Kickoff from the DMV is slated for 7pm CT. The Wildcats are coming off a 41-24 setback to No. 23 Indiana last weekend in which sophomore quarterback Jack Lausch threw for a career high 243 yards on 23-of-38 passing with two touchdowns. Graduate wide receivers Bryce Kirtz and A.J. Henning were the top two receiving targets on the afternoon, with Kirtz matching a career-best 10 receptions for 128 yards, while Henning hauled in six receptions for 67 yards and two touchdowns.
How to Follow
Watch on FS1: Action will be televised on FS1 with Connor Onion (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst) the call. Direct Link to Watch Online (Sign-In with TV Provider)
Listen on ESPN 1000 AM: 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 372/84.
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 Friday’s contest.
Five Things to Know
- Northwestern’s offensive line has surrendered just five sacks this season, which ranks second behind only Ohio State for the best mark in the Big Ten. For reference, after four games last season, the Wildcats had allowed 18 sacks. It’s tied for the fewest sacks allowed for NU over the season’s first five games since the 2020 season.
- On the other side of the ball, Northwestern’s defense has recorded 12 sacks through the first five games, which ranks t-34th most in FBS on a per game basis. Nine different players have recorded at least 0.5 sacks, including seven defensive linemen. Anto Saka leads the team with 2.5 sacks, while Aidan Hubbard and Mac Uihlein are tied for second with 2.0 apiece. The defensive line is expected to receive another boost on Friday with the return of captain Carmine Bastone, who missed the first five games due to injury.
- Defensive back Theran Johnson, along with Kirtz, was named to PFF’s Big Ten Team of the Week following his performance against the Hoosiers. Johnson logged a career-high three pass breakups, five tackles (including 1.0 tackle for loss), while not allowing a completion. Johnson is one of four different Wildcats to have recorded an interception through four games this season, joining Devin Turner, Robert Fitzgerald and Evan Smith.
- After missing the Wildcats’ Big Ten opener at Washington on September 21, Cam Porter returned against Indiana and scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season, already matching his total from the 2023 season. Porter has posted career marks of 1,519 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. In his four games of action this year, Porter has totaled 249 rushing yards on 50 carries, good for 5.0 yards per carry.
- Friday marks Northwestern’s third trip ever to College Park, having also traveled there in 2022 and 2017. The Wildcats lead the all-time series against the Terrapins, 3-1. In their most recent meeting in 2023, the ‘Cats came away with a 33-27 victory at Ryan Field behind two touchdowns from Porter, a career high four field goals from Jack Olsen, and six sacks from the defense including 3.0 from Hubbard (tied for second-most in a game in program history), who won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts. This also marks the first season in program history in which the Wildcats play two Friday games in the same year, having also played Duke on Sept. 6.
Up Next: Northwestern returns home for a meeting with Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 19 in what marks the Wildcats’ final game played at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium this season. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. CT, and will be broadcast on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
