In their last time out, the ‘Cats dropped a 23-3 contest to Wisconsin in what marked their final game of the season at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Northwestern will play its final two games of the season at Wrigley Field on Nov. 16 (vs. Ohio State) and Nov. 30 (vs. Illinois). Against the Badgers, redshirt first-year DB Damon Walters recorded a career and game-high 11 tackles. It marked the first double-digit tackle game by a Northwestern first-year since Devin Turner did so in 2022. The Wildcat defense recorded two takeaways as Coco Azema recorded his third-career interception, while Greyson Metz forced a fumble early in the second half that was recovered by Najee Story.
How to Follow
Watch on BTN: Action will be televised on Big Ten Network, with Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst) and Kylen Mills (sideline reporter) the call. Direct Link to Watch Online (Sign-In with TV Provider)
Listen on WGN Radio 720: The Voice of the Wildcats, Dave Eanet, returns for his 35th season calling Northwestern Football. Eanet will be joined on the call by 31st-year analyst Ted Albrecht, along with Lauren Withrow on the sideline. The broadcast can also be heard on SiriusXM Channel 372.
Direct Link to Listen Online
Follow In-Game Updates (NUFBFamily): Stay tuned to Northwestern Football’s Twitter and Instagram channels for live highlights, photos, and reactions throughout Saturday’s contest.
Five Things to Know
- Northwestern is facing Iowa for the 86th time. While the Hawkeyes lead the all-time series, 54-28-3, the series has been even over the last 20 games (10-10). Since 1995, the Wildcats lead the series, 14-13, and Northwestern is 6-4 over its last 10 games at Kinnick Stadium. The Wildcats have won eight of the last 10 games when they score 20 or more points against the Hawkeyes.
- Northwestern ranks tied for 17th in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game (103.4). Since at least 2000, Northwestern’s 724 total rushing yards allowed this season is the fewest over a season’s first seven games and the fewest yards per carry (3.2). The Wildcats have allowed just six rushing touchdowns over the season’s first six games, their fewest since 2020 (2). The Wildcats also rank 30th nationally allowing an average of 19.6 points per game.
- The Wildcats rushed for 127 yards (4.1 ypc), their most in four games since rushing for 203 yards against Eastern Illinois (Sept. 14). Jack Lausch ran for a team-high 55 yards on 10 attempts and RB Cam Porter ran 14 times for 48 yards. Lausch finished the day 9-for-24 for 82 yards with TE Thomas Gordon being his favorite target with season-highs of four catches for 49 yards. In his first season as a starter, Lausch has already become the first Northwestern underclassman (first-year or sophomore) quarterback to throw for 800+ yards and rush for 100+ yards in the same season since Clayton Thorson in 2015.
- Defensive back Theran Johnson is tied for third in FBS lead and leads the Big Ten with nine passes broken up this year. Over two weeks against Indiana and Maryland, he tallied six pass breakups, the most in the country over that span, and according to PFF, he allowed just four completions on 14 targets during that span. Since 2005, he is already just the fourth Wildcat to post nine passes broken up and 3.0 tackles for loss in the same season.
- Northwestern’s offensive line has only surrendered nine sacks this season over seven games, which ranks as the fifth best mark in the Big Ten. After seven games last season, the Wildcats allowed 30 sacks. In their last road game at Maryland (Oct. 11), both Caleb Tiernan and Josh Thompson were named to the PFF Big Ten Team of the Week, with Tiernan additionally being named to the national team of the week after helping lead the ‘Cats to a 37-10 win.
Up Next: Northwestern continues its road swing with a trip to West Lafayette to take on Purdue. Kickoff is slated for 11am CT on Saturday, November 2, with action airing live on Big Ten Network and ESPN 1000 AM.
