Northwestern

[Jssanto]

If I am reading some of these NCAA stats correctly, NW is pretty good.
10th in rushing defense
16th in red zone defense
17th in passing yards gained.
Better than I thought. We beat Maryland but there #1 WR (10) was out most of the second half. Can’t take anything for granted here.

 

[76-1]

If I am reading some of these NCAA stats correctly, NW is pretty good.
10th in rushing defense
16th in red zone defense
17th in passing yards gained.
Better than I thought. We beat Maryland but there #1 WR (10) was out most of the second half. Can’t take anything for granted here.

No (we can't take anything for granted up there).

They've always been tough to beat up at their place...

The good news is the 8 inch grass field with the Mount Everest type crown running down the middle of it is gone... This one looks like a Billard table in comparison...

They do still have the intermittent swirling winds coming off Lake Michigan though so there's that...

There won't be any crowd energy for our guys to feed off of up there... This one is closer to playing an Away high school game (in terms of crowd energy)...

It'll be another great Test of "Welcome to the Big Ten Football" for our TEAM, in my opinion...; an opponent you're favored against, at their place, whose turning around their entire season hinges on their winning this game... I expect to see everything, plus the old stadium kitchen sink, thrown at us...

The Big Ten is much like the NFL in that on any given day anyone can beat you if you're not at the the top of your game...

 

[TomEric4756]

https://static.iuhoosiers.com/custompages/pdf/fb/2024/24-10-05-Notes_Northwestern.pdf

Yes the Game notes has a complete rundown on page 3

Indiana Category Northwestern
AVG Rank Category Rank AVG
513.0 9 Total Offense 123 294.5
210.6 23 Rushing Offense 95 136.0
274.4 22 Passing Yards Gained 117 118.0
48.8 3 Scoring Offense 122 17.3
239.6 8 Total Defense 31 302.0,
82.0 12 Rushing Defense 10 79.3
157.6 22 Passing Yards Allowed 83 222.8
13.0 13 Scoring Defense 23 15.8
0.60 40 Turnover Margin 66 0.00
.574 3 3rd Down Conversion Pct 126 .275
.500 72 4th Down Conversion Pct 109 .400
.900 43 Red Zone Offense 120 .692
1.000 117 Red Zone Defense 16 .692
138 2 First Downs Gained 114 73
69 24 First Downs Allowed 26 70
6.40 71 Fewest Penalties Per Game 40 5.25
31:57 28 Time of Possession 58 30:30
92.4 4 PFF Offensive Grade 151 68.1
91.1 11 PFF Defensive Grade 67 83.1
84.5 45 PFF Special Teams Grade 108 77.2

 

[TomEric4756]

The Big Ten is much like the NFL in that on any given day anyone can beat you if you're not at the the top of your game...

And Michigan narrowly avoided 2 home losses already this season.

 

[IUNorth]

And Michigan narrowly avoided 2 home losses already this season.

I'll be genuinely disappointed with a loss on Saturday. But obviously, there isn't such thing as a "devastating" road loss in the B10, for a program like IU's.

I think more than anything, a loss at NW would just reign in the current lofty thoughts that we might push for one of the 12 playoff positions.

Right now, we just don't know if those thoughts are way too optimistic or not...maybe we are that good? Maybe we aren't?

I think if we win our next 2 games, Playoff contention becomes a very real conversation. It'd be a bummer to lose one or both of them, and have to erase the fantasy from our heads. But the reality would still be really, really awesome.

 

[IndyResident16]

IU is a 2 TD favorite for a reason. Would be a massive disappointment if they were to lose to this version of Northwestern.

 

[76-1]

IU is a 2 TD favorite for a reason. Would be a massive disappointment if they were to lose to this version of Northwestern.

I think we'll find a way to win but I wouldn't be at all surprised if getting that W isn't a lot more difficult than any of us expect it to be...

I'm hoping our TEAM hasn't nibbled on all "the rat poison" that's been shoved under their nose this week because if they go out there on Saturday expecting just to show up for the win we'll be in for a loooonggg day.....

 

[IUgradman]

I think we'll find a way to win but I wouldn't be at all surprised if getting that W isn't a lot more difficult than any of us expect it to be...

I'm hoping our TEAM hasn't nibbled on all "the rat poison" that's been shoved under their nose this week because if they go out there on Saturday expecting just to show up for the win we'll be in for a loooonggg day.....

I don’t think Cignetti will let that happen.

 

[mobilehoosier]

I think we have a team build on fundamentals. Like an actual foundation. Because of that, I don't think we will see traditional IU meltdowns like we are all used to. The carpet bagger coaches always sell BS. Cig isn't selling BS. I've not experienced this too much. Mallory had things going for a minute. Digging having a fundamentally sound football team.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

The key is to look only at the opponent directly in front of you and act like it’s the SuperBowl. Block out everything beyond that. Cig appears to be able to do that so far. Trap games are entirely built around better teams looking at the game after.

 

[Hoosier Hacker]

If I am reading some of these NCAA stats correctly, NW is pretty good.
10th in rushing defense
16th in red zone defense
17th in passing yards gained.
Better than I thought. We beat Maryland but there #1 WR (10) was out most of the second half. Can’t take anything for granted here.

We were beating Maryland like a drum by the time their best WR went out, to be clear, even after our spate of uncharacteristic turnovers early. Not saying the NW game on the road will be a layup, but we are more than capable of doing the same to them.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

We were beating Maryland like a drum by the time their best WR went out, to be clear, even after our spate of uncharacteristic turnovers early. Not saying the NW game on the road will be a layup, but we are more than capable of doing the same to them.

I think by Cignetti’s comments, he is looking for this team to put the pedal all the way down. He said about the Maryland game that he was disappointed because “we had a chance to make a statement there at the end.” I think he was talking about the defense giving up the TD when up 42-21.

 

[vesuvius13]

I think by Cignetti’s comments, he is looking for this team to put the pedal all the way down. He said about the Maryland game that he was disappointed because “we had a chance to make a statement there at the end.” I think he was talking about the defense giving up the TD when up 42-21.

Coach Cignetti wants IU to play their best and offers no excuses if they don't. Despite the final beatdown IU didn't play their best against MD, that needs to stop happening. Coach knows what it takes to win the rest of the games and he is pushing them to play that well.

 

[Hoosier Clarion]

Coach Cignetti wants IU to play their best and offers no excuses if they don't. Despite the final beatdown IU didn't play their best against MD, that needs to stop happening. Coach knows what it takes to win the rest of the games and he is pushing them to play that well.

No way to say it better. He is driven to drive his program into the same conviction he holds.
Cassius Clay shocked the world. Cignetti is just beginning his shock treatment onto the B1G.
LUV it.

 

[bang63]

No way to say it better. He is driven to drive his program into the same conviction he holds.
Cassius Clay shocked the world. Cignetti is just beginning his shock treatment onto the B1G.
LUV it.

Clay shocked the world when Liston found the canvas without getting hit. I think Cignetti will do it legitimately.

 

[76-1]

I'm (hopefully) going to enjoy watching our Offensive Line take its next step towards becoming a very good one by how they deal with Northwestern's games, blitzes and flat out bull rushes up front...

This should be a great test for them and what they learn from it might really help them throughout the rest of the Big Ten schedule...

 

[MyTeamIsOnTheFloor]

I have a calm confidence - as Mark Twain said “Like a Christian - with 2 Aces in the hole.”

I cannot remember any Indiana team that was this effective this long on both sides of the ball.

The “cattywumpus” chug-chug flubs of the recent past - where we might dodge a 1AA bullet then beat a Top 20 - are forgotten.

We went out west to an old stadium and whipped somebody’s azx. Then romped on an athletic Maryland.

And we are getting better.

As we used to say - “hot damn”

 

[mushroomgod_1]

If I am reading some of these NCAA stats correctly, NW is pretty good.
10th in rushing defense
16th in red zone defense
17th in passing yards gained.
Better than I thought. We beat Maryland but there #1 WR (10) was out most of the second half. Can’t take anything for granted here.

Northwestern being really bad is 75% on the QBing. If their QB/QBs play well it will be a tough game. I don't expect them to play well....but Its happened before to IU.....Maryland at home 2 years ago, ILL on the road last year are a couple of examples.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

Northwestern being really bad is 75% on the QBing. If their QB/QBs play well it will be a tough game. I don't expect them to play well....but Its happened before to IU.....Maryland at home 2 years ago, ILL on the road last year are a couple of examples.

This is why Lausch needs to see a lot of pressure tomorrow. We did it well against Maryland. Hoping for the same tomorrow.

 

[76-1]

Game Day Primer:

IU football game day: Indiana at Northwestern primer and prediction

Indiana arrives at Northwestern Saturday as one of the biggest stories in college football. But they’ll play in a city where they haven’t won since 1993 — eight straight road loss…

www.thedailyhoosier.com

Hopefully it'll be a good one without injuries that we come out on top in...

 

[red hornet]

Interesting Stat: Kurtis Rourke is 11th in the Big 10 in passing attempts but 1st in passing touchdowns, tied with 2 other QB's.

 

[MyTeamIsOnTheFloor]

Interesting Stat: Kurtis Rourke is 11th in the Big 10 in passing attempts but 1st in passing touchdowns, tied with 2 other QB's.

He makes decisions as quickly as Penix, and throws a catchable ball on the money

Right now, we have a fully-working 3 headed pass/receive/rush hydra. Open people. Ball delivery. Catches. Holes for running and guys getting yards. Until somebody slows down a part of that, we’re gonna steamroll.