Home AP Rankings Schools Northwestern Northwestern - AP Rankings Ranked in 102 AP polls of 905 across 12 seasons, first on February 13, 1979 (No. 20) and most recently on February 15, 2021 (No. 24). Best ranking No. 6.
Rank in every AP poll, 1976–2026 (top of the chart is No. 1, bottom is No. 25).
Statistics
Northwestern statistics summary
Statistic Value Details Best ranking 6 # Polls Ranked 102 # Polls Ranked No. 1 - - # Polls Ranked Top 5 - - # Polls Ranked Top 10 3 # Polls Ranked Top 15 35 # Polls Ranked Top 20 77 Most Consecutive Polls Ranked 27 January 8, 1990 - March 11, 1991 Most Consecutive Polls Ranked No. 1 - - Most Consecutive Polls Ranked Top 5 - - Most Consecutive Polls Ranked Top 10 3 December 3, 1990 - December 17, 1990 Most Consecutive Polls Ranked Top 15 14 February 26, 1990 - January 28, 1991 Most Consecutive Polls Ranked Top 20 24 January 21, 1990 - March 4, 1991 # Seasons Ranked 12 # Seasons Ranked No. 1 - - # Seasons Ranked Top 5 - - # Seasons Ranked Top 10 1 # Seasons Ranked Top 15 7 # Seasons Ranked Top 20 11 # Seasons Preseason Ranked 4 # Seasons Preseason Ranked No. 1 - - # Seasons Preseason Ranked Top 5 - - # Seasons Preseason Ranked Top 10 - - # Seasons Preseason Ranked Top 15 1 # Seasons Preseason Ranked Top 20 4 Largest Poll-to-Poll Rise 10 Unranked (November 17, 1991 ) → No. 16 (November 24, 1991 ) Largest In-Season Poll-to-Poll Rise 10 Unranked (November 17, 1991 ) → No. 16 (November 24, 1991 ) Largest Poll-to-Poll Fall 10 No. 16 (January 4, 2016 ) → Unranked (January 11, 2016 ) Largest In-Season Poll-to-Poll Fall 10 No. 16 (January 4, 2016 ) → Unranked (January 11, 2016 )
Details
Best ranking (6)
# Polls Ranked (102)
# Polls Ranked
Poll Ranking Feb 13, 1979 20 Feb 20, 1979 19 Feb 27, 1979 17 Mar 13, 1979 18 Mar 20, 1979 16 Nov 25, 1979 18 Dec 4, 1979 17 Dec 11, 1979 16 Dec 18, 1979 17 Feb 12, 1980 20 Feb 19, 1980 18 Feb 24, 1980 18 Mar 2, 1980 17 Mar 9, 1980 16 Mar 18, 1980 15 Jan 5, 1986 20 Jan 8, 1990 25 Jan 14, 1990 23 Jan 21, 1990 20 Jan 28, 1990 19 Feb 5, 1990 15 Feb 12, 1990 15 Feb 19, 1990 16 Feb 26, 1990 13 Mar 5, 1990 15 Mar 12, 1990 13 Nov 18, 1990 15 Nov 26, 1990 14 Dec 3, 1990 10 Dec 10, 1990 6 Dec 17, 1990 8 Dec 24, 1990 12 Dec 31, 1990 11 Jan 7, 1991 11 Jan 14, 1991 15 Jan 21, 1991 14 Jan 28, 1991 15 Feb 4, 1991 18 Feb 11, 1991 19 Feb 18, 1991 18 Feb 25, 1991 20 Mar 4, 1991 20 Mar 11, 1991 22 Nov 24, 1991 16 Dec 1, 1991 17 Dec 8, 1991 13 Dec 15, 1991 15 Dec 22, 1991 13 Dec 29, 1991 11 Jan 5, 1992 11 Jan 12, 1992 14 Jan 19, 1992 18 Jan 26, 1992 22 Dec 14, 1993 24 Dec 21, 1993 23 Dec 28, 1993 19 Jan 4, 1994 18 Jan 11, 1994 18 Jan 18, 1994 19 Jan 25, 1994 19 Dec 18, 1995 25 Dec 25, 1995 24 Jan 1, 1996 23 Jan 8, 1996 21 Jan 15, 1996 17 Jan 22, 1996 19 Jan 29, 1996 23 Feb 23, 2015 25 Mar 2, 2015 24 Mar 9, 2015 22 Mar 16, 2015 22 Nov 3, 2015 19 Nov 16, 2015 20 Nov 23, 2015 19 Nov 30, 2015 15 Dec 7, 2015 12 Dec 14, 2015 12 Dec 21, 2015 15 Dec 28, 2015 14 Jan 4, 2016 16 Jan 20, 2020 22 Jan 27, 2020 23 Feb 3, 2020 21 Feb 10, 2020 19 Feb 17, 2020 18 Feb 24, 2020 14 Mar 2, 2020 11 Mar 9, 2020 12 Mar 17, 2020 11 Nov 10, 2020 17 Nov 30, 2020 15 Dec 7, 2020 17 Dec 14, 2020 16 Dec 21, 2020 15 Dec 28, 2020 15 Jan 4, 2021 22 Jan 11, 2021 22 Jan 18, 2021 21 Jan 25, 2021 23 Feb 1, 2021 22 Feb 8, 2021 21 Feb 15, 2021 24
# Polls Ranked No. 1 (-)
# Polls Ranked No. 1
Poll Ranking None
# Polls Ranked Top 5 (-)
# Polls Ranked Top 5
Poll Ranking None
# Polls Ranked Top 10 (3)
# Polls Ranked Top 15 (35)
# Polls Ranked Top 15
Poll Ranking Mar 18, 1980 15 Feb 5, 1990 15 Feb 12, 1990 15 Feb 26, 1990 13 Mar 5, 1990 15 Mar 12, 1990 13 Nov 18, 1990 15 Nov 26, 1990 14 Dec 3, 1990 10 Dec 10, 1990 6 Dec 17, 1990 8 Dec 24, 1990 12 Dec 31, 1990 11 Jan 7, 1991 11 Jan 14, 1991 15 Jan 21, 1991 14 Jan 28, 1991 15 Dec 8, 1991 13 Dec 15, 1991 15 Dec 22, 1991 13 Dec 29, 1991 11 Jan 5, 1992 11 Jan 12, 1992 14 Nov 30, 2015 15 Dec 7, 2015 12 Dec 14, 2015 12 Dec 21, 2015 15 Dec 28, 2015 14 Feb 24, 2020 14 Mar 2, 2020 11 Mar 9, 2020 12 Mar 17, 2020 11 Nov 30, 2020 15 Dec 21, 2020 15 Dec 28, 2020 15
# Polls Ranked Top 20 (77)
# Polls Ranked Top 20
Poll Ranking Feb 13, 1979 20 Feb 20, 1979 19 Feb 27, 1979 17 Mar 13, 1979 18 Mar 20, 1979 16 Nov 25, 1979 18 Dec 4, 1979 17 Dec 11, 1979 16 Dec 18, 1979 17 Feb 12, 1980 20 Feb 19, 1980 18 Feb 24, 1980 18 Mar 2, 1980 17 Mar 9, 1980 16 Mar 18, 1980 15 Jan 5, 1986 20 Jan 21, 1990 20 Jan 28, 1990 19 Feb 5, 1990 15 Feb 12, 1990 15 Feb 19, 1990 16 Feb 26, 1990 13 Mar 5, 1990 15 Mar 12, 1990 13 Nov 18, 1990 15 Nov 26, 1990 14 Dec 3, 1990 10 Dec 10, 1990 6 Dec 17, 1990 8 Dec 24, 1990 12 Dec 31, 1990 11 Jan 7, 1991 11 Jan 14, 1991 15 Jan 21, 1991 14 Jan 28, 1991 15 Feb 4, 1991 18 Feb 11, 1991 19 Feb 18, 1991 18 Feb 25, 1991 20 Mar 4, 1991 20 Nov 24, 1991 16 Dec 1, 1991 17 Dec 8, 1991 13 Dec 15, 1991 15 Dec 22, 1991 13 Dec 29, 1991 11 Jan 5, 1992 11 Jan 12, 1992 14 Jan 19, 1992 18 Dec 28, 1993 19 Jan 4, 1994 18 Jan 11, 1994 18 Jan 18, 1994 19 Jan 25, 1994 19 Jan 15, 1996 17 Jan 22, 1996 19 Nov 3, 2015 19 Nov 16, 2015 20 Nov 23, 2015 19 Nov 30, 2015 15 Dec 7, 2015 12 Dec 14, 2015 12 Dec 21, 2015 15 Dec 28, 2015 14 Jan 4, 2016 16 Feb 10, 2020 19 Feb 17, 2020 18 Feb 24, 2020 14 Mar 2, 2020 11 Mar 9, 2020 12 Mar 17, 2020 11 Nov 10, 2020 17 Nov 30, 2020 15 Dec 7, 2020 17 Dec 14, 2020 16 Dec 21, 2020 15 Dec 28, 2020 15
Most Consecutive Polls Ranked (27)
Most Consecutive Polls Ranked
Place From To Polls 1. Jan 8, 1990 Mar 11, 1991 27 2. Jan 20, 2020 Feb 15, 2021 22 3. Feb 23, 2015 Jan 4, 2016 13 4. Nov 24, 1991 Jan 26, 1992 10 5. Dec 14, 1993 Jan 25, 1994 7 Dec 18, 1995 Jan 29, 1996 7 7. Mar 13, 1979 Dec 18, 1979 6 Feb 12, 1980 Mar 18, 1980 6 9. Feb 13, 1979 Feb 27, 1979 3 10. Jan 5, 1986 Jan 5, 1986 1
Most Consecutive Polls Ranked No. 1 (-)
Most Consecutive Polls Ranked No. 1
Place From To Polls None
Most Consecutive Polls Ranked Top 5 (-)
Most Consecutive Polls Ranked Top 5
Place From To Polls None
Most Consecutive Polls Ranked Top 10 (3)
Most Consecutive Polls Ranked Top 15 (14)
Most Consecutive Polls Ranked Top 15
Place From To Polls 1. Feb 26, 1990 Jan 28, 1991 14 2. Dec 8, 1991 Jan 12, 1992 6 3. Nov 30, 2015 Dec 28, 2015 5 4. Feb 24, 2020 Mar 17, 2020 4 5. Feb 5, 1990 Feb 12, 1990 2 Dec 21, 2020 Dec 28, 2020 2 7. Mar 18, 1980 Mar 18, 1980 1 Nov 30, 2020 Nov 30, 2020 1
Most Consecutive Polls Ranked Top 20 (24)
Most Consecutive Polls Ranked Top 20
Place From To Polls 1. Jan 21, 1990 Mar 4, 1991 24 2. Feb 10, 2020 Dec 28, 2020 12 3. Nov 24, 1991 Jan 19, 1992 9 Nov 3, 2015 Jan 4, 2016 9 5. Mar 13, 1979 Dec 18, 1979 6 Feb 12, 1980 Mar 18, 1980 6 7. Dec 28, 1993 Jan 25, 1994 5 8. Feb 13, 1979 Feb 27, 1979 3 9. Jan 15, 1996 Jan 22, 1996 2 10. Jan 5, 1986 Jan 5, 1986 1
# Seasons Ranked (12)
# Seasons Ranked No. 1 (-)
# Seasons Ranked No. 1
Season Best ranking None
# Seasons Ranked Top 5 (-)
# Seasons Ranked Top 5
Season Best ranking None
# Seasons Ranked Top 10 (1)
# Seasons Ranked Top 10
Season Best ranking 1990-1991 6
# Seasons Ranked Top 15 (7)
# Seasons Ranked Top 20 (11)
# Seasons Preseason Ranked (4)
# Seasons Preseason Ranked No. 1 (-)
# Seasons Preseason Ranked No. 1
Season Preseason ranking None
# Seasons Preseason Ranked Top 5 (-)
# Seasons Preseason Ranked Top 5
Season Preseason ranking None
# Seasons Preseason Ranked Top 10 (-)
# Seasons Preseason Ranked Top 10
Season Preseason ranking None
# Seasons Preseason Ranked Top 15 (1)
# Seasons Preseason Ranked Top 15
Season Preseason ranking 1990-1991 15
# Seasons Preseason Ranked Top 20 (4)
Largest Poll-to-Poll Rise (10)
Largest Poll-to-Poll Rise
Place From To Rise 1. Unranked (Nov 17, 1991 ) No. 16 (Nov 24, 1991 ) 10 2. No. 19 (Jan 28, 1990 ) No. 15 (Feb 5, 1990 ) 4 No. 14 (Nov 26, 1990 ) No. 10 (Dec 3, 1990 ) 4 No. 10 (Dec 3, 1990 ) No. 6 (Dec 10, 1990 ) 4 No. 17 (Dec 1, 1991 ) No. 13 (Dec 8, 1991 ) 4 No. 23 (Dec 21, 1993 ) No. 19 (Dec 28, 1993 ) 4 No. 21 (Jan 8, 1996 ) No. 17 (Jan 15, 1996 ) 4 No. 19 (Nov 23, 2015 ) No. 15 (Nov 30, 2015 ) 4 Unranked (Jan 13, 2020 ) No. 22 (Jan 20, 2020 ) 4 No. 18 (Feb 17, 2020 ) No. 14 (Feb 24, 2020 ) 4 11. Unranked (Mar 6, 1979 ) No. 18 (Mar 13, 1979 ) 3 No. 23 (Jan 14, 1990 ) No. 20 (Jan 21, 1990 ) 3 No. 16 (Feb 19, 1990 ) No. 13 (Feb 26, 1990 ) 3 No. 22 (Mar 16, 2015 ) No. 19 (Nov 3, 2015 ) 3 No. 15 (Nov 30, 2015 ) No. 12 (Dec 7, 2015 ) 3 No. 14 (Feb 24, 2020 ) No. 11 (Mar 2, 2020 ) 3 17. No. 19 (Feb 20, 1979 ) No. 17 (Feb 27, 1979 ) 2 No. 18 (Mar 13, 1979 ) No. 16 (Mar 20, 1979 ) 2 No. 20 (Feb 12, 1980 ) No. 18 (Feb 19, 1980 ) 2 No. 25 (Jan 8, 1990 ) No. 23 (Jan 14, 1990 ) 2 No. 15 (Mar 5, 1990 ) No. 13 (Mar 12, 1990 ) 2 No. 15 (Dec 15, 1991 ) No. 13 (Dec 22, 1991 ) 2 No. 13 (Dec 22, 1991 ) No. 11 (Dec 29, 1991 ) 2 Unranked (Dec 7, 1993 ) No. 24 (Dec 14, 1993 ) 2 No. 23 (Jan 1, 1996 ) No. 21 (Jan 8, 1996 ) 2 No. 24 (Mar 2, 2015 ) No. 22 (Mar 9, 2015 ) 2 No. 23 (Jan 27, 2020 ) No. 21 (Feb 3, 2020 ) 2 No. 21 (Feb 3, 2020 ) No. 19 (Feb 10, 2020 ) 2 No. 17 (Nov 10, 2020 ) No. 15 (Nov 30, 2020 ) 2
Largest In-Season Poll-to-Poll Rise (10)
Largest In-Season Poll-to-Poll Rise
Place From To Rise 1. Unranked (Nov 17, 1991 ) No. 16 (Nov 24, 1991 ) 10 2. No. 19 (Jan 28, 1990 ) No. 15 (Feb 5, 1990 ) 4 No. 14 (Nov 26, 1990 ) No. 10 (Dec 3, 1990 ) 4 No. 10 (Dec 3, 1990 ) No. 6 (Dec 10, 1990 ) 4 No. 17 (Dec 1, 1991 ) No. 13 (Dec 8, 1991 ) 4 No. 23 (Dec 21, 1993 ) No. 19 (Dec 28, 1993 ) 4 No. 21 (Jan 8, 1996 ) No. 17 (Jan 15, 1996 ) 4 No. 19 (Nov 23, 2015 ) No. 15 (Nov 30, 2015 ) 4 Unranked (Jan 13, 2020 ) No. 22 (Jan 20, 2020 ) 4 No. 18 (Feb 17, 2020 ) No. 14 (Feb 24, 2020 ) 4 11. Unranked (Mar 6, 1979 ) No. 18 (Mar 13, 1979 ) 3 No. 23 (Jan 14, 1990 ) No. 20 (Jan 21, 1990 ) 3 No. 16 (Feb 19, 1990 ) No. 13 (Feb 26, 1990 ) 3 No. 15 (Nov 30, 2015 ) No. 12 (Dec 7, 2015 ) 3 No. 14 (Feb 24, 2020 ) No. 11 (Mar 2, 2020 ) 3 16. No. 19 (Feb 20, 1979 ) No. 17 (Feb 27, 1979 ) 2 No. 18 (Mar 13, 1979 ) No. 16 (Mar 20, 1979 ) 2 No. 20 (Feb 12, 1980 ) No. 18 (Feb 19, 1980 ) 2 No. 25 (Jan 8, 1990 ) No. 23 (Jan 14, 1990 ) 2 No. 15 (Mar 5, 1990 ) No. 13 (Mar 12, 1990 ) 2 No. 15 (Dec 15, 1991 ) No. 13 (Dec 22, 1991 ) 2 No. 13 (Dec 22, 1991 ) No. 11 (Dec 29, 1991 ) 2 Unranked (Dec 7, 1993 ) No. 24 (Dec 14, 1993 ) 2 No. 23 (Jan 1, 1996 ) No. 21 (Jan 8, 1996 ) 2 No. 24 (Mar 2, 2015 ) No. 22 (Mar 9, 2015 ) 2 No. 23 (Jan 27, 2020 ) No. 21 (Feb 3, 2020 ) 2 No. 21 (Feb 3, 2020 ) No. 19 (Feb 10, 2020 ) 2 No. 17 (Nov 10, 2020 ) No. 15 (Nov 30, 2020 ) 2
Largest Poll-to-Poll Fall (10)
Largest Poll-to-Poll Fall
Place From To Fall 1. No. 16 (Jan 4, 2016 ) Unranked (Jan 11, 2016 ) 10 2. No. 19 (Jan 25, 1994 ) Unranked (Feb 1, 1994 ) 7 No. 15 (Dec 28, 2020 ) No. 22 (Jan 4, 2021 ) 7 4. No. 15 (Mar 18, 1980 ) Unranked (Nov 25, 1980 ) 6 No. 11 (Mar 17, 2020 ) No. 17 (Nov 10, 2020 ) 6 6. No. 17 (Feb 27, 1979 ) Unranked (Mar 6, 1979 ) 4 No. 17 (Dec 18, 1979 ) Unranked (Dec 25, 1979 ) 4 No. 8 (Dec 17, 1990 ) No. 12 (Dec 24, 1990 ) 4 No. 11 (Jan 7, 1991 ) No. 15 (Jan 14, 1991 ) 4 No. 22 (Mar 11, 1991 ) Unranked (Nov 17, 1991 ) 4 No. 14 (Jan 12, 1992 ) No. 18 (Jan 19, 1992 ) 4 No. 18 (Jan 19, 1992 ) No. 22 (Jan 26, 1992 ) 4 No. 22 (Jan 26, 1992 ) Unranked (Feb 2, 1992 ) 4 No. 19 (Jan 22, 1996 ) No. 23 (Jan 29, 1996 ) 4 15. No. 15 (Jan 28, 1991 ) No. 18 (Feb 4, 1991 ) 3 No. 11 (Jan 5, 1992 ) No. 14 (Jan 12, 1992 ) 3 No. 23 (Jan 29, 1996 ) Unranked (Feb 5, 1996 ) 3 No. 12 (Dec 14, 2015 ) No. 15 (Dec 21, 2015 ) 3 No. 21 (Feb 8, 2021 ) No. 24 (Feb 15, 2021 ) 3 20. No. 16 (Mar 20, 1979 ) No. 18 (Nov 25, 1979 ) 2 No. 13 (Feb 26, 1990 ) No. 15 (Mar 5, 1990 ) 2 No. 13 (Mar 12, 1990 ) No. 15 (Nov 18, 1990 ) 2 No. 6 (Dec 10, 1990 ) No. 8 (Dec 17, 1990 ) 2 No. 18 (Feb 18, 1991 ) No. 20 (Feb 25, 1991 ) 2 No. 20 (Mar 4, 1991 ) No. 22 (Mar 11, 1991 ) 2 No. 13 (Dec 8, 1991 ) No. 15 (Dec 15, 1991 ) 2 No. 17 (Jan 15, 1996 ) No. 19 (Jan 22, 1996 ) 2 No. 14 (Dec 28, 2015 ) No. 16 (Jan 4, 2016 ) 2 No. 15 (Nov 30, 2020 ) No. 17 (Dec 7, 2020 ) 2 No. 21 (Jan 18, 2021 ) No. 23 (Jan 25, 2021 ) 2 No. 24 (Feb 15, 2021 ) Unranked (Feb 22, 2021 ) 2
Largest In-Season Poll-to-Poll Fall (10)
Largest In-Season Poll-to-Poll Fall
Place From To Fall 1. No. 16 (Jan 4, 2016 ) Unranked (Jan 11, 2016 ) 10 2. No. 19 (Jan 25, 1994 ) Unranked (Feb 1, 1994 ) 7 No. 15 (Dec 28, 2020 ) No. 22 (Jan 4, 2021 ) 7 4. No. 17 (Feb 27, 1979 ) Unranked (Mar 6, 1979 ) 4 No. 17 (Dec 18, 1979 ) Unranked (Dec 25, 1979 ) 4 No. 8 (Dec 17, 1990 ) No. 12 (Dec 24, 1990 ) 4 No. 11 (Jan 7, 1991 ) No. 15 (Jan 14, 1991 ) 4 No. 14 (Jan 12, 1992 ) No. 18 (Jan 19, 1992 ) 4 No. 18 (Jan 19, 1992 ) No. 22 (Jan 26, 1992 ) 4 No. 22 (Jan 26, 1992 ) Unranked (Feb 2, 1992 ) 4 No. 19 (Jan 22, 1996 ) No. 23 (Jan 29, 1996 ) 4 12. No. 15 (Jan 28, 1991 ) No. 18 (Feb 4, 1991 ) 3 No. 11 (Jan 5, 1992 ) No. 14 (Jan 12, 1992 ) 3 No. 23 (Jan 29, 1996 ) Unranked (Feb 5, 1996 ) 3 No. 12 (Dec 14, 2015 ) No. 15 (Dec 21, 2015 ) 3 No. 21 (Feb 8, 2021 ) No. 24 (Feb 15, 2021 ) 3 17. No. 13 (Feb 26, 1990 ) No. 15 (Mar 5, 1990 ) 2 No. 6 (Dec 10, 1990 ) No. 8 (Dec 17, 1990 ) 2 No. 18 (Feb 18, 1991 ) No. 20 (Feb 25, 1991 ) 2 No. 20 (Mar 4, 1991 ) No. 22 (Mar 11, 1991 ) 2 No. 13 (Dec 8, 1991 ) No. 15 (Dec 15, 1991 ) 2 No. 17 (Jan 15, 1996 ) No. 19 (Jan 22, 1996 ) 2 No. 14 (Dec 28, 2015 ) No. 16 (Jan 4, 2016 ) 2 No. 15 (Nov 30, 2020 ) No. 17 (Dec 7, 2020 ) 2 No. 21 (Jan 18, 2021 ) No. 23 (Jan 25, 2021 ) 2 No. 24 (Feb 15, 2021 ) Unranked (Feb 22, 2021 ) 2