Know Your Opponent: Week Six Northwestern Wildcats

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The No. 23 Indiana Hoosiers (5-0, 2-0) travel up to Northwestern (2-2-, 0-1) to face the Wildcats at the temporary Martin Stadium. IU has not won in Evanston since 1993. This week’s know your opponent is a Q&A with the West Lot Pirates Podcast, the Northwestern representative of the College Huddle.

Head Coach: David Braun (2nd Year at Northwestern)
Overall Record: 10-7 (.588) 2nd Season
At Northwestern:  10-7 (5-5)
Northwestern Bowl Games: 17
Last Year’s Record: 8-5 (5-4)
This Year’s Record: 2-2 (0-1)
Mascot: Willie the Wildcat
Colors: Purple and White
Outfitter: Under Armour
National Titles: 0
Conference Titles: 8
Heisman Winners: 0

FUN FACT:

•  The Northwestern Athletics' mascot is Willie the Wildcat. However, the team's first mascot was a live, caged bear cub from the Lincoln Park Zoo named Furpaw. In fall 1923, Furpaw was driven to the playing field to greet the fans before each game. After a losing season, the team decided that Furpaw was the harbinger of bad luck and Willie made his debut ten years later in 1933 - Wikipedia

1. 2023 was special for you guys. Why hasn’t that carried over?

It has and it hasn't. 

The Defensive front seven is exactly as good as we expected. We have a deep DLine that will hopefully get  team captain, Carmine Bastone, back in the rotation soon. Xander (Mueller) is Xander, just an absolute warrior and the platonic ideal of an NU Linebacker. This group was forged in fire last year, and they're our rock right now.

But our secondary is young, we're having offensive execution issues everywhere, and we're working with a brand-new quarterback. What we need right now is some positive momentum on offense as this team heads into the meat of its schedule.

2. How has the quarterback swap affected the team?  Why can’t NU develop a guy anymore?

The quarterback thing hangs over recent NU history. Clayton Thorson was the last QB to start in consecutive seasons for NU, in 2018. It could easily be argued that NU, in one isolated game, is better off right now with Mike Wright at QB *IF* he protects the football. But Jack Lausch is a local guy, beloved in the locker room, a leader, and a guy who really wants to learn this system and work within it. It's hard for NU fans right now because of the recent history and current performance of this offense, but we have to give him time to grow.

3.  What’s the strength of the defense, what makes them so tough?

Again, it's the depth of the DLine. We call them the Crocodiles, because when things are clicking, they drag you under and drown you in the sheer number of quality players. We'll play 12-14 guys in one game across the DLine.  Anto Saka is the headliner, but a guy like Kenny Soares could end up with two sacks out of maybe eight total defensive snaps. It's a deep unit, and they're extremely well-coached and rotated by DL coach Christian Smith.

And behind them is Xander Mueller, who we believe, simply, is the Best Linebacker In The Big Ten.

4. How does the stadium and lake have an effect on the game?

During the Duke game, weather certainly had an effect. Just how MUCH of an effect is difficult to say. Against Miami (OH) and Eastern Illinois, the wind was fine. The Duke game was a windstorm. But Duke, for their part, didn't seem to be hindered by it too much in the passing game down the stretch, particularly in OT.

We'll phrase it like this: If there is some miracle scenario where Rourke ISN'T absolutely dealing on Saturday afternoon, it'll likely be because our secondary took a big upward leap, and not because of the weather.

As far as the stadium EXPERIENCE? 10/10! It's truly a special thing, and we're all savoring every one of these experiences we get out on the lake before our amazing new stadium opens in 2026.

5. NU could win if they do this…

There's no scenario for a win we can visualize that doesn't involve Jack Lausch clicking. In the second half of EIU, the game slowed down for him and he was dealing. Obviously that didn't happen vs Washington. But he's had two weeks to study his first FBS game tape. An improved Lausch performance, a cleanly-executed, penalty free run game, and a couple of uncharacteristic Rourke INTs, and maybe we're in this one late with a chance for a huge upset win.

6.  For the IU fans traveling, what do you recommend doing the night before and day of game?

Here's what you should do on Friday: Go out to Lakeside Field (right next to the Football Stadium) at 3pm and watch the Best Damn Field Hockey Team In The Nation handle their business! If it's played with a stick or a bat on a field, Northwestern Women dominate at it, and the expanded football stadium doubles as awesome field hockey seating.

On Saturday, it's $25 admission to the tailgate experience south of the stadium on the Lakefill. But OUR tailgate is set up right in the middle of campus, across from "Tech" (The McCormick School of Engineering) on Sheridan Road. We call it the West Tech Lot, it's been a phenomenal place to tailgate this season, and we welcome all visitors! Look for the Red Pirate Flag!

8. Predictions?

We're not big on predictions in a game like this one. We'd welcome a Famous Upset, but it's hard not to look through this game to Maryland/Wisconsin/Iowa/Purdue. That's where our season lives, and we need to see growth in this game that takes us positively into that stretch.