No. 25 Northwestern heads into its game at No. 10 Ohio State riding wave of two big wins.
One was last week’s 28-27, last-minute win against Iowa, one that clinched bowl eligibility for the Wildcats (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten). The other: Last year’s 33-27 overtime win against the then-No. 5 Buckeyes, the Cats’ first win against Ohio State in 33 years.
But to NU coach Randy Walker and his players, all of that is water under the bridge.
“We have a huge task at hand this week,” Walker said of the Buckeyes (7-2, 5-1), who have won four straight games and scored at least 35 points in all of them. “Ohio State’s a very good football team. (They have) a lot of familiar names, a lot of names that we played against last year. The only problem with that is they’re certainly one year bigger, faster, stronger, better.”
One name with whom the Cats are not familiar is quarterback Troy Smith, who did not play in last year’s contest. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel opted for the now-benched Justin Zwick instead. Walker credits Smith for the Buckeyes’ recent offensive surge.
Smith has completed 96 of 160 passes for 1,563 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. Smith also has run 101 times for 433 yards and eight touchdowns.
Running back Antonio Pittman also has emerged in the Buckeyes’ offense, often thought to be the weaker side of the ball. Caught in light controversy over the success of NU freshman running back Tyrell Sutton, an Ohio native who went unrecruited by Ohio State, Pittman has rushed for 978 yards on 181 carries.
And then there’s the defense.
“They’re very impressive on that side of ball,” Walker said. “They run to the football extremely well, they are big and physical.”
The Buckeyes are seventh in the nation in total defense and eighth in scoring defense.
Three of the Big Ten’s top four sack leaders play for Ohio State. Linebacker Bobby Carpenter has eight, and Butkus award finalist A.J. Hawk and defensive end Mike Kudla each have six and a half.
“And, if that’s not enough, they probably have the most electric special teams play in the country,” Walker said. “They have guys that can make plays out of nothing and are tremendous in space.”
Walker knows from experience. In the first half of last year’s game Santonio Holmes returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown.
Since, electric wide receiver and returner Ted Ginn Jr. has outshined Holmes.
Ginn averages 12.1 yards per punt return and 30.1 yards per kickoff return this season, and has returned a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown.
The Cats, meanwhile are looking to improve their bowl position – and make it two in a row against Ohio State after a long drought.
“They have really a complete package,” Walker said. “We’re going to have to execute real well.”