Ohio State is off to Indianapolis to defend its Big Ten Championship title and will be attempting to win four-straight. It’ll be facing a familiar foe, the Northwestern Wildcats who met the Buckeyes in the 2018 game.
If you’re a Big Ten fan, you know a little about these Wildcats, but with such a wacky year, and with Pat Fitzgerald getting this crew off the mat after a very disappointing 2019 campaign, there are some things you probably don’t know.
We started a new segment here that goes along with our scouting of the opposition, where we look at five interesting things as well. It’s always good to know a little about the opponent, so here are five things to know about Northwestern in 2020 as we get ready for all the fun in the Crossroads of America.
NEXT … A familiar name at quarterback
Remember Peyton Ramsey?
Peyton Ramsey cementing himself as the greatest QB in the state of Illinois, Bears included 😂
Heisman watch? @spreadoption_ @thesportsontap pic.twitter.com/LAOhj8ZqSn
— Sports ON Tap Chicago (@SONTChicago) December 12, 2020
Those of you that remember Indiana teams from the most recent of years will remember a guy by the name of Peyton Ramsey slinging the ball around pretty good in Bloomington. Well, once he saw the writing on the wall with Michael Penix, Jr., taking over under center, he decided it was best to move on from the Hoosiers.
He did so in a bit of a Cloak and Dagger move, finding his way to Northwestern during the pandemic and earned the starting nod in Evanston. He’s been really good for the Wildcats, adding a big arm and an ability to push the ball down the field. He hasn’t been otherworldly, but he’s at least turned a horrid 2019 offense into one that can move the ball in 2020.
NEXT … The defense has been really good
This might be the best defense Ohio State has faced
No good!
Defense protects the short field. 💪#GoCats pic.twitter.com/4PcCzCD73J
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) December 12, 2020
Indiana’s defense got after it with a lot of blitzing and down-hill attacking, but Northwestern’s defense has been statistically better. Only Wisconsin and Iowa are giving up fewer yards per game, and there are exactly zero teams giving up less points per contest.
It’s all because of how well-schooled the Wildcats are. There is a scheme the coaching staff believes in and the team operates it to a T. It’s not one that’s going to come after you and force into mistakes, but it will keep everything in front, be tough on the run, and make you be patient down the field.
For a quick-strike offense like Ohio State, it’ll test the resolve and patience.
NEXT … It’s running back by committee for Northwestern
The Wildcats rotate fresh bodies in at running back
Wham bam, thank you Cam!
NU's true freshman running back is making his case for getting playing time — if not the starting job — in the Big Ten Championship Game.
NU: 21
Illinois: 3 https://t.co/37Coe1gxLq— Northwestern NYC (@NorthwesternNYC) December 12, 2020
It’s unlikely this is going to be a shootout with laser beams and fireworks through the air. Northwestern will look to play ball-control offense and grind things out on the ground.
To do that, it won’t be just one guy. Ohio State native Isaiah Bowser is back and getting carries, but he’s not the only one the coaching staff will use. Instead, Northwestern will use a one-two punch with Bowser and Drake Anderson, and will even rotate Evan Hull and Cam Porter in from time to time. Some of it has been because of injury, but they seem to all produce, so look for that to be the modus operandi Saturday.
It’s all designed to lean on the defensive line and wear teams out. That might be harder to do against the deep and talented front four Ohio State has, but that’s what Northwestern believes its identity is and likely the key to keeping this one close and stealing it at the end.
NEXT … The passing defense has only given up about one TD per game
Ohio State will be tested trying to move the ball through the air
It will be strength versus strength when Ohio State's Justin Fields lines up against the Northwestern defense on Saturday afternoon pic.twitter.com/oRCSmUbdou
— CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) December 15, 2020
Northwestern has one whale of a passing defense. Wisconsin may be giving up fewer yards per game, but the Wildcats only allow on average one passing touchdown per contest and have intercepted a whopping 12 passes in an abbreviated 2020.
We all know how Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields likes to utilize the dynamic duo of Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, but that might be a little harder in this one. The underneath stuff will be available, but they’ll have to then make plays in space and find a way to wiggle free to the endzone when the field shrinks down in the red zone.
It’ll be interesting to see how strength against strength plays out in this one.
NEXT … The Northwestern offense hasn’t exactly been setting records in 2020
The Wildcats’ offense can be pretty one-dimensional
The missed field was big. A 9 point lead in a game like this would be a pretty big mountain for Northwestern to climb. Without Bowser, this Wildcat offense doesn't have much.
— Sean Callahan (@Sean_Callahan) November 7, 2020
I know, I know, we already talked about what a difference quarterback Peyton Ramsey has meant to this team, but it’s not for how he’s been dropping dimes all over the field. The coaching staff doesn’t ask that of him, instead letting him manage the game and then sprinkling in situational throws to keep the defense honest.
If we’re being honest here, Northwestern’s offense can be very much one-dimensional with little thought to the passing game. It’s there for sure, and Fitzgerald may have to open it up a little bit more in this one, but if you can stop the running game, there’s a good chance you’re going to slow down an attack that’s only averaging 25.3 points per game and just over 350 yards of total offense per contest.
That type of game management should be right in the wheelhouse of an Ohio State squad that has been really good at stopping the run, but we’ll just have to see how it all plays out.
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