Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Duke
GAME NOTES: Wildcats Welcome Duke for 2018 Ryan Field Opener
9/4/2018 4:52:00 PM | Football
| NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL: GAME DAY INFORMATION | |||||
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | LOCATION | BROADCAST | LIVE STATS |
| Saturday, Sept. 8 |
Duke | 11:02 a.m. | Ryan Field Evanston, Ill. |
TV: ESPNU RADIO: WGN 720 |
NUSports.com |
| ESPNU: Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Kelly Stouffer (color) and Olivia Harlan-Dekker (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 | Duke | Big Ten Fitzgerald Press Conference | Gallagher/Thompson Press Conference | Larkin/Green Press Conference |
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EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern will open Ryan Field for the 2018 campaign Saturday morning when it hosts ACC foe Duke.
The Wildcats, riding a Power-5 best nine-game winning streak dating back to last season, and the Blue Devils will kickoff at 11:02 a.m. CT on ESPNU with Jason Benetti, Kelly Stouffer and Olivia Harlan-Dekker on the call. As always, fans can listen to the contest with the voice of the Wildcats Dave Eanet, Ted Albrecht and Adam Hoge on WGN 720.
THE STREAK CONTINUES -- Northwestern won its ninth-straight game and eighth-straight Big Ten contest with a 31-27 victory at Purdue in the season opener. The nine-game winning streak overall and eight-game mark in Big Ten play are the longest since the 'Cats pulled off the feat during the 1995 season. NU owns the longest winning streak among Power 5 teams. NU also picked up its fifth-straight win over Purdue, marking the longest winning streak versus the Boilermakers in program history.
AND SO IT BEGINS -- The Wildcats will kick off the Best Home Schedule in the Nation when it takes on Atlantic Coast Conference foe Duke Saturday at 11 a.m. NU is 10-9 all-time versus the Blue Devils with wins in three of the last four meetings.
KEEP IT CLEAN -- Northwestern was turnover free and did not allow a sack versus Purdue, marking the first time since Sept. 5, 2015 versus Stanford. The 'Cats have not committed a turnover in four of their last five games dating back to last season and have allowed just 12 sacks during their nine-game winning streak.
BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE -- The 'Cats turned each of the Boilermakers' three first-half turnovers into points last Thursday, scoring 21 points in the first half off three interceptions. NU has forced 20 turnovers during its nine-game winning streak while committing just nine for a turnover margin of +2.2. Northwestern's three interceptions were its most in a season opener since 2013 at Cal.
OUT OF THE GATES -- The Wildcats scored 31 points in the first half versus Purdue, marking their most in a half versus a Big Ten opponent since they scored 35 in the second half of a 54-40 win at Michigan State on Oct. 15, 2016.
POWER VS. POWER -- Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald is 13-4 overall versus Power-5 non-conference opponents and the Wildcats have won five of their last six.
More notes are available in the full 'Game Notes' packet at the top of the page.
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