IU Will Raise the Victory Flag vs. Northwestern If…

On Friday, No. 5 Indiana football will welcome the 2-0 Northwestern Wildcats under the lights of Memorial Stadium. The matchup marks the beginning of the long journey of Big Ten play for the Hoosiers. Pressure is a given, as each team will be striving to set the tone for the rest of the Big Ten Conference. The Hoosier defense hasn’t allowed a single point in the last two contests, but on Friday they will face a new challenge: an offense that has a wide range of weapons. With both teams out to prove something, the Hoosiers will have to play with intention as soon as the whistle sounds. Indiana Football will raise the victory flag against Northwestern if…

Quieting Aidan Chiles

This season, Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles has emerged as a threat to any defense. His two games with the Wildcats have been marked by consistency, completing 67.1% of his passes. Against Colorado, Chiles finished 17-for-22 passing for 241 yards. He has already recorded four passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns and committed zero turnovers.

In 2025, Chiles competed for Michigan State, where he finished the season completing 63.1% of his passes, recording 10 touchdowns. As a Wildcat, Chiles is continuing to improve, and his consistency will be something Indiana football will seek to disrupt. Chiles is also mobile and isn’t afraid to get outside the pocket to make plays. The Hoosiers will have to shut Chiles down in the pocket, especially in third-down and red-zone situations.

Taking Away Momentum

Northwestern will be arriving in Bloomington coming off a 41-7 victory over Colorado. Their momentum is apparent, and the Wildcats will likely use that energy to take the lead early against Indiana. As a result, Indiana will have to come out sharper. Last week, the Hoosiers started slightly flat-footed against Western Kentucky and neglected to get any points on the board in the first quarter. Indiana ended up beating Western Kentucky 38-0; however, Northwestern will not give Indiana this privilege. In a game built on possessions, Indiana will have to score early, or else the Wildcats’ momentum could take over Memorial Stadium. Indiana cannot let Northwestern build confidence early; as a result, Josh Hoover will need to establish a tempo early on.

Big gains from players like Charlie Becker, Nick Marsh, Turbo Richard, and Lee Beebe will not only dismantle this Northwestern team, but also get Hoosier fans in on the action. Friday nights are a difficult place for away opponents to play, so Indiana can’t make it any easier. Last week against Western Kentucky, Richard got into his own rhythm, tallying 15 attempts for 149 yards and one touchdown. Indiana should not be afraid of getting points on the ground. Versatile offenses are difficult to stop, so why not feed the ball to someone who seems to be on a roll?

Stifling Northwestern’s Ground Game

Northwestern’s offense is versatile; they carry many weapons, many of which reside in the backfield. Running backs Joseph Himon II, Caleb Komalafe, and Gavin Sawchuk have all contributed heavily to the Wildcats gains on the ground. Sawchuk leads the Wildcats in rushing with 117 yards, and Himon is just behind with 115 yards, averaging 14.4 yards per attempt. Himon has even reeled in four receptions for 61 yards. Himon can clearly get downfield quickly, so Indiana’s interior defensive linemen will have to contain him before he breaks free. Because Himon is a dangerous pass-catching threat out of the backfield, Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy cannot afford to overpursue the inside run and leave open space behind them.