They played their home games at Ryan Field and participated as members of the Big Ten Conference.

They were led by seventh-year head coach Randy Walker.

The Wildcats finished tied for 3rd place in the Big Ten with a conference record of 5–3.

This would be Walker's last season as the Wildcats' coach, as he would die suddenly from a heart attack on June 29, 2006 at the age of 52.

Linebackers coach/recruiting coordinator and Northwestern alum Pat Fitzgerald would be promoted to head coach on July 7, 2006.