Northwestern University Athletics
GAME NOTES: Wildcats Hit Road for Trip to No. 19 Michigan State
10/1/2018 10:56:00 AM | Football
| NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL: GAME DAY INFORMATION | |||||
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | LOCATION | BROADCAST | LIVE STATS |
| Saturday, Oct. 6 |
Michigan State |
11 a.m. | Spartan Stadium East Lansing, Mich. |
TV: FS1 RADIO: WGN 720 |
MSUSpartans.com |
| FS1: Tim Brando (play-by-play), Spencer Tillman (analyst) and Holly Sonders (sideline) WGN 720: Dave Eanet (play-by-play), Ted Albrecht (analyst), Adam Hoge (sideline) Social: Twitter (@NUFBFamily and @NU_SportsLive) | Instagram (@nufbfamily) | Facebook Game Notes: Northwestern | Michigan State | Big Ten Fitzgerald Press Conference | Student-Athlete Press Conference |
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EVANSTON, Ill. —Northwestern will look to snap a three-game losing streak when it heads north to East Lansing, Michigan and Spartan Stadium to take on the No. 19-ranked Michigan State Spartans on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The Wildcats have won back-to-back contests versus the Spartans, including a 39-31 triple-overtime thriller at Ryan Field last season.
The Wildcats and Spartans will play in front of a nationally-televised audience on FS1 with Tim Brando, Spencer Tillman and Holly Sonders. on the call. As always, fans can listen to the broadcast with the voice of the Wildcats Dave Eanet, Ted Albrecht and Adam Hoge on WGN 720. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT.
BIG TEN ROAD WARRIORS -- The Wildcats have won four-straight Big Ten road contests dating back to last season, including a 31-27 victory at Purdue in the 2018 season opener. The Wildcats are averaging 35.3 points per game over their last four road games. The last time NU won five-straight Big Ten games on the road came Oct. 14-2015 through Oct. 15, 2016 (at Nebraska, at Wisconsin, at Illinois, at Iowa, at Michigan State).
NO DIRTY LAUNDRY -- Chicago's Big Ten Team continues to be one of the least penalized teams in the country, entering week six tied with Navy for the fewest total penalties with 13. The Wildcats rank second nationally in fewest penalties per game (3.25), fourth in penalty yards (136) ans sixth in fewest penalty yards per game (34.0).
THE LAST VISIT TO SPARTAN STADIUM -- Northwestern last visited Michigan State on Oct. 15, 2016, and scored the most points ever surrendered by the Spartans at home with 54. The Wildcats' 54 points were their most scored since a 62-23 victory over in-state rival Illinois on Nov. 18, 2000.
QUOTE WORTHY -- Junior defensive end Joe Gaziano moved up to seventh in program history with his 16th career sack versus Michigan last week. Gaziano received high praise from FOX analyst Joel Klatt.
"This guy is an animal on passing situations," Klatt said of Gaziano. "He is one of the best sack artists in the Big Ten. This guy can absolutely get it done."
FLEX ON 'EM, FLYNN -- Senior wide receiver Flynn Nagel continues to be the Wildcats' favorite target in the passing game after hauling in six catches for 65 yards verus No. 14 Michigan last week. Nagel has caught at least one pass in 22 straight games, marking the second-longest streak in the Big Ten behind only Ohio State's KJ Hill (25). Through four games, Nagel...
...Leads the Wildcats with 26 receptions and 291 yards
...Ranks second in the Big Ten and 21st in the country with 6.5 receptions per game.
...Ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 72.8 receiving yards per game.
...Has hauled in the third most catches by a Wildcat through four games since 2000.
UNLOCK THE VAULT -- After missing all of 2017 and the first three games of this season due to injury, senior Solomon Vault returned to the field for the Wildcats versus No. 14 Michigan. Vault, the program's all-time leader with four kick return touchdowns, returned to the backfield and finished with seven carries for 18 yards. His seven carries were his most since carrying the ball eight times versus Minnesota on Oct. 3, 2015. Vault's last kick return for a touchdown came at MSU on Oct. 15, 2016.
SOMETHING IN THE NUMBER -- Sophomore linebacker Blake Gallagher, who wears the same No. 51 made famous by head coach Pat Fitzgerald, led the Wildcats with 12 tackles versus Michigan. Gallagher's second double-digit tackle effort of the season included a career-high six assisted tackles. He ranks second in the Big Ten and 31st nationally with 9.5 tackles per game and is seventh in the Big Ten with 5.0 solo tackles per contest.
A complete notes packet is available at the top of the page.
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