You would think being ranked 8th in the BCS is enough to get a BCS Bowl bid. You would think being tied for the Big-Ten Championship is enough for a BCS Bowl bid.

That is, at least, what the Northwestern Wildcats thought.

However, the Wildcats were stuck in the Capital One Bowl for the third straight year, this time against the Gamecocks from South Carolina.

The Wildcats opened the game on a nervous note, going down 14-10 after the first quarter. They then scored 17 straight points to put the game away, before the Gamecocks and Wildcats traded touchdowns in the 4th quarter.

Coach Andrew Taylor, who signed a 5-year contract extension following the Bowl victory, turning down offers from Southern Cal and Tennessee, had this to say: "I'm so damn proud of our seniors. Richardson, Stewart, and Phillips played so amazing these past few years, and have really made this job so special. However, we've got a really talented group of young guys returning to lead us to a Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl Bid."

The Wildcats ended the season ranked 9th in the BCS, 1 spot behind Wisconsin.