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BLOOMINGTON, Indiana — In a game in which they were outclassed from start to finish, the Wildcats (1-7, 0-6 B1G) fell to the Indiana Hoosiers (7-2, 4-2 B1G) by a final scoreline of 34-3.
Once again, Northwestern’s offense looked lifeless. This time, though, the defense broke down early and often. The Hoosiers outgained the ‘Cats 414-199, and this one was over by halftime.
Here is a summary of the game as told through Twitter:
Smith keeps it on a beautiful* 25-yard run to start the game!
— Inside NU (@insidenu) November 2, 2019
*but he fumbled. IU takes over. https://t.co/O3wCDI9cT1
The ‘Cats played sloppily, committing seven penalties in the first half alone.
Make that four!
— Inside NU (@insidenu) November 3, 2019
JR Pace the culprit this time. First-and-goal again! https://t.co/onvZWHVmq5
Fitz was angry.
At the end of the first half, Pat Fitzgerald had a lengthy chat with the officials. I asked him on @WGNRadio what they discussed. His response: “I was asking them if they want to be on my Christmas card list.”
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) November 3, 2019
Indiana led 24-3 at the end of the first half, but you must look at the final play of the half that sums up Northwestern’s season pretty well.
Because this has to exist on Twitter pic.twitter.com/oJOQdczAMZ
— Teddy Greenstein (@TeddyGreenstein) November 3, 2019
IU coach Tom Allen elected to replace Penix with Payton Ramsey under center for the rest of the way.
the penix jokes were like the only exciting part of this game and now he's benched because Indiana is beating Northwestern by three touchdowns in the first half.
— Inside NU (@insidenu) November 3, 2019
Fun times here in Bloomington! https://t.co/Lu0xAu0tqa
Hunter Johnson replaced Smith at quarterback in his first appearance since September 28, only to go down with an injury in the third quarter after being tossed to the ground by an Indiana defender.
He gets hurt in large part because the ref failed to blow the play dead after Johnson was being dragged for 10 yards without the play being whistled dead, then was thrown to the ground roughly by an IU defender.
— WNUR Sports (@WNURSports) November 3, 2019
The Wildcat offense has been struggling for a while now. Tonight was no exception. The last time the ‘Cats found the end zone was October 5 at Nebraska, meaning the drought will last over a month.
Make that twelve quarters without a touchdown for the Northwestern offense
— Inside NU (@insidenu) November 3, 2019
Northwestern welcomes parents and Purdue to Ryan Field next Saturday.
The end.