Know Your Opponent: Northwestern is Hitting Their Stride As Indiana Comes Knocking

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (11th Year at Northwestern)
Overall: 73-59 (.554) 11th year
At Northwestern 73-59 (38-45)
Bowl Appearances: 6
Last Year’s Record: 10-3 (6-2) Lost Outback Bowl vs. Tennessee
This Year’s Record: 3-3 (2-1)
Postseason Appearances Since 2000: 8 Appearances (1-7 Record)
Mascot: Willie the Wildcat
Colors: Purple and White
Outfitter: Under Armour
National Titles: 0
Conference Titles: 8
Heisman Winners: 0
 

Fun Fact:
 

•    Laking the Posts
After significant victories, the student section would tear down the goalposts and toss them into Lake Michigan. When Ryan field was built, the playing field was purposely lowered 5 feet below the lowest section to prevent students from storming the field. This is no longer practiced, since Northwestern fans are waiting for a national title to revive the activity.

1. After a Slow Start, Northwestern is Heating Up

After a 10-3 2015 campaign, the 2016 season got off with a thud as the Wildcats lost back-to-back home games to Western Michigan and FCS Illinois State before defeating Duke and losing to Nebraska. However, Pat Fitzgerald has his team playing impressive football as they beat both Iowa (38-31) and Michigan State (54-40) on the road to even their record at 3-3. The game against the Hoosiers comes in the middle of a five-game block, which features Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. 

2. As We Have Said A Million Times, Justin Jackson is The Truth

Over the course of the summer the Hoosier Huddle staff highlighted Northwestern running back Justin Jackson as one of the best, if not the best, offensive players in the Big Ten. We were not and are not wrong about this one. Jackson, a player Wilson and running backs coach Deland McCullough recruited hard, leads the Big Ten in rushing with 698 yards on 143 carries. Jackson has scored six touchdowns and is the definition of a workhorse. 

In their three wins the Wildcats have leaned heavily on Jackson as he is averaging nearly 30 carries and 151 yards per game, while in their three losses Jackson averaged around 18 carriers and 82 yards per game. The Wildcats are just better when he gets the ball more. 

3. Austin Carr Is Leading the Conference in Receiving? Yes

The Big Ten conference features receivers like Noah Brown of Ohio State, Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson of Michigan, and Jordan Westerkamp from Nebraska. Yet, it is a redshirt junior from California who was a finalist in the California State Poetry Out Loud Competition and was a school and county champion in the event and won Benicia's "Best Lead Actor" award for role as the Beast in "Beauty and the Beast". Oh he also won NU's annual Student-Athlete Talent Show in 2013. 

Carr has answered the bell for an offense that was looking for a go-to receiver for Clayton Thorson. Carr leads the Big Ten with 595 yards receiving, over 100 more than the next player, on 43 catches. He has scored a league high eight touchdowns through the air. At 6’1” he doesn’t have great size, but has a great set of hands. Rashard Fant will have his plate full taking on Carr.

4. Defense Will Get After the Quarterback

While the Wildcats have the Big Ten’s leading rusher and receiver people may sleep on their defense. Well, don’t do that. Northwestern is fifth in the conference in sacks with 16, led by defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo with seven. The defense has also accounted for 38 tackles for loss as well.

The defense goes deeper than just a play-maker on the defensive line. Linebackers Anthony Walker and Jaylen Prater have combined for 91 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks. They are Northwestern’s version of Tegray Scales and Marcus Oliver. In the secondary, safety Godwin Igwebuike leads the team in tackles with 53 and has an interception. The Wildcats have been without stud cornerback Matthew Harris since week two, but sophomore Jared McGee has stepped up in that role with 23 tackles and two interceptions

5. They Go As Clayton Thorson Goes

Like most teams do, the Wildcats will be as successful as their quarterback Clayton Thorson. After winning 10 games as a redshirt freshman, the expectations were sky-high for Thorson. However, 2016 did not get off to the start that he or his team wanted. In the team’s three losses this season Thorson completed just 56 percent of his passes for a total of 636 yard (212 ypg) with just two touchdowns and two interceptions. On the flip side, in the Wildcats’ three wins Thorson has transformed into the quarterback they thought they were getting. He has completed 60.6 percent of his pass for 765 yards (255 ypg) with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. If he struggles, Northwestern struggles.