Wildcats to Host No. 23 Indiana in Big Ten Home Opener – Northwestern Athletics

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern (2-2, 0-1 B1G) returns home to take on No. 23 Indiana (5-0, 2-0 B1G) for their first Big Ten Conference matchup at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT, with the game airing on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720. Northwestern leads the all-time series 47-35-1, defeating the Hoosiers in nine of their last 11 matchups, including eight straight home games dating back to 1993.
 
How to Follow
 
Watch on Big Ten Network: Action will be televised on Big Ten Network with Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst) and Dannie Rogers (sideline reporter) on the call. Direct Link to Watch Online (Sign-In with TV Provider)
 
Listen on AM 720 WGN: 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 161/196.
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. Graduate student Xander Mueller made his mark at Washington (Sept. 21), leading Northwestern with eight tackles, 2.0 tackles for a loss, 1.0 sack, and a fumble recovery. He leads the Wildcats in tackles (28), tackles for a loss (3.0) and passes broken up (4), and is the only player in the nation to post at least 28 tackles, 3.0 tackles for a loss, 1.0 sack, and four passes broken up this season. Competing in his final season in Evanston, Mueller is the nation’s only active player to post career numbers of at least 240+ tackles, 9.0+ sacks and 5+ interceptions.
   
    

   Leader on the field. Leader off the field.

   Xander Mueller has been named a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy! ?? pic.twitter.com/OzQRolUNnO

   
   — Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) September 27, 2024

   
    

2. Northwestern ranks in the top 25 in the nation in both scoring defense and rushing yards allowed per game. The Wildcats rank 10th in FBS with only 79.3 rushing yards allowed per game and 23rd in scoring defense (15.8 ppg). It is the fewest points allowed per game through the season’s first four games since the 2020 Big Ten West Division champion defense allowed only 14.0 ppg. Northwestern has only allowed one rushing touchdown this season to date, the lowest total through the team’s first four games since 2000.
   
    
3. Northwestern’s offensive line has allowed just three sacks on the season thus far. The mark ties them with Ohio State for the lowest total in the Big Ten, while ranking t-9th nationally. It is the fewest sacks allowed through the season’s first four games since 2015 (3).
   
    
4. On the other side of the field, the ‘Cats have totaled 12 sacks to start the season, averaging 3.0 sacks per game to rank 17th nationally. The number is the most sacks through four games since recording 12 in 2014. Nine different players have recorded at least 0.5 sacks, including seven defensive linemen. DL Anto Saka leads the team with 2.5 sacks, while DL Aidan Hubbard and LB Mac Uihlein are tied for second with 2.0 apiece.
   
    
5. Second-year Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Coach David Braun heads into the game with a .700 win percentage through his first ten games, a mark that ranks fifth in Northwestern history. Over ten home games, Braun holds a record of 7-3, the best mark since Pappy Waldorf led the Wildcats to a record of 8-1-1 at home from 1935-36. 
   
    

Up Next: Northwestern travels east face Maryland on Friday, Oct. 11. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on FOX and WGN Radio 720.