Week 4: Ohio at Northwestern

Ohio (0-3, 0-1 MAC) vs. Northwestern (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Saturday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m. CT
Ryan Field, Evanston, Ill.
 
The Wildcats have fattened up and bolstered their oft-deflated confidence by feasting on three undermanned opponents to start the season, and Ohio will likely become the fourth, although the Bobcats have the ability to muster more of a competitive posture than the likes of Syracuse, Duke or I-AA Southern Illinois have.

Northwestern’s offense has its punch back with a healthy Tyrell Sutton at tailback and the well-seasoned C.J. Bacher at quarterback. Sutton’s three scores and 100-plus rushing yards last week amount to just another day at the office, while Bacher’s crisp 21 of 29 passing day for 184 yards could likely be repeated against the Bobcats.

Ohio might have bitten off a tad more than it can chew with its pre-MAC scheduling, but this team gave high and mighty Ohio State a pretty good spooking a couple of weeks ago, leading the Buckeyes at the half before losing 26-14. In fact, the Bobcats have led all three games at the half, and ended up losing them.
 
But Ohio will bring a suddenly super-charged offense to the shores of Lake Michigan, led by junior quarterback Boo Jackson, who got pressed into service in the Ohio State game when starter Theo Scott was injured. Jackson posted a school single-game record 413 yards of total offense in Saturday’s loss to Central Michigan.

Ohio might not have the depth and punch to match Northwestern’s, but the Wildcats won’t likely have an easy time with what has to be one of the nation’s better 0-3 teams.

Notes:
 
Northwestern showed its foul-weather offense in the win over Southern Illinois, scoring 27 unanswered points despite playing through a steady rain that closed a nearby highway and flooded streets near Ryan Field.

Northwestern defensive end Corey Wootton had two of the Wildcats’ five sacks and three of its 12 tackles for a loss in the win over Southern Illinois.

Ohio redshirt freshman Donte Harden’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the loss to Wyoming got attention around the country.

Northwestern redshirt freshman Jacob Schmidt blocked a Southern Illinois punt that put the Wildcats in business at the Salukis' 10 yard line.

The Bobcats finished with 513 yards of total offense in the loss to Central Michigan, the 10th-best single-game performance in school history.

Key Player (Bobcats) — Franshaw “Boo” Jackson, QB

The Californian was standing on the sideline at Ohio State a couple weeks ago, sending signals in to starter Theo Scott. When Scott got injured in that game with the Buckeyes, Jackson was pressed into service, and has quickly settled into the role. He had an Ohio record 413 yards of offense in his first start.

Key Player (Wildcats) — Tyrell Sutton, TB

The senior from Akron shares the same hometown as Ohio State workhorse Beanie Wells, and the same importance to the offense. With a healthy Sutton, Northwestern has balance. With him missing the first four Big Ten games last season due to injury, and most of three others, the Wildcats limped along.

Northwestern by 12

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