All times CENTRAL, and all games played on Saturday, November 5. Rankings come from the CFP poll. All games nationally televised unless otherwise indicated.

First, the NU game:

#2 Ohio State @ Northwestern
11:00 AM, ABC
PxP: Sean McDonough
Color: Todd Blackledge

And the rest:

Minnesota @ Nebraska
11:00 AM, ESPN2
PxP: Anish Shroff
Color: Brock Osweiler

Maryland @ Wisconsin
11:00 AM, BTN
PxP: Jeff Levering
Color: Anthony Herron

Iowa @ Purdue
11:00 AM, FS1
PxP: Eric Collins
Color: Devin Gardner

#15 Penn State @ Indiana
2:30 PM, ABC
PxP: Bob Wischusen
Color: Dan Orlovsky

Michigan State @ #16 Illinois
2:30 PM, BTN
PxP: Cory Provus
Color: Matt Millen

#5 Michigan @ Rutgers
6:30 PM, BTN
PxP: Brandon Gaudin
Color: Jake Butt

Anyone know how recruits are identified and whether that responsibility falls on director of recruiting or they have another process? I like Fitz and think he is a good man and a great role model for our program. However, one of the many things Fitz has struggled with is identifying talent. QB recruiting has been disaster under his watch with the exception of Thorson. I feel that Walker's regime was either better at identifying people or better at coaching them up. We have amazing facilities, yet the talent is not there.

Okay, let's talk about what we can legitimately hope for on Saturday. What would be a moral victory? Save your "Hur, hur, hur. There's no such thing as a moral victory. Hur, hur, hur." posts for another thread. We're not going to beat OSU. We're not going to come close to beating OSU. Still, I am going to be there on Saturday. And so are many of you. What can we cheer for? I have three ideas. Add to the list as best you can.

1) Make OSU punt at least once each half.
2) No more than 2 turnovers.
3) Score at least once each quarter.

In addition, and it won't be part of my moral victory calculation, let's complete at least three passes of more than ten yards inside the hashmarks. That's just a thing that has been on my mind.

I enjoyed being able to clearly hear the players calling stuff out to each other, the coaches shouting direction from the sidelines, the bench shouting encouragement and warnings, the players on court responding, and etc. I don't know how the players felt about the empty stands, maybe it just reminded them of the covid season or something, but it was good for me.

And some of the band comments were pretty funny, another something I've rarely been able to hear over the years.

Best college football offensive or defensive lineman. Anderson will probably win, guy could be a #1 pick. Peter should be high on the list though.

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I would cut and paste a brief preview but you really have to read the whole thing, This is totally screwed up.

Some Indiana guy writes about the Wildcats prospects


The Athletic has an article on Bryant McIntosh as one of the Power 5's youngest assistant coaches


A Twitter video of our guys scrimmaging...

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Ryan Young comparing Jon Scheyer to previous coaches...


Pete Nance talks about his new team, with a lot of video from practice.

Unfortunately, a real University of Southern Mississippi football star has passed away (unlike the recent fake news postings about Brett Favre's demise). In this instance, Ray Guy aka the Greater Punter in Football History passed away. He is an Pro Football Hall of Famer who is also the namesake of college's most coveted award for punters - the Ray Guy Award. Guy was the first pure punter drafted in the NFL Draft First Round. He won three (3) Super Bowls with the Oakland (1976, 1980) and Los Angeles Raiders (1983). In Super Bowl XVIII against the Washington Redskins, he was noted for helping keep the pressure on Washington's prolific offense by kicking multiple punts deep in Washington territory including making a Herculean catch on a high snap in the 2nd Quarter and coolly getting off the kick.

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Something we haven't really discussed much here, but probably worth a conversation since that season alone interrupted what would otherwise be an an inexcusably bad stretch in the program's history.

First and foremost, does anyone remember when Peyton Ramsey committed to playing? Just wondering if his commitment was influenced either way by COVID. I think it is fair to say he was our MVP that season; obviously the defense was stout but without a QB we wouldn't have been close to this level of success.

Looking back, I think we had a fairly balanced schedule - neither too easy nor murderer's row. We missed a scheduled game vs. Minnesota due to COVID, and they finished that season at 3-4 so it's reasonable to assume a win there (rather than assume a definite loss).

However you look at the 2020 season, I give full credit to Fitz and the coaches for keeping the train on the tracks - I get that people might argue 2020 was weird - OBVIOUSLY it was, but this season was all about discipline and tuning out the weird, which Northwestern did better than just about any other team. Just wondering if people think we would have enjoyed comparable success if COVID had not been a thing.

This is the worst performance. No defensive discipline. No defensive toughness. Blown assignments.

Anderson blows. Year 4 or 5. We are noticeably bigger and cannot dominate this inferior team called SIU. He stinks.

The offensive game plan/calling it outright atrocious.

A friend is having a wedding anniversary next spring. 30 years! Impressive!

He has always lived down South but recently moved to Birmingham. He told me "if you can join us, why not stay an extra day or two and let's go watch the USFL at the UAB football stadium".

I had forgotten quite frankly that the USFL played all its games last year in Birmingham. It was essentially a "TV League" but frankly, maybe that wasn't a bad way to start in the year one of its existence.

I looked up the new UAB stadium just now. It really is pretty much brand new. Built for four to five times less than what we want to pay. And it seats just under 50,000 people.

I truly don't understand why we as a program want to build a stadium that seats less than what our average attendance is now (and 10,000 less than our average attendance was in the Gary Barnett post Rose Bowl years when we averaged close to 45.000 or so). For the love of goodness, stop the madness and don't build something the size of a MAC stadium! It will be too small on the day it opens!

No normal fan will ever be able to afford tickets and because football pretty much pays for everything regarding sports at Northwestern, can you imagine what the price for munchies and drinks will be? For parking?

Save 600,000,0000 and spend it on NIL for goodness sakes, that is the way college football is heading!

UAB - Built for four-five times less than what we want to spend.


Note, I DO understand the desire to "fit the footprint" of where we are currently at - otherwise Evanston won't allow the new facility. But I am sure architects can figure something out by building down a bit into the ground (is the water table too high that near the lake?) or by doing other things.

Here's my take on the exhibition game won by the Cats 69-49. On defense, allowed a lot of penetration in the first half but really cleaned that up in half number two. Verhoven has some nice defensive instincts, but Chase is our best all around defender.On offense, we are going to live or die by the three. Boo has trouble finishing at the rim drives but is money from the free throw line when he gets there. Audige looked like he did two years ago (completely healthy now?) He can create his own shot when the play breaks down, shot his free throws more confidently as well as his 3s. Boo didn't try to force shots and both he and Chase tried to set up teammates. They will have to score in bunches for us to win in the Big Ten. Ty Berry had an awful shooting night, missing numerous open shots. I've noticed that he has a tendency towards pressing when the first couple shots don't go down. Barnhizer is going to be a nice lift off the bench. Good, confident shooter and a threat from 3. Beran is the Beran we've seen but is a veteran presence and should contribute 8 to 10 points per game and help on the boards.. Verhoven has some offensive moves and is a good defender. He will start in the middle. Nicholson is still raw. Moves better, but he still looks like he is "feeling his way" out there. I doubt Hunger or Martinelli will help much this season, but they give us some big bodies. Maybe they'll mature as the season goes on. We will need Roper going forward, that's for sure,and we can't afford injuries to either Boo or Chase.

You know, I can’t really be bothered to do it this year. Just nothing left.

go cats (with a paper bag over my head)

Cats lead Quincy 36-29 at halftime. Not a pretty game.
1) Audige is by a mile the best player on the court. Most points, most rebounds, most confidence. So far the only Wildcat who can get his own shot
2) rough half for Boo and Berry, but we know who they are.
3) Barnheiser showing a great stroke but not much else.
4) Nicholson using his size well, but still has questionable hands
5) Hunger has good size but is slow
6) Verheoven is quick and has decent moves in the post.
7) Beran is Beran
8) Martinelli with his curly hair and headband is giving off serious Jackie Moon vibes.

This crazy race to power has got to be taken on by the powers that be. Since we now pay them and also give them free agency why not subject them to an NFL style draft? The NCAA is headquartered in Indianapolis and they should have a series of regional combines and then a National Combine here in Indy. Followed by an NFL style draft. To whom much is given, much is expected. This year's draft in the B1G would have NU with the #1 pick and OSU with the 14th pick. Make a more competitive league. Why aren't we deserving of some 5 stars and 4 stars on a regular basis. Takes away the cheating and the under the table money. Rounds 1-5, if not drafted you go into the undrafted free agent market and can negotiate your place of choice. NFL tries to equal out the talent to field competitive teams and give fans hope, why not the NCAA? Kids can go into free agency after one year so why not give the NUs, vandys, Rices, and IUs of the world a chance??? It's all about TV money, deals, and conferences now. Change it. I'm serious.