By Danielle Daniels
CHICAGO – After playing its first five home games along the lakefront, Northwestern will play its final two home games of the season at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. The Wildcats take on No. 2 Ohio State for the first time since 2022 and the first time at Wrigley Field.
Last time out, the Wildcats defeated Purdue 26-20 in overtime, as Northwestern improved to 6-1 in its last seven overtime games. RB Joseph Himon II scored the game-winning touchdown on a 22-yard reception, becoming the first Big Ten running back to record a walk-off TD reception since Michigan State’s T.J. Duckett vs. Michigan on Nov. 3, 2001. Northwestern’s offense posted 424 yards, its highest against an FBS opponent this season (450 vs. Eastern Illinois), and its highest against a Big Ten foe since totaling 492 yards in an overtime win on Sept. 23, 2023.
How to Follow
Watch on BTN: Action will be televised on Big Ten Network, with Jeff Levering (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst) and Brooke Fletcher (sideline reporter) the call. Direct Link to Watch Online (Sign-In with TV Provider)
Listen on WGN Radio 720 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
- Saturday will mark the 81st meeting between the Wildcats and Buckeyes on the gridiron. Two of the last four times the teams have met, the Big Ten Championsip was on the line in Indianapolis in 2018 and 2020. The Wildcats’ defense has held Ohio State to 22 points or fewer in the last two matchups, and did not surrender a passing touchdown to the Buckeyes in each of the last two games.
- Joseph Himon II has been one of the nation’s best kick returners this season. Himon leads the Big Ten and ranks seventh nationally averaging 26.9 yards per return on his 14 kick returns this season (331 total yards). Against Washington (Sept. 21) he returned three kicks for 150 yards, including a 96-yard return. Himon’s 96-yard return against Washington ranks tied for the sixth-longest in school history. Himon’s 150 kickoff return yards against against the Huskies rank as the sixth-most by a Wildcat in a game since 2000.
- Dating back to last season, the Wildcats have forced a turnover in 14 of their last 16 games, and over the last two seasons combined rank t-5th in the Big Ten forcing 35 turnovers. During that stretch the Wildcats have recovered 15 fumbles, the second most in the conference behind Penn State (16).
- Northwestern’s defense is surrendering 108.1 yards per game on the ground this season, which ranks seventh in the Big Ten and 16th nationally. Since at least 2000, Northwestern’s 927 total rushing yards allowed this season is the fewest over a season’s first nine games.
- Northwestern’s special teams units have recorded three blocked kicks this season (two blocked field goals, one blocked punt), which is tied for the most in the Big Ten Conference and the most by a Northwestern team since 2022 (3). The Wildcats single-season high for blocks is six, when the 2014 team led FBS.
Up Next: Northwestern will hit the road for the final time in the 2024 regular season, traveling to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan. Kickoff from Michigan Stadium is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1.
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