Northwestern looks to avoid another drop after finishing 1st
Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald speaks during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald speaks during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Jul. 22, 2021 12:24 PM EDT
Northwestern running back Cam Porter talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Northwestern running back Cam Porter talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Jul. 22, 2021 02:40 PM EDT
Northwestern safety Brandon Joseph talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Northwestern safety Brandon Joseph talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Jul. 22, 2021 02:40 PM EDT
Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald speaks during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald speaks during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Jul. 22, 2021 12:27 PM EDT
Northwestern offensive lineman Sam Gerak talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Northwestern offensive lineman Sam Gerak talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Jul. 22, 2021 02:40 PM EDT
Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald speaks during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald speaks during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Jul. 22, 2021 12:26 PM EDT
FILE - In this Nov. 16, 2019, file photo, Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald calls out a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Massachusetts, in Evanston, Ill. Fitzgerald insisted things will be different for Northwestern this time. The All-America linebacker who led a fairytale run to the Rose Bowl in the 1990s and is the program's winningest coach by a wide margin enters his 16th season confident there won't be another first-to-worst crash. (AP Photo/Jim Young, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 16, 2019, file photo, Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald calls out a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Massachusetts, in Evanston, Ill. Fitzgerald insisted things will be different for Northwestern this time. The All-America linebacker who led a fairytale run to the Rose Bowl in the 1990s and is the program's winningest coach by a wide margin enters his 16th season confident there won't be another first-to-worst crash. (AP Photo/Jim Young, File)

Aug. 16, 2021 10:23 AM EDT