The 1889 Northwestern Purple football team was an American football team that represented Northwestern University during the 1889 college football season. The team compiled a 2âÂÂ2 record. Only one of the five games was an intercollegiate game, a 9âÂÂ0 loss to Notre Dame on November 14, 1889, in Evanston. The game was the first meeting in the NorthwesternâÂÂNotre Dame football rivalry. Northwestern also played games against Evanston High School (18âÂÂ4 victory), the Chicago University Club (0âÂÂ28 loss), and the Wanderers Athletic Club (22âÂÂ0 victory).