm immediately scrambling for a pen. It couldn't have been more perfect timing."
Schnur said that while his former teammates have carved out lives all across the country, their shared passion for Northwestern Football unites them. On game days, text chains blow up with messages from all angles. Last weekend's win at Penn State proved no exception.
Now, three decades after they challenged conventional wisdom of the team's ceiling, the lifelong Wildcats will take the field in a much-anticipated reunion.
"I can't wait for this weekend," Autry said. "I can't wait to see my extended family. It's going to be great to hug these guys, kiss them, cry and tell them how much I love them — how much I appreciate them. I can only imagine the stories I'm going to hear."
"I'm still learning the magnitude of what it really, really meant," Autry said. "Every year, you get further away and realize, 'Oh, it's been 30 years since we've been in the Rose Bowl.' You don't know when the next time is until time passes. The further away you get the more impactful it becomes, because you realize, 'Wow it's far rarer than I could ever imagine.'"
That year, Autry turned in one of the most prolific individual seasons in program history. He amassed a Big Ten-best 1,785 rushing yards and finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting. But from a team standpoint, Autry helped propel the Wildcats to unprecedented heights.
From finishing second to last in Big Ten play in 1994, Northwestern launched one of college football's most remarkable turnarounds, finishing 10-2 — including an 8-0 conference record — and clinching the school's first Rose Bowl appearance since 1949.
Behind Autry and other program legends, such as quarterback Steve Schnur and linebacker Pat Fitzgerald, the 'Cats stormed out of the gates with a colossal upset at No. 9 Notre Dame. They closed the regular season with nine straight wins before falling 41-32 to USC in front of 100,102 fans.
"It was a monumental jump from '94 to '95 in terms of what it looked like on the record books and to everyone who was watching," Schnur said. "For those of us in the program, we hadn't seen the tangible evidence of it yet, but we felt like we were on the verge of turning it around. We didn't know we'd have quite the success we did."
Head coach Gary Barnett's motto of "Expect Victory" became more than a catchy mantra. The phrase personified a newfound belief in a program that had long been overlooked. After three years of building, Barnett's vision to take the purple to Pasadena finally took root in Year Four.
Five minutes of stories with Gary Barnett, 30 years later. Just hit play. ???? pic.twitter.com/quE8BNTHCZ
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) October 16, 2025
"It was surreal, and because in college football you just go from one week to the next, you never get to pick your head up and look around," said Schnur, who became the lone quarterback in program history to lead NU to back-to-back Big Ten titles in 1995 and 1996. "I wound up doing Good Morning America three times that year."
"The media circus after our practice — you're walking off the field and they'd converted this giant alumni tent on the north end zone to a media tent. You've got NBC Nightly News and all the programs waiting as we're coming off the field. We were soaking it all up. People were having a blast."
During Saturday's Big Ten matchup with Purdue, Northwestern will commemorate the 30-year anniversary of its 1995 Rose Bowl squad. Former coaches and players will descend upon Evanston at a major crossroads in program history. For Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun, the opportunity to honor such a storied group cannot be overstated. Braun said the best way for his team to celebrate such a significant milestone is to perform to its standard on the field.
Braun, who has paid homage to Barnett's famed motto in recent weeks, said he has learned countless lessons through diving into the program's past.
"The best programs I've been around have a certain level of reverence for what has come before them," Braun said. "That's something I never want to lose at Northwestern. Whether you go back to coach Barnett, coach Walk, coach Fitz, we acknowledge and appreciate the successes that this program has seen, both on and off the field."
A Barnett mindset. Still hits. pic.twitter.com/xZYXD2jXKd
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) October 12, 2025
While Autry said he still learns about his team's impact whenever he's approached with a new perspective, Braun has taken it upon himself to learn about the 1995 team as the commemoration approaches. A conversation this season with Fox Sports commentator Joel Klatt, who played for Barnett at Colorado, gave Braun a revelation just before the bye week.
"We talked about the phrase 'Expect Victory,' but [Klatt] actually took me through an exercise coach Barnett went through every year at the beginning of the season," Braun said. "Who are we? Where are we going? How are we going to get there? I'm immediately scrambling for a pen. It couldn't have been more perfect timing."
Schnur said that while his former teammates have carved out lives all across the country, their shared passion for Northwestern Football unites them. On game days, text chains blow up with messages from all angles. Last weekend's win at Penn State proved no exception.
Now, three decades after they challenged conventional wisdom of the team's ceiling, the lifelong Wildcats will take the field in a much-anticipated reunion.
"I can't wait for this weekend," Autry said. "I can't wait to see my extended family. It's going to be great to hug these guys, kiss them, cry and tell them how much I love them — how much I appreciate them. I can only imagine the stories I'm going to hear."
This week, @NUFBFamily celebrates the 30th anniversary of their unforgettable 1995 Big Ten championship season when they host Purdue. @dan_persa7 and I visit with the man who took the Purple to Pasadena, Gary Barnett, on Collegiately Speaking: https://t.co/ENdObrywZX
— Dave Eanet (@DaveEanet) October 15, 2025
Football - Purdue Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, October 19
Football - 'Cats Shut Out Purdue, 19-0 (10/18/25)
Saturday, October 18
Football - David Braun Joins B1G Today (10/17/25)
Friday, October 17
Football - Purdue Game Week Press Conference (10/13/25)
Monday, October 13
