Ryan Field (through 2023) Kickoff Temperatures Since 2006
Evanston, IL
Since 2006, 116 college football games at Ryan Field (through 2023) have a kickoff temperature. The coldest was 23°F on Nov. 23, 2013, Michigan State at Northwestern. The hottest was 83°F, in two games: California at Northwestern on Aug. 30, 2014, and Bowling Green at Northwestern on Sept. 16, 2017.
Ryan Field (through 2023) 10 Coldest Games Since 2006
| # | Dateweek or game | Gamefinal score | Kickofftemperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nov. 23, 2013Week 13 | Michigan State 30, Northwestern 6 | 23°F |
| 2 | Nov. 24, 2012Week 13 | Illinois 14, Northwestern 50 | 27°F |
| 3 | Nov. 22, 2008Week 13 | Illinois 10, Northwestern 27 | 32°FSingle reading |
| 4 | Nov. 23, 2019Week 13 | Minnesota 38, Northwestern 22 | 35°F |
| 5 | Nov. 11, 2017Week 11 | Purdue 13, Northwestern 23 | 37°F |
| 6 | Nov. 18, 2017Week 12 | Minnesota 0, Northwestern 39 | 38°F |
| 7 | Dec. 12, 2020Week 15 | Illinois 10, Northwestern 28 | 38°F |
| 8 | Nov. 11, 2006Week 11 | Ohio State 54, Northwestern 10 | 39°F |
| 9 | Nov. 8, 2008Week 11 | Ohio State 45, Northwestern 10 | 39°F |
| 10 | Nov. 16, 2019Week 12 | UMass 6, Northwestern 45 | 39°F |
Ryan Field (through 2023) 10 Hottest Games Since 2006
| # | Dateweek or game | Gamefinal score | Kickofftemperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug. 30, 2014Week 1 | California 31, Northwestern 24 | 83°F |
| 2 | Sept. 16, 2017Week 3 | Bowling Green 7, Northwestern 49 | 83°FSingle reading |
| 3 | Sept. 17, 2022Week 3 | Southern Illinois 31, Northwestern 24 | 81°F |
| 4 | Aug. 30, 2008Week 1 | Syracuse 10, Northwestern 30 | 80°F |
| 5 | Sept. 7, 2013Week 2 | Syracuse 27, Northwestern 48 | 80°F |
| 6 | Sept. 14, 2019Week 3 | UNLV 14, Northwestern 30 | 79°F |
| 7 | Oct. 11, 2008Week 7 | Michigan State 37, Northwestern 20 | 78°F |
| 8 | Sept. 15, 2012Week 3 | Boston College 13, Northwestern 22 | 78°F |
| 9 | Sept. 10, 2022Week 2 | Duke 31, Northwestern 23 | 78°F |
| 10 | Sept. 20, 2008Week 4 | Ohio 8, Northwestern 16 | 77°FSingle reading |
Four more games were also 77°F at kickoff.
Home Record at Ryan Field (through 2023) by Temperature Since 2006
| Kickoff temperatureoutdoor games | Gamesat home | RecordW-L |
|---|---|---|
| 20–29°F | 2 | 1-1 |
| 30–39°F | 8 | 5-3 |
| 40–49°F | 25 | 16-9 |
| 50–59°F | 27 | 13-14 |
| 60–69°F | 23 | 12-11 |
| 70–79°F | 26 | 15-11 |
| 80–89°F | 5 | 3-2 |
| 32°F or colder | 3 | 2-1 |
Ryan Field (through 2023) Temperatures Since 2006: Three Questions
- What was the coldest college football game at Ryan Field (through 2023) since 2006?
- Nov. 23, 2013: Michigan State 30, Northwestern 6, at Ryan Field (through 2023), at 23°F.
- What was the hottest college football game at Ryan Field (through 2023) since 2006?
- A tie at 83°F, in two games: California 31, Northwestern 24 at Ryan Field (through 2023) on Aug. 30, 2014, and Bowling Green 7, Northwestern 49 at Ryan Field (through 2023) on Sept. 16, 2017.
- How many college football games at Ryan Field (through 2023) have a kickoff temperature?
- 116 of the 116 games played there from 2006 to 2023.
Kickoff temperatures come from NOAA airport weather records (GHCNh): the reading nearest kickoff, within an hour, at one fixed airport for each stadium. Game data provided by CollegeFootballData.com. Games at dome and retractable-roof stadiums are shown but left out of every record and list, whatever the roof position. A temperature with no second reading within 2°F to check it is marked “Single reading”, and a game whose stadium no official source confirms is marked and left out of the lists. Home records count every home game with a kickoff temperature, including games that cannot appear in the lists. When games tie at the end of a list, the line under it counts the rest.
Updated: October 25, 2026