Lausch made strides over the bye week. Obviously some missed throws, but he stood in there and made plays with both his arm and his legs.

Indiana is a pretty solid football team. Defensive front was fast and aggressive. Offensive scheme was pretty interesting. Too many guys running free, especially on RPO.

Our offensive line has to get a lot better. A lot.

I would have much preferred a win, but I certainly didn’t expect it. I would have been happy to know that NU was within a field goal with ten minutes left, and they were.

Obviously disappointed that the Cats forced but a single punt, but happy that NU just had three.

The third punt, coming out of the break, with NU down 7, was the last bit I could watch live. I turned the game off and fully expected that the final would be 44-10. So I was pretty happy when I returned to the game, not knowing the final, and saw two cool Henning touchdowns. That’s fun.

Lausch will be a good quarterback. He’s already the best quarterback NU has recruited out of high school since Thorson. Lausch just looks like a guy who hasn’t played so much football, which he hasn’t. His pocket presence isn’t great; he scrambles out, and rarely steps up. But all young quarterbacks struggle with that.

Right now, his accuracy is just really hit or miss. This can mean drive killing incompletions, or it can mean sliding catches instead of YACing it up.

The two linebackers are really good. The defensive line is pretty good. The losses in the secondary looked pretty significant yesterday. The way to beat NU is through the air.

Thankfully, three of our next four opponents are incapable of beating NU through the air. The exception is Maryland, who’ll be pretty darn tough next week.

Big finish: This reminds me of how I felt after the…largest blown lead (at least at the time) in college football history. Sure it sucked, and geez can’t you stop those bastards once, but at least we found a quarterback. Lausch might not be Kafka or Thorson or Persa, but maybe he’ll be Bacher, and that’s not such a bad thing to be.

Bacher was the guy through the shocking head coach transition, setting us up for lots of good to come over the ensuing 15 or so years.

More wins ahead! And hopefully, soon.

Is making Wisconsin’s QB look like a Heisman contender. They are down by 36 in the 3rd quarter. It is hard to believe that Purdue is that bad and Wisconsin is that good. When we play Purdue they may have a new interim coach. I guess we will find out soon enough.

Breaking down Northwestern's snap counts vs. Indiana per PFF.

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He’s back.

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And this is why I love college football LOL.

Maryland's QB, Billy Edwards, and their receivers have plenty of talent to cause NU lots of problems. Fortunately their OL is a bit of a mess. NU needs to wreak havoc with their DL or it will be another long day on defense. Maryland's defense is nothing special. Famous last words.

Or, USC is not as good as its ranking indicates? Darius Taylor is something.

Wondering.

Who was there?

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#33, on his 33rd carry of the day, scores the 33rd point for NU to beat OSU for the first time in 33 years.

This next stretch is our whole season, barring a meticulous win over Michigan or Ohio State (Michigan is sort of conceivable, I guess, they’re gettable). Maryland isn’t impressive, we can get Wisconsin at home, and Purdue is a train wreck who we frankly need to beat. Iowa will be tough but that’s a comforting sort of rock fight football we ought to be able to compete in. None of those offenses are remotely the threat IU’s is.

The team absolutely improved over the bye week but we need to go out there and do it.0

Here are my takeaways from Northwestern's 41-24 loss to Indiana.

Here are my takeaways from Northwestern's 41-24 loss to Indiana.

Vandy may be about to upset #1 Alabama!!

Kurtis Rourke threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns as No. 23 Indiana remained undefeated with a 41-24 blitz of Northwestern. It was the second straight loss for the Wildcats, who dropped to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten.

Doesn't this drop us to 2-3 and not 3-2?

Casey Thomann a 6’7” OT out of Olney, IL has picked up an offer today. I’m assuming he met with Braun & OB pregame. Any chance we can sneak him in for the second half??

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Last second cancellations. But not as sure on how to transfer as not doing it through NU app directly. I would be in Sheridan/Noyes road Parking lot across from Tech. At this point up to 3 extra. I would check on this site / messages before I leave for game so could coordinate. I would be leaving 11:30 to 12 noon to get there by about 1

Go Cats

That’s all. Big game today. Shock the world!

In case you have not seen. Unfortunately, you need to buy Tailgating access to attend.


EVANSTON, Ill. – The Big Ten Network Tailgate show will return to Northwestern on Saturday, October 5th for the 'Cats matchup against #23 Indiana and will be broadcasting live from Northwestern's Campus at the Lakeside Gameday tailgating area on the Lakefill. The show, now in it's 8th season, will be making it's return to Evanston for the first time since 2022.

Fans are encouraged to attend, beginning at 8 am CT to be part of the live audience. The show will feature appearances by the Northwestern Spirit Squad, Willie the Wildcat, and Marching Band. There will be giveaways and free food for fans attending live as well as a Live DJ for entertainment before the show and during commercial breaks. The show will begin at 9 am CT and run until 10:30 am CT.

Admission to the space is free for Northwestern Students; general fans wishing to attend may purchase access to the Lakeside Gameday Tailgating space ahead of time online HERE or at the door and enjoy not only the show but all of the fabulous tailgating amenities offered throughout the day.

The Big Ten Network Tailgate is the home for Big Ten Football fans on Saturday mornings all season long, capturing the unique environments of Big Ten campuses with fan interaction, celebrity guests, football analysis and other special features.

The Cats are back in action by the Lake this week facing the surging # 23 Hoosiers. NU has a winning all-time record against Indiana (47-35).

Injuries, particularly to Cam Porter, were telling in recent weeks. NU's bye week was an opportunity to Indiana meanwhile has a strong passing offense that will likely be a harder challenge that Duke or Washington.

Time to prognosticate...

IU 24
NU 17

I hope I am wrong.

@lou v and I log our predictions for Northwestern's first game against a ranked opponent this season.

Here we go….