Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Hits the Road, Traveling to Indiana This Week
10/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 20, 2008
NU FB Game Notes (vs. Indiana) 
For Openers
• Northwestern will put its 2-0 road record on the line this Saturday, Oct. 25, playing its first of two successive Big Ten away games at Indiana. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT (noon ET) and the Big Ten Network is televising the contest to a national audience. Northwestern, which is coming off a convincing 48-26 homecoming win over Purdue, has returned to the USA Today Coaches' top-25 poll, landing at No. 24. The Wildcats (6-1) also received votes in both the AP and Harris polls, just missing the top-25 by one position (26th in both). In the initial Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings, the Wildcats are ranked 22nd.
• This is the sixth time since 1948 that Northwestern has started 6-1. NU's other teams since the post-World War II era to begin 6-1 are: 1948 (Rose Bowl), 1959 (no bowl), 1962 (no bowl), 1995 (Rose Bowl) and 1996 (Citrus Bowl).
• Indiana is 2-5 overall (0-4 Big Ten) with its two wins coming in the season's opening weeks: a 31-13 win over Western Kentucky and a 45-3 defeat of Murray State. Since then, the Hoosiers have dropped games to Ball State (42-20), Michigan State (42-29), Minnesota (16-7), Iowa (45-9) and Illinois (55-13).
• With the aid of a season-high-tying five defensive takeaways, Northwestern exploded for a 2008-best 48 points against Purdue last Saturday. The Wildcats totaled 441 yards of offense and were led by quarterback C.J. Bachér, who totaled 261 yards of total offense, and running back Tyrell Sutton, who registered 158 total yards (rushing and receiving).
• Northwestern continues to lead the Big Ten and rank among the nation's leaders in sacks (3.0 per game) and sacks allowed (0.7 pg). The Wildcats rank 11th and fourth, respectively, in those two categories nationally. NU is also second in the Big Ten in tackles for loss (7.0 pg).
• The Wildcats' biggest improvements from 2007 to 2008 have come on the defensive side of the ball. NU ranks in the nation's top 50 in four major defensive categories: scoring defense (28th, 17.9 ppg), rushing defense (39th, 120.6 ypg), pass efficiency defense (35th, 113.1 rating) and total defense (49th, 337.4 ypg). Last year, the highest that NU ranked in any of those four categories was rushing defense (74th, 167.1).
• Offensively, NU features four players -- Tyrell Sutton, Ross Lane, Eric Peterman and Rasheed Ward -- who each have 100 or more career receptions and 1,000 or more career receiving yards. No other FBS team has a current foursome who has accomplished that feat.
• Third-down conversions, both on offense and defense, have been a key to NU's success this year. The Wildcats rank second in the Big Ten in third-down conversions (47.3 percent) and second in defensive third-down conversions (30.9 percent). NU ranks behind Penn State in both categories.
• NU's players of the game against Purdue were: Brad Phillips (defense), Eric Peterman (offense), Tyrell Sutton (offensive big play), Vince Browne (defensive big play) and Jeravin Matthews (special teams). For Phillips, it was the third straight game (all Big Ten contests) that he has earned NU's defensive player of the game honors.
The Broadcasts
Radio -- WGN (720 AM) will carry the game live with its pregame show starting at 10:30 a.m. The radio broadcast can also be heard live via the internet at wgnradio.com. Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Ted Albrecht (analyst) call the action. WNUR (89.3), NU's student radio station, also will carry the game live. The contest is also available on the XM Satellite Radio network. (Channel 197).
Television -- The Big Ten Network is televising the game to a national audience. Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst) and Charissa Thompson (sideline) call the action.
(For a complete set of notes, download the PDF link above.)
