Northwestern grabbed a potentially season-defining victory at Penn State on Saturday, but for coach David Braun and his squad, there is no time to dwell on it.
The Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) are right back in action this Saturday against Purdue in their final game at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium before playing the remaining home games at Wrigley Field.
“You can squeeze that enjoyment into that evening,” Braun said Monday, referring to his team’s recent upset victory in Happy Valley. “But man, if you are not onto the next step when you’re in the midst of a Big Ten schedule, you’re exposing yourself to a letdown, and in this league, there can’t be any letdowns.”
Facing a Boilermaker (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten) team that has lost four consecutive games, NU will look to surpass its 2024 win total by securing a fifth victory Saturday.
Here are three storylines to monitor ahead of Saturday’s home matchup.
Penn State aftermath
Even though NU operated at a high level to leave the raucous Beaver Stadium with a win, according to Braun, there is still work to be done ahead of the matchup with the Boilermakers.
“When you are objective, looking at the film, there are some glaring issues that we need to get resolved right now,” the third-year coach said.
Braun cited the blocked and muffed punts that killed momentum early in the contest against the Nittany Lions. Ultimately, though, the Nittany Lions suffered the toughest blow.
After the loss, Penn State parted ways with longtime coach James Franklin. With the success Franklin had over 11-plus seasons with the program, Braun called the move “shocking.” Braun also referenced the other coaches, family, support staff and players impacted by the news.
On the other hand, the ’Cats had a pleasant time following Saturday’s wins. Having moments of celebration with players and staff in the locker room, getting back on the bus and boarding the plane all stand out to Braun as notable memories.
“There’s something really special about going on the road in the Big Ten and finding a way to come home with a win,” Braun said. “You’ll cherish those because they are relationship-driven. You’ll cherish those moments for life.”
But now, NU is onto Purdue.
Honoring 1995 Rose Bowl Team
2025 marks 30 years since the famed 1995 Wildcat squad forged an improbable trip to the Rose Bowl.
This Saturday, the ’Cats will celebrate what Braun called one of the most iconic teams in the history of college football. NU will don new, black throwback uniforms, reminiscent of those worn at the Rose Bowl.
“(It’s an) opportunity to honor an incredible coach, an incredible group of players, incredible group of coaches,” Braun said.
Braun said Monday that some of the best programs he has been a part of have reverence for what came before them. Recently, Braun’s respect for coach Gary Barnett, who led the 1995 Rose Bowl team, has been evident.
Along with invoking Barnett’s “expect victory” phrase, a morale-boosting exercise of the former NU skipper that Braun said he learned through Joel Klatt helped the squad get back on track after the loss to Oregon.
Braun said that, at the beginning of every season, Barnett went through an exercise of encouraging his team to think about “who are we, where are we going and how are we going to get there.” Over the post-Oregon bye week, the program went through that same exercise.
The ’Cats haven’t lost a game since.
Braun and his squad’s energy is turned towards properly paying tribute to the 1995 team that came before them.
Keys to Purdue matchup
One of the most reliable traits of NU’s offense this season has been the rushing game. The ’Cats average more rushing yards per game than passing yards.
This week, they will face a Purdue squad coming off a dominant performance in stopping the run. In their loss to Minnesota, the Boilermakers held the Golden Gophers to just 30 total rushing yards.
Minnesota averages 112.3 yards per game on the ground.
Braun said Purdue “presents a lot of problems” as a well-coached team with good personnel, which extends to the offense.
“Offensively, they are going to tempo you,” Braun said. “Very talented on the perimeter. Quarterback is a competitor, does a good job in the pass game, extends plays and can be utilized in the quarterback run game.”
Even with their assets, the Boilermakers have not been able to put it together in conference play. Through this point in the season, Purdue has Big Ten losses to Minnesota, Illinois and USC.
Though the results haven’t been pretty, Purdue has shown its ability to put points on the board against these teams, especially if factoring in the 30-point performance against then-No. 21 Notre Dame.
Email: [email protected]
X: @adub_sports
Related Stories:
— Football: Northwestern prevails in 22-21 upset win at Penn State
— Rapid Recap: Northwestern 22, Penn State 21
— Boyko: Northwestern football’s offensive line protects the prize
