After a 9-3 season in 2008, followed by a letdown in the 2009 Capital One Bowl, the 2009 Northwestern Wildcats were out to prove that they weren't a one hit wonder, despite the 20 seniors they were losing to graduation. Instead of the cupcake out-of-conference schedule they were given, they persuaded Coach Taylor to toughen it up, adding 2 ranked teams in West Virginia and Notre Dame, a Pac-10 team in Oregon, and a SEC team in Alabama.

After their opening game of the 2009 season, Wildcat Nation is saying, "Who Needs '08?"

Despite losing 6 offensive starters, 9 defensive starters, and their punter, the 2009 Wildcats proved that they are no scrubs. Stephen Simmons, a Redshirt Junior out of Kansas City, had 137 yards on the ground. Redshirt Freshman Isaac Floyd, Coach Taylor's #1 recruit from his first recruiting season, had 100 yards receiving in his first ever collegiate football game. Andrew Brewer, who experienced an increase of 5 points in his overall rating this offseason, had 200 yards passing.

The defense played much better than expected as well. Captain and Junior Strong Safety Brad Phillips had 3 interceptions on the day, tying the school record. The defense only allowed 10 points to an offense that had the #4 player on the Heisman watch list in the preseason rankings.

All-American kicker Stefan Demos also went 4-for-5 on Field Goal attempts.