After back-to-back road games, the Indiana Hoosiers return to Bloomington for a week 10 matchup under the lights against the Northwestern Wildcats. The Hoosiers are currently on a three-game winning streak after defeating Rutgers, Maryland, and Nebraska, achieving six wins for bowl eligibility in the process. Indiana and Northwestern meet for the first time since 2016 and for the first time in Bloomington since 2010. The Wildcats hold the overall series lead with the Hoosiers 47-34-1, dating back to 1899.
How to Watch: Indiana Hoosiers versus Northwestern Wildcats
Who | Week 10: Indiana Hoosiers versus Northwestern Wildcats |
When | 7 PM ET / Saturday November 2nd, 2019 |
Where | Memorial Stadium – Bloomington, Ind. |
Tickets | Find the Lowest Ticket Prices on SeatGeek |
Watch | FS1 (Fox Sports One) |
Stats | Live Stats |
Listen | IU Radio Network |
Spread | Indiana -9.0 / Over-Under: 43.5 |
You can find the latest 2019 Indiana Football schedule (printable) here.
Meet the Wildcats
Northwestern (1-6, 0-5 Big Ten) comes into the contest losers of five straight. Their last victory came back on Sept. 14, defeating UNLV, 30-14. The reigning Big Ten West champions currently sit in last place in their division, a game behind the Purdue Boilermakers.
Reigning Big Ten Coach of the Year Pat Fitzgerald, who is in his 14th season, leads the Wildcats into Bloomington. Fitzgerald holds a 97-76 overall record and sports a 6-1 record against Indiana, with his team winning the previous five matchups against the Hoosiers.
The Wildcats enter this weekend’s game with only one win on the season, but they have kept games close this season with the lone exception being a 52-3 blowout against Ohio State. According to Sagarin, they have played the toughest schedule in the country. Fitgerald’s team holds a -13.7 points differential per game and have played teams like Wisconsin and Nebraska close, but have not finished the close contests with a victory.
Get to Know the Northwestern Wildcats
Key Offensive Players
Northwestern ranks 129th overall for total offense in the FBS, just one spot above last place Old Dominion. The Wildcats’ offense averages just 10.7 points, which ranks dead last, 130th. Junior quarterback and Fort Wayne native Aidan Smith (Carroll HS) leads the charge for Northwestern’s offense. This season, Smith has thrown for 453 yards, one TD, and six INTs at a 47.8% clip in three starts. In five appearances this season, Smith has thrown for over 100 yards in a game just twice, against Nebraska and Iowa.
There is balance in the Wildcats offense, as the yards per game are almost equal at 140.4 passing and 126.0 rushing. Redshirt freshman Drake Anderson paces the run game for coordinator Mike McCall’s offense, with 92 carries for 436 yards and two touchdowns. His longest run of 31 yards came in Madison against the vaunted Badgers defense. In five games of action, Anderson’s highest production came back in September against Michigan State, when he ran for 91 yards on 17 carries and scored.
Junior wide receiver Riley Lees has grabbed a team-high 23 receptions for 156 yards, one higher than developing sophomore teammate JJ Jefferson. However, Lees’ production has declined in recent weeks, with just four receptions for a total of 17 yards against Ohio State and Iowa.