No. 24 Northwestern hosts Rutgers on Saturday afternoon in Evanston, Ill., knowing that a loss would wreck the Wildcats' best start to a full season since 2012 just before a three-game gauntlet that includes a visit from Iowa.
Northwestern (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) survived Michigan State 24-21 on Saturday on Jackson Kleather's 34-yard field goal at the buzzer, claiming a third straight win and staying within a game of unbeaten UCLA and Ohio State in the conference race, according to CBS Sports.
Why the Rutgers Game Matters for Iowa Fans
Hawkeye supporters have a rooting interest here. Northwestern travels to Iowa City the week after this matchup, and a Ranked Wildcats squad arriving at Kinnick Stadium would carry far more weight than one limping out of an upset loss to Rutgers.
The Wildcats have not started 5-1 since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when they played only nine games. That was also the last time Northwestern appeared in the Associated Press Top 25. To find a five-win start in a full season, you have to go back to 2012, when the Wildcats finished 10-3 and capped the year with their first bowl victory since the 1949 Rose Bowl.
With Oregon, Iowa and Ohio State lined up over the following three weeks, Northwestern coach David Braun is pushing his team to stay grounded.
“The truth is we got a special football team, a group that is humble, hungry and knows it's not a finished product,” Braun said Monday. “I truly believe this team can beat anyone in the country and also believe this team if we're not prepared and don't execute at the level we need to, we can be beat by anyone in the country.”
Chip Kelly's Offense Is Humming
Northwestern ranks fifth in the Big Ten at 191.5 rushing yards per game, including 711 yards on the ground during the current three-game winning streak. First-year offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, the former UCLA and Oregon head coach, has spread the workload across several weapons.
Feature backs Caleb Komolafe (401 yards, four touchdowns) and Joseph Himon II (346 yards, three touchdowns, 11.5 yards per carry) play off dual-threat quarterback Aidan Chiles, who leads the Big Ten in completion percentage at 70.5 percent. Chiles has seven rushing touchdowns and nine through the air, and he has not thrown an interception since transferring from Michigan State in the offseason.
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, whose defense will try to contain Chiles on Saturday, praised the quarterback's fit in Kelly's system.
“He's always been a great athlete,” Schiano said. “He can run, he's got a strong arm, has a good understanding of the game. But the guys that were coaching him before are real good coaches too. Just looks like maybe this system suits him a little better.”
KJ Duff Gives Rutgers a Puncher's Chance
Rutgers (2-4, 1-2) heads to Evanston off a 37-30 win at Maryland, and the Scarlet Knights bring the Big Ten's most productive receiver not named Jeremiah Smith. KJ Duff caught nine passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns against the Terrapins and enters Saturday as the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Only Ohio State's Smith has more receiving yards than Duff's 741 this season, and Duff has nine touchdown catches.
“When the ball is in the air, you just got to make a play, any way possible,” Duff said.
Rutgers is also the least penalized team in the country, averaging just 28.7 penalty yards per game, while Northwestern ranks 62nd in the FBS at 54.8 yards per game, WTOP reported.
A Historic Losing Streak on the Line
The Scarlet Knights are chasing more than a road win. Rutgers has lost 45 consecutive games against ranked opponents, a skid dating to a 31-0 victory over No. 23 South Florida on Nov. 12, 2009. The program has not beaten a ranked team on the road since a 54-34 win at No. 17 Pittsburgh on Oct. 25, 2008.
Rutgers has shown flashes against good teams this season, hanging with USC in a 42-35 home loss on Sept. 19, though the Knights were routed 47-15 at Indiana one week after Northwestern's offense pushed the Hoosiers to the limit.
Rutgers holds a 4-2 edge in the all-time series with Northwestern, and Yahoo Sports noted the keys for the Scarlet Knights are avoiding turnovers, feeding Duff and playing four consistent quarters on defense. Oddsmakers are not expecting history; Northwestern is a 15.5-point favorite with the game streaming on Peacock at noon ET, per Sporting News' Week 8 picks.
What's Next
After Saturday, Northwestern's season gets defined quickly. Oregon, Iowa and Ohio State arrive in succession, and Braun knows the margin for error shrinks against that level of competition.
“We proved to ourselves that we can win close games, winning the fourth quarter, winning on the road,” Braun said. “And the other truth portion to this is we have a ton to work on.”
For Iowa fans, the message is simple: pay attention Saturday. The Wildcats that show up in Evanston will tell you a lot about the team the Hawkeyes will face a week later.
FAQ
When does Iowa play Northwestern?
Iowa hosts Northwestern the week after the Wildcats face Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 24, part of a three-game Northwestern stretch that also includes Oregon and Ohio State.
What channel is the Rutgers vs. Northwestern game on?
The game kicks off Saturday at noon ET and streams on Peacock, with Northwestern favored by 15.5 points.
Who is Northwestern's quarterback?
Aidan Chiles, a Michigan State transfer, leads the Big Ten with a 70.5 percent completion rate and has 16 total touchdowns without an interception this season.