While Northwestern’s first four games were riddled with offensive inconsistencies and miscues, the defense more than held up its end of the bargain during its opening month. Under first-year defense coordinator Tim McGarigle, the defense embodied a “bend, don’t break” mentality, which kept coach David Braun’s squad in contention each time it stepped on the field.
Facing No. 23 Indiana Saturday afternoon in Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, the unit encountered an electrifying offense led by sixth-year signal caller Kurtis Rourke.
During his Monday press conference, Braun called Rourke the “most impressive” passer he’d seen in film all season. The 6-foot-5 gunslinger came into Evanston fresh off a 359-yard, three-touchdown performance in a victory over Maryland.
Although the Wildcats (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) put up their most impressive offensive display against FBS competition, the Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) became NU’s defensive kryptonite, amassing 529 total yards in a 41-24 defeat. With the result, Braun suffered his first back-to-back losses as a head coach.
“Very disappointed in the result,” Braun said. “(I’m) disappointed that we weren’t able to get some critical stops on the defensive side of the ball and give our offense an opportunity.”
Indiana entered the game averaging 48.8 points per game, having eclipsed the 40-point mark in four straight games. With the visitors finding flashes of momentum from the opening kickoff, coach Curt Cignetti’s offense looked primed for early fireworks in enemy territory.
But redshirt junior linebacker Mac Uihlein tackled Indiana wide receiver Miles Cross behind the line to gain on a fourth and two, forcing a turnover-on-downs. Uihlein recorded four of his co-team-high eight total tackles on the first Hoosier possession.
Redshirt sophomore defensive end Anto Saka nearly recorded a sack on the ensuing defensive drive, but his third down tackle ended another Indiana drive with a punt.
Through the initial five minutes, the ’Cats appeared to have the Hoosiers’ number defensively, while redshirt sophomore quarterback Jack Lausch and the offense struggled to find any traction.
However, the script swiftly flipped. Lausch played turnover-free football, tossing two touchdowns and accumulating 277 total yards. Meanwhile, a defense rooted in NU’s identity spiraled into its undoing.
“Guys are going to feel it tonight, as you should as competitors,” Lausch said of the defeat.
The ’Cats’ young secondary struggled to corral the visiting receiving corps, with wide receiver Elijah Sarratt hauling in seven catches for a game-high 135 yards, Ke’Shawn Williams recording 87 yards and a touchdown and Cross acrobatically adjusting for a red-zone score of his own.
The hosts failed to record a sack for the first time this season, and Rourke often operated within a squeaky clean pocket.
Rourke led Indiana to seven consecutive scoring drives, meaning an NU offense ill-fit for a shootout consistently played catchup. The Oakville, Ontario, native completed 25-of-33 passes for 380 yards and three touchdown passes. His passing total marked a season high surrendered by the NU defense — as well as his most productive output as a Hoosier.
“We talked about finding ways to disrupt this quarterback,” Braun said. “We weren’t able to do that. He was very comfortable in the RPO game, very comfortable with the pictures he was seeing (and) able to really make decisions on … the RPO pre-snap. Against a good RPO team, you’ve got to force that gut to process post-snap.”
The Hoosiers gashed the ’Cats through the air and on the ground, averaging 7.8 yards per play and 4.3 yards per carry.
Braun said the defense overcommitted on the run in the RPO game, paying the price in pass coverage.
“(We’ve) got to take ownership and got to get better,” Braun said. “At the end of the day, we’ll always pride ourselves on stopping the run here at Northwestern. Indiana, to their credit, was very balanced today.”
NU has little time to sulk in the defeat with a short week ahead of Friday night’s matchup at Maryland.
The game pits the ’Cats against another potentially lethal quarterback-wideout combination, with Terrapin quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and wide receiver Tai Felton taking significant strides in 2024. Running back Roman Hemby also packs game-breaking potential.
“You can’t look at what happened today and not look at it candidly and say, ‘We got a lot of work to do,’” Braun said.
Email: [email protected]
X: @jakeepste1n
Related Stories:
— Rapid Recap: No. 23 Indiana 41, Northwestern 24
— Football: Luke Akers thrives in return to Northwestern’s starting punter job
— Football: Northwestern’s Jaylen Pate finds fuel in his process, strives for consistency
