Northwestern's Offense Erupts in 45-14 Win Over Ball State

By: Charlie Spungin, NUSports.com

For the first time since 2019, Northwestern’s offense produced at least 45 points and over 400 yards of total offense.

After the Wildcats’ 45-14 victory over Ball State, Northwestern’s offense is averaging 35.4 points per game, tied for the second-most across the first five games of a season in program history. Between the arrival of Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly and the bevy of playmakers at fourth-year quarterback Aidan Chiles’ disposal, the Wildcat offense has developed a formidable formula.

“The way we line up formationally obviously challenges a defense,” fourth-year Griffin Wilde said. “The number of productive guys that we have on this team — Drew Wagner in the endzone, Joe Himon, explosive as always, Alex Honig, Luke Dehnicke. The amount of options that we have to go to just creates so much explosiveness for this offense.”

Chiles completed 73.9% of his passes (17-of-23) for 272 passing yards and three touchdowns, while also scoring a rushing touchdown for the fifth consecutive game. The Long Beach, California, native became the first Wildcat quarterback to record a 70+ completion percentage, 250+ passing yards, 3+ passing touchdowns and 1+ rushing touchdown since Clayton Thorson in 2018.

For Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun, what has made the Northwestern offense a force is the diverse ways that it can attack an opponent.

“There’s a lot of balance,” Braun said. “We’ve seen it show up in so many ways over the course of the season. There’s balance. Aidan’s ability, when things break down, to extend plays with his feet is a critical piece of what we’re doing. You don’t necessarily want that, but not everything’s perfect. That’s really hard to defend.”

While the Wildcats dominated Penn State, 34-13, last week by rushing for 413 yards and operating out of the Wing-T, Northwestern’s victory over the Cardinals featured much more spread formation with Chiles at the center of the offense.

Chiles’ favorite target on the day was Wilde, who logged eight receptions, 144 receiving yards — the most of his Northwestern career, and one receiving touchdown. His 144 receiving yards marked the most by a Wildcat since Bryce Kirtz’s 215-yard explosion against Minnesota in 2023.

“He prepares as well as anyone in the country,” Braun said of Wilde. “Where he differentiates himself [is] with those competitive catches. When Griff’s involved in that, you have an incredibly high trust level he’s coming down with it.”

Beyond Wilde, other Wildcats pass-catchers starred in what Chiles called the “equal opportunity offense.” Third-year wide receiver Drew Wagner hauled in four receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown, while sixth-year tight end Alex Honig had 48 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown on a pair of catches.

Honig’s touchdown came on a spectacular 32-yard catch after Chiles scrambled out of the pocket to find the tight end.

“Aidan made a heck-of-a-play coming out of the pocket, creating time, and seeing me down the field,” Honig said. “It’s always fun having a guy that, no matter what happens up front or what happens during the play, you always got to be ready for the ball to come your way. That’s what happened. Then, just training sets in. See ball, get ball. That’s really all that was.”

The Wildcats quickly jumped out to a lead over Ball State, scoring 31 first-half points, the program’s most in a first half since 2018. Northwestern has tallied 88 points over the past two weeks, the most over a two-game span since 2016.

Honig said the Wildcats underwent a short adjustment period early in spring ball to get used to Kelly’s scheme. Since mastering it, the Northwestern offense has attacked opposing defenses in various ways.

“We just want to make it harder for defenses,” Chiles said. “It’s nothing too complex for us, but it’s hard for defense to see all the movement.”

Fourth-year kicker Jackson Kleather has been a key contributor to the Wildcat offense early in the season. Kleather drilled a 52-yard kick, the second-longest in program history, and went 6-of-6 on PATs in the victory over the Cardinals. Braun said that having a kicker of this elite caliber is key given how thin the margins are in the Big Ten.

Northwestern’s 45 points tied for the most in the Braun era, but the Wildcats offense left Ryan Field unsatisfied. They felt that they left points on the table.

“Those guys are coming off frustrated,” Braun said. “They know that they can play better, but when you know you can play better and you score 45 points, that’s a good thing.”