By Woodrow Carroll
While few are predicting a major breakthrough for the Northwestern football program, one has to admit that the Wildcats have performed better than expected by most to this point.
With a 19-0 road victory at Purdue last Saturday, Northwestern upped its season record to 5-2. Five victories in six outings for a team that opened the season with a 23-3 loss at Tulane. The conquest of the Purdue Boilermakers also raised Northwestern’s Big Ten record to 3-1.
After falling 34-14 to Oregon, Northwestern deafeted UCLA, Louisiana-Monroe, Penn State, and Purdue. Northwestern’s 22-21 victory at Penn State was a big shocker and, to many, hastened the departure of Penn State coach, James Franklin.
We may get the chance to see if Northwestern is for real Saturday, Oct. 25 when the Wildcats play at Nebraska. The 11 a.m. game will pit the two Big Ten foes with 5-2 records. Plus, Northwestern will be going up against a team coming off an ugly 24-6 loss to Minnesota. Despite similar records, Northwestern is a distinct underdog which tells us something as to how Wildcats’ football is viewed at the present time.
Although lightly discussed at the moment, Northwestern’s quest for a bowl berth is out there. After falling to Tulane in the season opener, the Wildcat’s prospects of playing a 13th contest (a bowl game) this season didn’t look all that great. However, victories over the likes of UCLA and Penn State have changed that. That four-game winning streak looks good. But, the schedule ahead for Northwestern is a formidable challenge.
•Just like Northwestern, Illinois football is 5-2 at the moment. Expectation, however, in Champaign are far different than what is expected in Evanston.
The Fighting Illini have been seeking a degree of recognition all season long. The big problem has been Illinois’ faltering at the wrong moment. The spotlight was on Illinois when the Orange-and-Blue squared off against Indiana and Ohio State. Both games went south rather quickly. A 5-2 record looks respectable, yet, double digit losses when in the spotlight doesn’t go over.
Illinois will open this week at No. 23 in one poll. Ideally, and this applies to most FBS programs, a ranking in the Top 12 is where the team wants to be, with there being 12 playoff spots.
Illinois will play at Washington Saturday, Oct. 25 at 2:30 p.m.. The Washington Huskies are 5-2 overall and have playoff visions of their own. Washington lost at home earlier in the season to Ohio State and were on the short end of a 24-7 score last Saturday at Michigan. For Illinois, a victory over a team like Washington on the road is just what the program needs.
If a 5-2 overall record excites you, welcome to the Big Ten. Along with Illinois, Northwestern, and Washington, the likes of Southern California, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska also stand 5-2 overall. Getting off to a fast start is often predicated on scheduling. Illinois, for instance, played non-conference games with Western Illinois and Western Michigan. Games that Illinois figured to win and did! For the record, Northwestern also had Western Illinois on the schedule and won.
•The past two seasons Northern Illinois has posted 7-6 and 8-5 records. No MAC Championships, but winning seasons with bowl game victories, thrown in for good measure. Rest assured, there will be no bowl appearance for the NIU Huskies this time around.
In a contest that found Northern Illinois thoroughly dominated, NIU dropped a 48-21 affair at Ohio University last Saturday. Northern was down 21-0 early in the second quarter and well on the way to falling 0-3 in the school’s final season in the MAC.
After a season-opening 19-17 victory over Holy Cross, Northern has lost six straight. The Huskies will host Ball State, 2:30 p.m., this Saturday seeking to put an end to their losing streak.