Northwestern Football Kick Off

Northwestern's football team kicks off their season Thursday against the TCU Horned Frogs in Fort Worth, TX.

The Wildcats are coming off a 6-6 season, which saw them win 4 of their last 6 regular season games and earn a berth in the Motor City Bowl.

Leading the team is Junior QB Brett Basanez, who looks to rebound from an up-and-down 2003 season.

However, NU will be without one of its best defensive players. Junior defensive end Loren Howard -- the team's top pass rusher -- requires surgery on his left ankle and may be lost for the season.

Chicagoist isn't sure what to expect from the 'Cats this year -- while 18 of 22 starters are juniors or seniors and the team went 6-6 last season, they are still Northwestern, and have defined Big 10 futility for much of the past few decades. But they're the closest thing to big-time college football we've got in Chicago, so let's cheer 'em on.