Wildcats Head to Purdue for Saturday Showdown – Northwestern Athletics

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Playing its third road game in its last four contests, Northwestern travels to Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium, where the Wildcats have won five of their last six meetings, for a conference showdown beginning at 11 am CT.

The Wildcats won last season’s meeting against Purdue 23-15, in what marked the last game played at old Ryan Field as well as the first game with David Braun as the full-time Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach.

How to Follow

Watch on BTN: 

Action will be televised on Big Ten Network, with Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst) and Dannie Rogers (sideline reporter) 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.

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

 

1.  Northwestern is facing Purdue for the 89th time, with the Boilermakers leading the all-time series, 53-34-1. Northwestern is 7-3 against Purdue in the last 10 meetings, and has won 11 of the last 20. Five of the last six games have been decided by one score, with the Wildcats going 3-2 over that span. Since 1992, Northwestern is 8-6 at Ross-Ade Stadium, and has won five of the last six.
   
    
2. Against Iowa (Oct. 26), Theran Johnson recorded his first career pick-six, inter-cepting QB Cade McNamara for an 85-yard return. It was Northwestern’s first interception return for a touchdown since Kyle Queiro had a 26-yard return for a touchdown against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 29, 2017. It was the first pick-six for the Wildcats in conference play since Nick VanHoose had a 72-yard return against Nebraska on Oct. 24, 2015. The play ranks as Northwestern sixth-longest defensive play in program history, and third-longest interception return in school history.
   
    
3. NU’s kickoff return unit has been outstanding this year, averaging 25.3 yards per return, which ranks third in the Big Ten and 15th in the country. Joseph Himon II leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth nationally averaging 27.6 yards per return on his 12 kick returns this season (331 total yards).
   
    
4. Pressed into action at Iowa (Oct. 26) due to the unavailability of PRs A.J. Henning and Bryce Kirtz, true first-year walk-on Drew Wagner delivered returning a punt 72-yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the team’s first since Tony Jones had a 64-yard return for a score against Purdue in 2014. Wagner’s 72-yard return is the longest in the nation this season by a first-year, and the only punt return touchdown by a true first-year in the Big Ten this season (1 of 6 in FBS). He is the only Northwestern first-year to return a punt for a touchdown on record (since 1995).
   
    
5. Through eight games this season, Northwestern has recorded 17 sacks. The Wildcats have posted their most sacks through eight games since recording 19 sacks in 2016. 11 different players have recorded at least 0.5 sacks, including seven defensive linemen. DL Aidan Hubbard leads the team with 3.0 sacks, with DL Anto Saka ranking seconds with 2.5 sacks.