Northwestern released its football schedule for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. The Wildcats will open the season in 2011 on Sept. 3 at Boston College and their Big Ten opener is at Illinois on Oct. 1. NU will play new Big Ten member Nebraska in Lincoln on Nov. 5. NU was also able to find room on its 2011 schedule for Rice, which will come to Evanston on Nov. 12. It was previously thought that the Rice game would have to be pushed to another season.

In 2012 the Wildcats open the season Sept. 1 at Syracuse and start the Big Ten season with a home game Sept. 29 against Indiana. Nebraska makes it first appearance in Evanston on Oct. 20.

2011 NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE


Sept. 3 at Boston College


Sept. 10 vs. Eastern Illinois


Sept. 17 at Army


Sept. 24 Open


Oct. 1 at Illinois


Oct. 8 vs. Michigan


Oct. 15 at Iowa


Oct. 22 vs. Penn State (Homecoming)


Oct. 29 at Indiana


Nov. 5 at Nebraska

Nov. 12 vs. Rice (Family Weekend)


Nov. 19 vs. Minnesota


Nov. 26 vs. Michigan State



2012 NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE


Sept. 1 at Syracuse


Sept. 8 vs. Vanderbilt


Sept. 15 vs. Boston College


Sept. 22 vs. South Dakota


Sept. 29 vs. Indiana


Oct. 6 at Penn State


Oct. 13 at Minnesota


Oct. 20 vs. Nebraska (Family Weekend)


Oct. 27 vs. Iowa (Homecoming)


Nov. 3 Open
Nov. 10 at Michigan


Nov. 17 at Michigan State


Nov. 24 Illinois