The Wildcats played their home games at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois, and competed in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference.

This was the Wildcats' fifth ten-win season, three of which were led by Pat Fitzgerald.

They were invited to the Music City Bowl where they defeated Kentucky.

Sources: Northwestern announced its 2017 football schedule on July 11, 2013.

The Wildcats hosted Big Ten foes Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State, and Purdue, and traveled to Illinois, Maryland, Nebraska, Wisconsin.