Inside NU - Northwestern-Michigan St. GameweekRoll Damn 'Catshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52532/insidenu_fav.png2016-10-15T07:00:10-05:00http://www.insidenu.com/rss/stream/130586772016-10-15T07:00:10-05:002016-10-15T07:00:10-05:00How to watch Northwestern vs. Michigan State
<figure>
<img alt="Michigan State v Northwestern" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fdCW_MOGLD00fP8xKqHL2sHokwk=/0x69:2794x1932/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51364877/106162416.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A meeting at Spartan Stadium awaits Pat Fitzgerald and Co.</p> <p id="qXFOuh">After a bye week, Northwestern is back on the road today to face the Michigan State Spartans. Pat Fitzgerald’s team struggled out of the gates but then regained some momentum with a much-needed win against Iowa at Kinnick Stadium.</p>
<p id="tN91JI">Here’s all you need to know about today’s matchup:</p>
<ul>
<li id="BWK212">The NU <strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/10/13149884/northwestern-football-week-seven-Michigan-State-depth-chart">depth chart</a></strong> contained some shuffling.</li>
<li id="dAjkDO">Pat Fitzgerald <strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/10/13228924/pat-fitzgerald-justin-jackson-anthony-walker-odenigbo-week-7-press-conference-notes-michigan-state">addressed the media</a></strong> at his weekly press conference to preview the game.</li>
<li id="KAOKYN">We produced two profiles this week: <strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/10/13212588/anthony-walker-jr-feature-northwestern-wildcats-football-nfl-draft-2017-middle-linebacker">star linebacker Anthony Walker</a></strong> and senior<strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/14/13275076/ifeadi-odenigbo-profile-northwestern-football-defensive-end-anthony-walker-pat-fitzgerald">defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo.</a></strong>
</li>
<li id="ObvzZc">The Spartans <strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/11/13244316/three-things-to-know-about-the-michigan-state-spartans">have struggled</a></strong> against the run.</li>
<li id="UyPmn4">They’ve also struggled to run it themselves, which Ian McCafferty broke down <strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/11/13228142/northwestern-michigan-state-byu-lj-scott-gerald-holmes-rushing-struggles">via film.</a></strong>
</li>
<li id="7mQUCC">We took <strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/11/13234980/clayton-thorson-northwestern-quarterback-stats-northwestern-football-analysis-pat-fitzgerald">a statistical look</a></strong> at the development of Clayton Thorson.</li>
<li id="oZmZyq">Northwestern and the NLRB were back at it again, this time<strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/11/13246928/northwestern-football-union-nlrb-handbook-rules-social-media"> about team rules.</a></strong>
</li>
<li id="1rAHVr">Josh Burton produced our weekly big-picture look in <strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/12/13247254/northwestern-wildcats-michigan-state-spartans-big-ten-week-7-where-are-we-wednesday-austin-carr">Where are we Wednesday.</a></strong>
</li>
<li id="8z2XzB">
<strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/12/13254382/northwestern-michigan-state-preview-2016-stats-keys-to-the-game-austin-carr">These</a></strong> three matchups will determine the outcome today.</li>
<li id="EAIyZl">We gave <strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/13/13263110/northwestern-michigan-state-preview-football-keys-to-the-game-justin-jackson-malik-mcdowell">three reasons</a></strong> for a Wildcat victory and three more for a Wildcat loss.</li>
<li id="ZwVvHD">Tristan Jung and Will Ragatz <strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/13/13265340/northwestern-michigan-state-preview-mark-dantonio-analysis-spartans-homecoming-pat-fitzgerald">debated</a></strong> whether or not this is a "must-win" for NU to reach the postseason.</li>
<li id="n8JczM"><strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/13/13279438/northwestern-wildcats-injury-report-week-7-connor-mahoney-xavier-washington-michigan-state-football">Connor Mahoney is doubtful and Xavier Washington is out today.</a></strong></li>
<li id="Ie3vKx">The Wildcats will be rocking a <strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/13/13281418/northwestern-unveils-new-purple-wildcat-helmet-for-msu">new uniform combo</a></strong> and debuting a new helmet.</li>
<li id="Q755Bm">And finally, our <strong><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/14/13279174/northwestern-wildcats-michigan-state-spartans-predictions-football-pat-fitzgerald-mark-dantonio">predictions</a></strong> for this week.</li>
</ul>
<h1 id="qSxwb4">Broadcast Info</h1>
<p id="kxzjYT"><strong>Game time: </strong>2:30 p.m. CT</p>
<p id="qxXg49"><strong>TV channel: </strong>Big Ten Network</p>
<p id="7WwOSM"><strong>Online streaming: </strong><strong><a href="http://btn2go.com/">BTN2go</a></strong></p>
<p id="j3YZOA"><strong>Mobile: </strong>BTN2go</p>
<p id="wndRN0"><strong>Radio: </strong>WGN 720, WNUR 89.3, Sirius 135, XM 195</p>
<p id="ELJOou"><strong>Betting line: </strong>Michigan St. -6 1/2</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/15/13292860/northwestern-wildcats-michigan-state-spartans-game-time-tv-channel-online-streaming-radio-previewZach Pereles2016-10-14T15:04:29-05:002016-10-14T15:04:29-05:00Big Ten power rankings: Week 7
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Indiana at Ohio State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/63J7UXEqsEtUGP4hO-yDfUXtAS0=/0x0:5046x3364/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51359461/usa-today-9596027.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>More movement and a new cellar-dweller!</p> <p id="spT60F"><em>The craziness that is the Big Ten still has the same top three, but not a unanimous No. 1. Here’s how our writers see it stacking up heading into this weekend.</em></p>
<div id="b4MuJ5">
<table class="schedule-table">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="numbers">
<h4>1</h4>
</div>
<div class="main-block">
<div class="main-block">
<img src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4001206/osu.0.jpg" class="teamlogo">
<h4 class="teamhead">Ohio State Buckeyes<br>
</h4>
<div class="teama">
<span class="blog-container"><span class="blog-hider">RECORD: 5-0 || Week 7: @ No. 8 Wisconsin<br>AVERAGE RANK: 1.13</span></span><br>
</div>
<i>The Buckeyes fall from unanimity at No. 1 for the first time all season, but can likely earn it back with an impressive win over Wisconsin.</i><br>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Pereles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Burton</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry DaMour</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tristan Jung</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Will Ragatz</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Wingrove</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Oppegaard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Caleb Friedman</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="numbers">
<h4>2</h4>
</div>
<div class="main-block">
<div class="main-block">
<img src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3961054/michigan.0.jpg" class="teamlogo">
<h4 class="teamhead">Michigan Wolverines<br>
</h4>
<div class="teama">
<span class="blog-container"><span class="blog-hider">RECORD: 6-0 || Week 7: None<br>AVERAGE RANK: 1.88</span></span><br>
</div>
<i>Michigan is on the heels of a 78-0 win and still can’t take over No. 1. A bye week won’t help the cause unless…</i><br>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Pereles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Burton</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry DaMour</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tristan Jung</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Will Ragatz</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Wingrove</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Oppegaard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Caleb Friedman</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="numbers">
<h4>3</h4>
</div>
<div class="main-block">
<div class="main-block">
<img src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3961096/wisconsin.0.jpg" class="teamlogo">
<h4 class="teamhead">Wisconsin Badgers<br>
</h4>
<div class="teama">
<span class="blog-container"><span class="blog-hider">RECORD: 4-1 || Week 7: vs. No. 2 Ohio State<br>AVERAGE RANK: 3.25</span></span><br>
</div>
<p><span><i>Wisconsin is at home versus the second best team in the nation. It’s College Gameday. Time for the Badgers to make a statement.</i></span></p>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Pereles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Burton</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry DaMour</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tristan Jung</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Will Ragatz</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Wingrove</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Oppegaard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Caleb Friedman</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="numbers">
<h4>4</h4>
</div>
<div class="main-block">
<div class="main-block">
<img src="https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3961086/nebraska.0.jpg" class="teamlogo">
<h4 class="teamhead">Nebraska Cornhuskers<br>
</h4>
<div class="teama">
<span class="blog-container"><span class="blog-hider">RECORD: 5-0 || Week 7: @ Indiana<br>AVERAGE RANK: 3.75</span></span><br>
</div>
<p><i style="font-weight: normal;">Nebraska and Indiana this weekend holds more weight than it has in a long, long time.</i></p>
</div>
<i>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Pereles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Burton</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry DaMour</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tristan Jung</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Will Ragatz</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Wingrove</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Oppegaard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Caleb Friedman</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</i>
</div>
<i> </i>
<i> </i>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="numbers">
<h4>5</h4>
</div>
<div class="main-block">
<div class="main-block">
<img src="https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4001204/indiana.0.jpg" class="teamlogo">
<h4 class="teamhead">Indiana Hoosiers<br>
</h4>
<div class="teama">
<span class="blog-container"><span class="blog-hider">RECORD: 3-2 || Week 7: vs. No. 10 Nebraska<br>AVERAGE RANK: 5</span></span><br>
</div>
<i>It’s Homecoming for the Hoosiers, and this could be the biggest game for them in recent memory.</i><br>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Pereles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Burton</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry DaMour</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tristan Jung</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Will Ragatz</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Wingrove</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Oppegaard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Caleb Friedman</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">5</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="numbers">
<h4>6</h4>
</div>
<div class="main-block">
<div class="main-block">
<img src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4001212/msu.0.jpg" class="teamlogo">
<h4 class="teamhead">Michigan State Spartans<br>
</h4>
<div class="teama">
<span class="blog-container"><span class="blog-hider">RECORD: 2-3 || Week 7: vs. Northwestern<br>AVERAGE RANK: 6.5</span></span><br>
</div>
<i>The Spartans are falling apart and can’t stop the run. Sounds like Northwestern two weeks ago.</i><br>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Pereles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Burton</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry DaMour</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tristan Jung</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Will Ragatz</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Wingrove</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Oppegaard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Caleb Friedman</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="numbers">
<h4>7</h4>
</div>
<div class="main-block">
<div class="main-block">
<img src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4001440/nu.0.jpg" class="teamlogo">
<h4 class="teamhead">Northwestern Wildcats<br>
</h4>
<div class="teama">
<span class="blog-container"><span class="blog-hider">RECORD: 2-3 || Week 7: @ Michigan State<br>AVERAGE RANK: 7.25</span></span><br>
</div>
<i>The Wildcats can get their season back on track in a major way this weekend.</i><br>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Pereles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Burton</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry DaMour</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tristan Jung</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Will Ragatz</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Wingrove</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Oppegaard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Caleb Friedman</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="numbers">
<h4>8</h4>
</div>
<div class="main-block">
<div class="main-block">
<img src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3961034/iowa.0.jpg" class="teamlogo">
<h4 class="teamhead">Iowa Hawkeyes<br>
</h4>
<div class="teama">
<span class="blog-container"><span class="blog-hider">RECORD: 4-2 || Week 7: @ Purdue<br>AVERAGE RANK: 7.88</span></span><br>
</div>
<i>Iowa got a much-needed win versus Minnesota, but questions on both sides of the ball remain.</i><br>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Pereles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Burton</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry DaMour</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tristan Jung</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Will Ragatz</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Wingrove</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Oppegaard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Caleb Friedman</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">7</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="numbers">
<h4>9</h4>
</div>
<div class="main-block">
<div class="main-block">
<img src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3961052/pennstate.0.jpg" class="teamlogo">
<h4 class="teamhead">Penn State Nittany Lions<br>
</h4>
<div class="teama">
<span class="blog-container"><span class="blog-hider">RECORD: 4-2 || Week 7: None<br>AVERAGE RANK: 8.63</span></span><br>
</div>
<i>The Nittany Lions have rebounded nicely from a blowout loss to Michigan with back-to-back wins.</i><br>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Pereles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Burton</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry DaMour</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tristan Jung</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Will Ragatz</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Wingrove</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Oppegaard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Caleb Friedman</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">9</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="numbers">
<h4>10</h4>
</div>
<div class="main-block">
<div class="main-block">
<img src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4001202/maryland.0.jpg" class="teamlogo">
<h4 class="teamhead">Maryland Terrapins<br>
</h4>
<div class="teama">
<span class="blog-container"><span class="blog-hider">RECORD: 4-1 || Week 7: vs. Minnesota<br>AVERAGE RANK: 10.25</span></span><br>
</div>
<i>Maryland finally played a legitimate team… and got blown out.</i><br>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Pereles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Burton</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry DaMour</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tristan Jung</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Will Ragatz</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Wingrove</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Oppegaard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Caleb Friedman</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="numbers">
<h4>11</h4>
</div>
<div class="main-block">
<div class="main-block">
<img src="https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3961048/minnesota.0.jpg" class="teamlogo">
<h4 class="teamhead">Minnesota Golden Gophers<br>
</h4>
<div class="teama">
<span class="blog-container"><span class="blog-hider">RECORD: 3-2 || Week 7: @ Maryland<br>AVERAGE RANK: 10.75</span></span><br>
</div>
<i>The Terps and the Golden Gophers could be an interesting matchup of two not-very-good but bowl-bound squads.</i><br>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Pereles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Burton</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry DaMour</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tristan Jung</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Will Ragatz</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Wingrove</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Oppegaard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Caleb Friedman</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">11</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">10</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="numbers">
<h4>12</h4>
</div>
<div class="main-block">
<div class="main-block">
<img src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3961028/purdue.0.jpg" class="teamlogo">
<h4 class="teamhead">Purdue Boilermakers<br>
</h4>
<div class="teama">
<span class="blog-container"><span class="blog-hider">RECORD: 3-2 || Week 7: vs. Iowa<br>AVERAGE RANK: 12.13</span></span><br>
</div>
<i>PURDUE BEAT ILLINOIS</i><br>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Pereles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Burton</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry DaMour</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tristan Jung</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Will Ragatz</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Wingrove</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Oppegaard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Caleb Friedman</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="numbers">
<h4>13</h4>
</div>
<div class="main-block">
<div class="main-block">
<img src="https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3961030/illinois.0.jpg" class="teamlogo">
<h4 class="teamhead">Illinois Fighting Illini<br>
</h4>
<div class="teama">
<span class="blog-container"><span class="blog-hider">RECORD: 1-4 || Week 7: @ Rutgers<br>AVERAGE RANK: 12.88</span></span><br>
</div>
<i>ILLINOIS LOST TO PURDUE</i><br>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Pereles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Burton</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry DaMour</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tristan Jung</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Will Ragatz</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Wingrove</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Oppegaard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Caleb Friedman</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">12</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">13</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="numbers">
<h4>14</h4>
</div>
<div class="main-block">
<div class="main-block">
<img src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4001200/rutgers.0.jpg" class="teamlogo">
<h4 class="teamhead">Rutgers Scarlet Knights<br>
</h4>
<div class="teama">
<span class="blog-container"><span class="blog-hider">RECORD: 2-4 || Week 7: vs. Illinois<br>AVERAGE RANK: 14.00</span></span><br>
</div>
<i>78-0.</i><br>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Pereles</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Josh Burton</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry DaMour</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Tristan Jung</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Will Ragatz</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Zach Wingrove</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Oppegaard</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Caleb Friedman</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">14</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>
<link href="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2920436/power_rankings.0.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<script src="https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2920470/power_rankings.0.js"></script>
</p>
</div>
https://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/14/13288122/big-ten-power-rankings-week-7Inside NU Archives2016-10-14T12:00:03-05:002016-10-14T12:00:03-05:00Northwestern vs. Michigan State Predictions
<figure>
<img alt="Michigan State v Northwestern" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/36K1oTK0pgO69IJUXkc8czPPFdI=/0x0:2379x1586/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51353547/451579623.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by David Banks/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Wildcats head to East Lansing for a key conference matchup</p> <h2 id="TxGuJh">Zach Pereles: Michigan St. 24, Northwestern 21</h2>
<p id="bDtIn0">I really want to give this one to NU. I really do. And I think the Wildcats have a very good chance of bringing home the win. But Michigan State is at home for Homecoming, and Mark Dantonio’s decision to move Tyler O’Connor into a three-way QB competition with Damion Terry and Brian Lewerke will bring out the best in all three. Whoever wins the battle will find just enough success against a still-depleted NU secondary, and Northwestern falls a late field goal short.</p>
<h2 id="po5Lhw">Sam Brief: Northwestern 24, Michigan St. 23</h2>
<p id="yaa5sD">I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum from Zach: I really want to give this one to Michigan State. They’ve lost three straight, and Mark Dantonio is a stellar coach. There’s no way Michigan State can lose <em>four</em> in a row, right? Wrong. I think Dantonio’s decision to implement a three-way QB competition could backfire: During a time of struggle and uncertainty in East Lansing, doubt at the QB position can implode into complete disarray. Point is, the Spartans have been unable to score (13.6 PPG in their last three), their rush defense has fallen apart (179.3 rush YPG in the last three), and Northwestern, coming off a bye week, is coming into form. This one will be a bruiser and a close one. Northwestern by a point.</p>
<h2 id="lhbWf6">Rob Schaefer: Michigan St. 31, Northwestern 17</h2>
<p id="HjdyQ1">It all makes sense. Northwestern, fresh off an upset road victory in Iowa (and a bye), marches into East Lansing, claims victory and pulls even at 3-3, another step on the slow crawl back to bowl eligibility. But I can’t see it happening. Granted, the Spartans come in with less momentum. After beginning their season 2-0, they’ve dropped three straight to fall to 2-3 including a particularly ugly home loss to BYU last weekend. Maybe it just makes a little too much sense for me. Northwestern’s secondary and offensive line remain unpredictable and you can’t expect performances like the ones Clayton Thorson (four total touchdowns), Justin Jackson (171 rush yards, one touchdown) and Austin Carr (three touchdowns) had against Iowa every week. It’ll be close early, but in the end, Michigan State makes fewer mistakes and wins comfortably at home this Saturday.</p>
<h2 id="S9UWeS">Josh Burton: Michigan St. 30, Northwestern 10</h2>
<p id="bTdAwI">Sorry, I just don’t see Northwestern pulling off back-to-back major upsets on the road. I know Michigan State has struggled mightily this year and has lost three in a row, but the Spartans are an extremely desperate team that needs to stop the bleeding. The talent is still there for a team that was highly ranked before skidding off the tracks, especially on defense, and I’d be surprised if the Wildcats’ offensive line was able to give Clayton Thorson the time to effectively pick apart the MSU defense.</p>
<h2 id="iln5Gl">Ian McCafferty: Northwestern 21, Michigan St. 17</h2>
<p id="fhMSUt">Honestly I really wanted to make this a Northwestern blowout, but then I remembered that this is still a 2-3 team. As good as the Wildcats looked against Iowa, it was only one game and Iowa might not be very good. Now saying all that, I still think Northwestern wins this week because Michigan St. isn’t very good either. The defense is still solid, but the offense is nonexistent. The passing attack is even less effective than usual and the running game has collapsed. I honestly find it hard to think MSU will even get to 17 points but I also don’t think Northwestern will blow out MSU on homecoming. It’ll be a close game, but the Spartans’ lack of offense is what does them in. </p>
<h2 id="YxPlaM">Caleb Friedman: Michigan St. 27, Northwestern 17</h2>
<p id="jbFDos">Northwestern looked fantastic against Iowa, but I still don’t trust this team at all. The offensive line is going to have trouble with Malik McDowell and the Spartan defensive line, especially without Connor Mahoney. Michigan State isn’t good enough to blow out Northwestern, but I don’t see the game being super close either. The Spartans will have a huge crowd this week, and they’re desperate for a win. I expect a big game from MSU running back L.J. Scott, and Tyler O’Connor, or whoever is starting at quarterback for MSU, could certainly have a productive day against a questionable Northwestern secondary. The Wildcats will have a chance in the fourth quarter, but the more talented Spartans will grind out a win. </p>
<h2 id="gZR8go">Zach Wingrove: Northwestern 28, Michigan State 21</h2>
<p id="ELwDMb">Northwestern has had an extra week to prepare for this game, and as we’ve witnessed this season, this is not your usual Michigan State team under Mark Dantonio. The Spartans’ defensive line has been awful in its last three games and I think this week they will continue to struggle getting pressure on Thorson, despite the loss of Connor Mahoney. On the defensive side of the ball, the Spartans’ passing attack is a mess right now and I don’t see any of Michigan State’s quarterbacks being able to exploit Northwestern’s secondary. I think Justin Jackson finds the end zone twice in this game, the Northwestern defense holds off a late Michigan State run and the Wildcats leave East Lansing with a victory. </p>
<h2 id="moeOq9">Tristan Jung: Northwestern 37, Michigan State 23</h2>
<p id="dlerxu">I’m terrible at picking football games. I’m 2-3 this year straight-up for Northwestern and I don’t really have a feel for this team whatsoever. Northwestern has shown five distinct faces through its first five games: “competent but unlucky,” “just plain awful,” “good enough to win,” “bad and unlucky” and “actually good”. Which of these five teams will show up? Will there be an entirely different facet of Northwestern?</p>
<p id="1K5QSA">Michigan State has been even more difficult to predict, with its only quality performance coming against an awful Notre Dame team. There are a myriad of miniature tactical battles that will decide this game and I won’t pretend to be able to synthesize them into a coherent and accurate prediction. I just went to <a href="http://random.org">random.org</a> and plugged in a random number generator to get the scores for this game. Go ‘Cats.</p>
<h2 id="MLSuY5">Will Ragatz: Michigan State 24, Northwestern 20</h2>
<p id="Xnh2A4">When simply focusing on the teams on the field, I have no idea who to take in this one. Both squads have been wildly inconsistent in falling to 2-3 records in 2016. So when picking this game, I had to go to coaching. I just can't see Dantonio not having his team ready for this game, a homecoming matchup and an attempt not to lose four straight. The Spartans hold off a late Northwestern rally to grab the victory.</p>
<h2 id="suxXHX">Josh Rosenblat: Northwestern 41, Michigan State 38 (OT)</h2>
<p id="SvFOjR">I really think Northwestern turned a corner in its win over Iowa. Putting up 38 points in Iowa City is nothing to scoff at. Plus, Michigan State isn’t “Michigan State” this year. The defense has some holes and the offense is sporadic.</p>
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https://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/14/13279174/northwestern-wildcats-michigan-state-spartans-predictions-football-pat-fitzgerald-mark-dantonioZach Pereles2016-10-14T10:02:02-05:002016-10-14T10:02:02-05:00Northwestern is counting on Ifeadi Odenigbo...and he’s ready to embrace it
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JY8hUdRlNAJW5RT15d-NV9gAB7A=/0x283:2889x2209/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51350031/usa-today-8796477.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The senior defensive end is determined to leave no doubt as he wraps up his career at Northwestern</p> <p id="XonkSy"><strong>September 30, 2016, Iowa City</strong><strong> — </strong><strong>It’s the night before game day. </strong>Over half the Northwestern football team is gathered in the hotel auditorium, preparing for their weekly chapel. The team is 1-3 on the season, preparing to face an Iowa team that blew the visitors out last year and is a double-digit favorite heading into this year’s matchup.</p>
<p id="DNtPLm">Standing before the team, ready to speak is Ifeadi Odenigbo.</p>
<p id="6kR8zS">This is not a normal routine for the fifth-year senior. In fact, public speaking is one of his biggest pet peeves. His teammates had asked him a while back to give chapel for the team’s first road game and Odenigbo reluctantly accepted, but as the days drew closer to the speech he struggled to find a topic.</p>
<p id="DgGE35">What would we talk about?</p>
<p id="EJJlQP">Would it touch people?</p>
<p id="YxVkdT">These questions all lingered in his head until an answer finally came to him.</p>
<p id="Gci3uN">“I was doubting myself and then I realized, doubting, that’s something significant right there,” Odenigbo says when recounting the experience. “That’s something we all do in our everyday life."</p>
<p id="VKgEqJ">So Odenigbo preached to the team about doubt, telling the biblical story of <a href="http://www.leaderu.com/theology/doubting_thomas.html">Doubting Thomas</a> and how the team members could apply it to their everyday lives in their game preparation. And although Odenigbo isn’t usually a guy who speaks up, it was clear that this message from chapel left an impact on those in the room.</p>
<p id="JVPRcI">“I was there and Ifeadi gave a great chapel,” Austin Carr said. “I think it inspired a lot of the guys. He was just reminding us not to doubt the process and trust that we’re prepared.”</p>
<p id="KmG3Go">“It was outstanding, his message was outstanding to the team,” Pat Fitzgerald said. “He was very passionate leading up to that whole week.”</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="5RHOdZ">
<p id="RezdGr"><strong>October 1, 2016, Iowa City</strong><strong> — </strong><strong>It’s the morning before the game and Odenigbo is pissed off. </strong>This isn’t a normal feeling for Odenigbo; he’s not used to playing angry, but on this morning everything felt different.</p>
<p id="WJQ7Ko">“I was thinking about everything we’d done,” Odenigbo said. “I was just thinking, I haven’t had the season that I’ve wanted, the ‘Cats are 1-3, we’re a good football team and we shouldn’t be in this position. Now everyone’s throwing dirt to our names and talking down about us and I just got very very intense about it.”</p>
<p id="hkRXiy">So, pissed off at the current state of the team, Odenigbo decided to do something about it.</p>
<p id="oYUL0a">This wasn’t the first time Odenigbo has decided to take matters into his own hands. In fact, it’s something he’s been doing ever since he started playing football in his sophomore year at Centerville (Ohio) High School.</p>
<p id="2TYy0U">All the coaches at Centerville knew of Odenigbo even before he started playing football. They had been drawn to his athleticism and speed since he was in middle school. But when the program finally saw Odenigbo in action during his sophomore year as he played for the JV team, he was far from perfect.</p>
<p id="48mhzD">“You could tell that if he got serious about the game that he had all the tools to be an excellent football player,” Odenigbo’s high school coach, Ron Ullery, said. “What he was lacking was just experience in understanding the game of football, the physicality of it, the nuances of it, stuff like that.”</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="ymSRNo"><q>“I was just thinking, I haven’t had the season that I’ve wanted, the ‘Cats are 1-3, we’re a good football team and we shouldn’t be in this position. Now everyone’s throwing dirt to our names and talking down about us and I just got very very intense about it.”</q></aside></div>
<p id="6dw7AZ">Odenigbo worked to improve his game in between his sophomore and junior year. He worked hard. From a physical and mental standpoint, he tried to get a better grasp of the game he had so little experience playing. And despite the significant progress he was making, Odenigbo was still very critical of himself, something he says he has been since the day he was born.</p>
<p id="Jpgq1H">“I don’t think you can be too critical on yourself in most cases, however, in Ifeadi’s case when he first started because of the limited football knowledge he had, I don’t think he knew what to be critical of and what not to be critical of,” Ullery said. “There were times where you’d see he was improving and making advances as a football player but he was still very critical of himself, but I don’t think he realized how far he was coming in such a short period of time.”</p>
<p id="OJRQOE">Part of the reason Odenigbo might have felt a step behind on the field could have been due to the level of competition he was playing with. During his junior year, Odenigbo played alongside, among others, Michael Bennett, Kyle Rose and Connor Donnini. Bennett went on to play for Ohio State and is now currently a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars after being drafted in 2015; Rose played for West Virginia and was signed by the Cleveland Browns this past offseason; and Donnini went on to play for the University of Cincinnati. While playing with this talent might have seemed overwhelming at the time, Odenigbo and his old coach agree now that having those high-caliber players around him served as a great source of motivation.</p>
<p id="93I1Zg">“I think Ifeadi was constantly comparing himself to those guys who had not only a year of age on him, but a ton more experience playing football,” Ullery said. “That really helped him because, fairly or unfairly, he was comparing himself to those guys.”</p>
<div id="8rxi0C"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0btDW8XWsIM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
<p id="T5UoiS">And before long, the results began to show in a dramatic way. Odenigbo’s name quickly became a common sighting on national recruiting boards, moving higher and higher up the rankings. Soon, he was ranked as the sixth-best defensive end in the country and the No. 1 player in the Midwest Region by ESPN.com. Schools like Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma and USC all showed interest in Odenigbo, but in the end he was determined to use football as a tool to get into prestigious schools like Notre Dame, Stanford or Northwestern. In the end, those three schools were narrowed to Odenigbo’s final three, and on January 7, 2012, he announced his decision to come to Northwestern.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="dsAIhN">
<p id="4Bh2tU">When he arrived on campus during the summer of 2012, Odenigbo had already been labeled as one of the <a href="http://northwestern.247sports.com/Sport/Football/AllTimeRecruits">biggest recruits in school history</a>. But due to the hype brought on by much of the media and fans of the team and lack of immediate success on the field for Odenigbo, it didn’t take long for skepticism to arise.</p>
<p id="LCGRnA">“That’s the nature of recruiting these days,” Fitzgerald said when looking back on Odenigbo’s early years on campus. “I think it’s a blessing and a curse you get from those dot com sites in recruiting. He had an inflated image from the standpoint of external factors coming in and he was a guy that only played a couple of years of high school football.”</p>
<p id="lRrF2c">Another glaring issue that Odenigbo quickly discovered upon his arrival on campus was his size. At 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, Odenigbo was severely undersized to be a Big Ten defensive lineman.</p>
<p id="QJlIS4">“When I first came in here people were asking me, ‘Do you play strong safety?’ and I was like ‘No I’m a defensive end’,” Odenigbo said. “Then they would look at me like, ‘What are you doing to your life? You’re an 18 year old going against guys who are 22 or 23 years old.’ It’s kind of a humbling experience.”</p>
<p id="7sdfHE">Another problem Odenigbo was having on the field was on the mental side. The fact that Odenigbo had only played football for three years and lacked a full understanding of the game.</p>
<p id="cH2mhd">“I had little football IQ,” Odenigbo said. “So I got here and it was kind of a culture shock, like I have to know what other people are doing. Football’s almost more mental than it is physical and it’s a mind game.”</p>
<p id="JFyL9P">Odenigbo’s hardships continued during his first season in 2012, and he went down with a season-ending shoulder injury in his debut game, ending his debut season with a medical redshirt. Facing this adversity, doubt began to creep into his head: Does he have what it takes to be a defensive end? Would he ever be able to be the player that the recruiting sites had labeled him? </p>
<p id="fsh1Sf">But rather than sulk about it or doubt his ability as a college football player, Odenigbo decided to do something about it and take matters into his own hands. Sound familiar?</p>
<p id="XGvAHB">His next four years on campus, Odenigbo saw his game evolve on all fronts. On the physical side of the ball, he turned to the team’s strength coach, Jay Hooten. Together, they developed a plan for Odenigbo, and since then he’s seen a steady increase in his weight each year he’s been at the program. In 2012 as a true freshman year, Odenigbo was an undersized 205-pound defensive linemen. His redshirt–freshman year he was 220, the next year 235, then 250. Now, as a fifth-year senior, Odenigbo weighs in at 265 pounds.</p>
<p id="JOKHmN">But along with his growth on the physical end, he also saw his football IQ rise a great deal each year he was on the field. Odenigbo began to familiarize himself with the ins and outs of the game. When looking back on his progression, Odenigbo says he remembers the biggest jump came in 2015 during spring ball before his junior year. It was during that time when he began to think to himself, “this stuff is easy.”</p>
<p id="jl23qg">“It’s just thinking in football terms, the hardest part is thinking in those terms.” Odenigbo said. “It’s kind of like when you start doing math and you’re like this crap is foreign. Then you start thinking in mathematical terms, that’s what you’ve got to start thinking in football terms. And once you get past that curve and you start thinking about football then it’s pretty easy and pretty simple.”</p>
<p id="uWabJ7">After coming back from his season-ending injury, Odenigbo saw regular playing time in each of his previous three seasons. Through his junior season, he played in 36 games, registering 46 total tackles along with 14.5 sacks. </p>
<p id="aoLA9r">“Learning the game, to the extent that he’s learned it has been really impressive,” Fitzgerald said. “I’ve really seen a lot of growth, a lot of maturity in his game. I’m just really proud of his perseverance.”</p>
<p id="uRKnUF">Despite the progression he has made each season, Odenigbo is still his own toughest critic. And while this attitude proved to be a helpful motivator at times, his head coach also saw it work against him early in his career.</p>
<p id="cIRbVs">“The first sign of a great leader is a guy that can lead himself,” Fitzgerald said. “I think Ifeadi is a hard critic of himself and sometimes that can become debilitating, to the point where early in his career he allowed one bad play to go into a quarter and a bad half into a bad game.”</p>
<p id="HFA9IO">So heading into this season, Odenigbo told himself this year would be different. He was determined to change his approach to the game. Rather than criticizing his every move and getting down about not making a single play, he decided to adapt a more positive approach. He decided that he was going to trust his ability as a football player and the results would follow.</p>
<p id="m6u6ko">“I was caring so much and I told myself I just need to calm down and play my sport and just have confidence,” Odenigbo said. “I have the ability, I’m big enough, I’m strong enough, I’m mentally strong enough now too.”</p>
<p id="AF2Jmv">“Patience is a virtue, and it’s about to show up cause I’ve worked my ass off.”</p>
<p id="i120ij">Sometimes it can be difficult, having to not think about his passion at times when he’s feeling frustrated. He’s had to adopt some new hobbies this season, such as listening to more music in his free time, in order to stop thinking about football 24/7. Albums such as Kanye West’s <em>The Life of Pablo</em>, he said, help to relax his mind off the field but also reinvigorate himself and get him hype before a game.</p>
<p id="Xw1Qpj">Aside from changing his mindset off the field, Odenigbo has also changed his role in the locker room this season. In the past, he let other leaders on the defense step up and be the team’s vocal leaders. This season, however, he thought the leadership in the locker room in the first four games was kind of quiet.</p>
<p id="RmHikC">“We’ve had guys like Deonte (Gibson) and Dean (Lowry) and other upperclassmen and I was so used to them talking,” Odenigbo said. “And when those guys weren’t there I just assumed someone would take that role but you can’t assume, I’ve been here long enough, I’ve done my dues and diligence.”</p>
<p id="i4U5Ql">So he decided to step in and do something about it.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="Bc9eII"><q><span id="AF2Jmv">“Patience is a virtue, and it’s about to show up cause I’ve worked my ass off.”</span></q></aside></div>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="gA3bHV">
<p id="QnehcA"><strong>October 1, 2016, Iowa City</strong><strong> — Kickoff is minute</strong><strong>s</strong><strong> away</strong><strong> </strong>and Odenigbo is determined to leave Kinnick Stadium with a victory, something he had never done in his time at Northwestern.<strong> </strong>Still carrying the pissed off mentality that he woke up with that morning, Odenigbo looked to rally the team and get them motivated.</p>
<p id="S78Bmu">“Before the game we bring it up as a defense and he was the person that came in and talked and he was mad,” C.J. Robbins said. “He had that energy the whole time, he was laser focused.”</p>
<p id="Eh8Afs">“He brought the defense up and really got after us, he challenged us to be our best,” Anthony Walker said. “He preached it the whole week, just about not doubting anything and going out and playing physical and going out and playing hard. I think he took that as a personal challenge last week and this week that was all he preached.”</p>
<p id="Vxgu9K">Odenigbo assured the team he was going to give it his all. He knew if the team wanted to win he needed to take a step forward and elevate his game. <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/6/13146120/northwestern-football-defensive-line-ifeadi-odenigbo-defensive-player-of-the-week-iowa-hawkeyes">So he did just that.</a></p>
<p id="FcTsl7">According to his head coach, it was the best game of his career. Odenigbo registered four sacks and earned <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/3/13148824/ifeadi-odenigbo-named-co-b1g-defensive-player-of-the-week">Big Ten co-defensive player of the week honors.</a> His performance that game was a reflection of the work that he has put in in throughout his five years in Evanston.</p>
<p id="f55Oxu">On the field, Odenigbo was overpowering the Hawkeyes’ offensive linemen. Facing offensive tackles who had over 40 pounds on him, Odenigbo relied on his strength, speed and athleticism–the same qualities his high school coach initially pick up on–to blow by the lineman and get to C.J. Beathard in the pocket.</p>
<p id="wnpxR8">On the sidelines, Odenigbo continued to do what he’s been doing his entire football career: he took matters into his own hands. When the team faced hardships midway through the game, falling behind 21-17 at halftime and losing some teammates to injuries, Odenigbo stepped in. He encouraged the team to “regroup, reload, recalibrate and re-engage,” and the team proceeded to fight through the adversity.</p>
<p id="IRMI1Q">Northwestern was clinging to a 38-31 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the game when Iowa got one last chance to make something happen. The Hawkeyes moved the ball down to the Northwestern 47-yard line with just over a minute to play. On third-and-six, Pat Fitzgerald took a timeout to talk things over with the defense. During the timeout, Odenigbo went up to the defensive line and implored them to make a play.</p>
<p id="hjXySG">“This is where champions are made,” he told them.</p>
<div id="urJ1aP"><div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 62.500%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/wata?autoplay=1&logo=0&hd=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="a2S9pA">On that play, Odenigbo spun past the offensive linemen and almost got to Beathard to record his fifth sack of the game. Instead, Beathard escaped and threw the ball downfield into the hands of Trae Williams, sealing the game for the Wildcats — a feeling much better than getting his fifth sack of the game, Odenigbo joked when looking back at the moment.</p>
<p id="WUZSpQ">“It was a great feeling because all our hard work finally demonstrated,” Odenigbo said. “All the workouts we did during the summer, all the off-season training was all made for that fourth quarter.”</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="oTIcAi">
<p id="7tZ3vG">After the game, Odenigbo expressed how proud he was of the team’s demeanor that entire game, saying he had “never seen anything like it.” Now moving forward, Odenigbo is determined to keep proving doubters wrong and the team can continue turning in impressive performances week after week.</p>
<p id="JB7cNE">“We’ve shown that we can travel to away games and beat teams like Iowa that everyone has us losing,” Odenigbo said. “So we’ve got to have that swagger. That’s something that we didn’t have at first, but we have it now and just have to keep building on it.”</p>
<p id="lzK4Vj">“It’s kind of like when they say you have a taste of power or taste of success, you don’t want to leave it because it’s a great feeling,” he added. “I plan on doing that every single time now.”</p>
<p id="eNrBDQ">The defensive captains on the team, Walker and Robbins, have taken notice of Odenigbo’s transformation into a vocal leader.</p>
<p id="5sHzmk"><strong>“</strong>I just love playing with Ifeadi,” Walker said. “He’s always aggressive, always has that focus mentality–but for him to step up as a vocal leader last week was really big for us.”</p>
<p id="8p0fuo"><strong>“</strong>People are really respecting what he has to say,” Robbins said. “We’re feeding off of his energy and it’s just really great to see him come into his place and keep striving forward.”</p>
<p id="Ctpinl">Although Fitzgerald called Odenigbo’s performance against Iowa the best game of his career, Odenigbo is positive his best play is yet to come.</p>
<p id="phTo4I">“I plan on going higher, I want to be the closer,” Odenigbo said. “In the fourth quarter, when the game is on the line, we’re neck and neck and need a play, I want to be that guy.”</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/14/13275076/ifeadi-odenigbo-profile-northwestern-football-defensive-end-anthony-walker-pat-fitzgeraldZach Wingrove2016-10-13T21:22:59-05:002016-10-13T21:22:59-05:00Northwestern unveils new purple Wildcat helmet for MSU<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/NUFBFamily/status/786691736768802816">Northwestern unveils new purple Wildcat helmet for&nbsp;MSU</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>We are huge fans. Northwestern has already gone with a matte black Wildcat and an all-white Wildcat on the lid, but the purple is a new one. They'll add white jerseys and purple pants to complete the outfit.</p></p></div>
https://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/13/13281418/northwestern-unveils-new-purple-wildcat-helmet-for-msuZach Pereles2016-10-13T17:40:56-05:002016-10-13T17:40:56-05:00Northwestern Week 7 Injury Report vs. Michigan State
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<img alt="Illinois State v Northwestern" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GMX_Avuy78RmGVu-5YI8cs4UC8o=/0x144:4620x3224/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51345207/602232112.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Issues abound on both lines of scrimmage for the Wildcats.</p> <p id="iAlR7J">Thanks to a well-timed bye week, Northwestern hasn’t played since its shocking road win at Iowa almost two weeks ago. In that time, it appears the injury-laden Wildcats have healed up a bit.</p>
<p id="7QXBAI">Only two Wildcats were on the official injury report sent out by the athletic department on Thursday: OL Connor Mahoney and DL Xavier Washington.</p>
<p id="mIBjTB">Mahoney was listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game against Michigan State while Washington is out. That leaves left guard in a state of flux for the Wildcats as sophomore Andrew Otterman could fill in to make the start if Mahoney can’t go.</p>
<p id="4iuMgt">With Washington out, Ifeadi Odenigbo — who notched a career-high four sacks against Iowa -- will likely start at defensive end opposite C.J. Robbins.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/13/13279438/northwestern-wildcats-injury-report-week-7-connor-mahoney-xavier-washington-michigan-state-footballJosh Burton2016-10-13T09:03:02-05:002016-10-13T09:03:02-05:00Take two: Is this weekend a must-win for NU?
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<img alt="Michigan State v Northwestern" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9tC6rmL6Lsw5kPYKN2yNOaRfFAg=/0x84:2794x1947/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51330845/106162416.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Can the Wildcats still reach bowl eligibility if they lose on Saturday?</p> <p id="txeMNY"><em>Is Northwestern’s trip to Michigan State a must-win for the 2016 season? Tristan Jung and Will Ragatz give their opinions.</em></p>
<p id="BKY4FC"><strong>Tristan Jung:</strong> For Northwestern to salvage any kind of tangible success from this season, it has to win this game at Michigan State this weekend. After the big win against Iowa two weeks ago, Northwestern now has to win four of its next seven games to become bowl-eligible at 6-6. If that occurs, it won’t be a pretty bowl, and it won’t be against a high-quality opponent, but given that Northwestern lost three of its first four encounters, it’s at least something for Pat Fitzgerald to celebrate. </p>
<p id="hQJQlw">But forget about bowl implications for a moment. Northwestern is 2-5 against Michigan State in the Mark Dantonio era, and this is certainly one of the weakest Michigan State teams that Northwestern has faced in the last decade. At the beginning of the year, a trip to a team that had lost five times between 2013-2015 was part of Northwestern’s daunting October schedule. Now Michigan State looks very vulnerable, and it would be a huge confidence boost for Northwestern as a program to notch another road victory against what is considered a conference blue blood.</p>
<p id="uoW56Z">After a fairly miserable start to the season, back-to-back victories could be a season-saving occasion for the Wildcats. The team has failed to show any kind of consistency in 2016. While the game is a must-win for postseason purposes, it’s also a must-win for the team and the coaching staff in terms of reliability and preparation. If Northwestern’s wild inconsistency continues through 2016, the rest of Clayton Thorson’s tenure at Northwestern could get very dicey. This game will be huge for Northwestern to consolidate the improvements the team showed versus the Hawkeyes.</p>
<p id="fgx0f2"><strong>Will Ragatz: </strong>After starting as poorly as Northwestern did, a bowl appearance has to be considered the goal for the remainder of 2016. Like you said, that most likely means going 4-3 in the final seven games of the season. (Due to their extremely high APR score, the Wildcats would actually have a great shot at making a bowl at 5-7 if the NCAA once again doesn’t have enough six-win teams, but let’s assume that won’t be the case...also that would be lame). This game against Michigan State is not a must-win because there is a clear path for Northwestern to pick up four more wins without beating the Spartans. At this point, there are three teams left on the schedule that Pat Fitzgerald’s crew should definitely beat. Purdue and Illinois are bad football teams, and Minnesota’s dumpster fire of an offense just put up 7 points on an Iowa defense that gave up 38 to Northwestern. Then you have two home games against talented but beatable opponents to pick up the necessary fourth win: Oct. 22 vs Indiana (more likely) and Nov. 5 vs. Wisconsin (less likely).</p>
<p id="5u6IAS">That leaves just two road games, at Ohio State and this one in East Lansing. The Wildcats don’t stand a chance against the Buckeyes, and I actually think this Saturday’s game is going to be tougher than many expect. Sure, Michigan State is vulnerable, but the Spartans still have plenty of talent and more importantly, Mark Dantonio. I would be very surprised to see a coach as good as Dantonio lose a fourth straight game and a third consecutive on his home field, especially on Homecoming. You have to imagine the Spartans will come out energized, desperate and with a good gameplan. I hear your point about wanting Northwestern to achieve some consistency, but unless the Wildcats get absolutely blown out, there’s nothing shameful or season-destroying about losing this game.</p>
<p id="RQdYv2"><strong>Tristan Jung: </strong>I wouldn’t go as far as arguing it’s “shameful” to lose this game, barring a Rutgers-style collapse. However, those two home games against Indiana and Wisconsin that you mentioned will be very tough tests for Northwestern. Indiana has looked very solid this year and has made massive strides on defense thus far (rising 70+ spots in defensive S&P+). I think Wisconsin is slightly overrated in the polls, but they are still a substantially better football team. Hoping that Northwestern will win one of those two football games at Ryan Field is a tall order. The road game against Minnesota is no gimme either.</p>
<p id="DRI8Fa"><a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa">By S&P</a><a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa">+</a><a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa">, Michigan State</a> is the worst Big Ten team that Northwestern will play until it goes to Purdue on November 12. How much weight you put in those numbers is up to you, but Michigan State has not shown itself to be anything close to a juggernaut. Michigan State doesn’t have a quarterback (well, technically it has three, which means it has none). The Spartans could barely do anything against BYU, a defense that gave up 53 points to Toledo in Provo a week before. In my opinion, if there is a game and it is winnable, Northwestern has to win that game. That’s what happens when you lose at home to an FCS team. This syllogism is, admittedly, incredibly obvious, but it holds true. </p>
<p id="m8HaFg"><strong>Will Ragatz: </strong>I hear what you’re saying. What this question really comes down to, though, is how one determines what makes a must-win game. For Northwestern to hold onto its dreams of getting back into the Big Ten West race, it has to win this game. But I just don’t think that’s a possibility, due to the fact that Nebraska and Wisconsin, the current division leaders, are significantly better teams. As I mentioned earlier, I think the Wildcats’ realistic way to salvage this season is by getting back to .500 and making (and ideally winning) a bowl. And in my opinion, this isn’t a must-win game to do that.</p>
<p id="bGhknh">All of those S&P+ numbers are nice, but remember, Tristan: stats are for losers. All joking aside, even if you consider Michigan State worse than Indiana, the point is that it’s pretty close. If Northwestern loses on Saturday, it’ll still have a decent chance to take down the Hoosiers on homecoming and set itself up nicely for bowl contention with a much easier November.</p>
<p id="viVgU1"> </p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/13/13265340/northwestern-michigan-state-preview-mark-dantonio-analysis-spartans-homecoming-pat-fitzgeraldTristan JungWill Ragatz2016-10-13T08:01:02-05:002016-10-13T08:01:02-05:00Why Northwestern will/won’t beat Michigan State
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<img alt="Northwestern v Iowa" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nu4umsQB8iXdQrQIGBNfbK5Dhyc=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51331203/611838866.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Will the Wildcats get back to .500 in East Lansing?</p> <p id="YOrnVT"><em>Every Thursday during football season, we'll be presenting reasons why Northwestern will or won't come away from its Saturday game victorious. It's not so much an argument for or against either result as it is envisioning the scenarios in which the Wildcats come away from the game with a win or a loss.</em></p>
<p id="poSQfQ"><em>This week, the Wildcats travel to East Lansing, Michigan to face off with 2-3 Michigan State. The Spartans—the defending Big Ten Champs and a team many thought would compete with Ohio State and Michigan for the crown this season—enter this matchup on the heels of their first three-game losing streak since 2009, most recently falling 31-14 to BYU. Though many fans fans pegged this game as a loss for Northwestern before the season, the Spartans’ struggles and Northwestern’s huge upset of Iowa have Pat Fitzgerald’s group thinking otherwise. A win this week would be a major step toward bowl eligibility for the Wildcats, but beating the Spartans on the road will be no easy feat. Here are the reasons Northwestern will or won’t win Saturday. </em></p>
<h2 id="TuCfuI">Why Northwestern will beat Michigan State</h2>
<h3 id="T2C9bk">1. Northwestern’s offense will own third down</h3>
<p id="Dleo9k">Neither team’s offense is super explosive — Northwestern and Michigan State rank 96th and 101st in <a href="http://www.footballstudyhall.com/2014/1/27/5349762/five-factors-college-football-efficiency-explosiveness-isoppp">IsoPPP</a>, respectively. So, whichever offense can extend drives and control the clock will have a big advantage Saturday. Though Northwestern’s offense isn’t very explosive, it’s actually pretty good on third down. The Wildcats rank 36th in third down <a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa">S&P+</a>. And, Michigan State’s defense is a lowly 119th in third down S&P+.</p>
<p id="QdE629">This combination of (pretty) good offense and poor defense will keep the Spartan defense on the field and, maybe more importantly, keep the Wildcat defense fresh. Third downs are important for any team, but they’re especially key for Northwestern this week given the third down disparity between the teams so far this season. </p>
<h3 id="iZ1Gku">2. Justin Jackson will (steadily) run through the Spartans </h3>
<p id="0tuWhV">Michigan State’s run defense has been puzzling this season. The Spartans allowed just 122 yards on the ground against a strong Wisconsin team, but gave up 260 yards — 163 to lead back Jamaal Williams — last week at home against BYU. Overall, Michigan State ranks 84th in defensive rushing S&P. But, the Spartans jump up to 26th in defensive rushing IsoPPP. While explosive plays like <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/1/13132660/justin-jackson-to-the-house">this</a> may be hard to come by for Justin Jackson and Northwestern’s rushing attack, there is some success to be had. </p>
<p id="uPnlvM">Though Clayton Thorson has <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/11/13234980/clayton-thorson-northwestern-quarterback-stats-northwestern-football-analysis-pat-fitzgerald">improved</a> this season, Jackson is the focal point of the Wildcat offense. To get a win in East Lansing, Northwestern will need Jackson to, at the very least, take some pressure off of Thorson. More likely than not, though, the Wildcats will need a big game from Jackson to get the win this week. If Jackson can come through, look for a Wildcat W.</p>
<h3 id="6PfoeP">3. Northwestern’s defensive line will show up big-time again</h3>
<p id="u2SUXv">Michigan State benched quarterback Tyler O’Connor during last week’s loss to BYU and listed three quarterbacks at QB1 this week. With the Spartans’ uncertainty under center, Northwestern’s defensive line becomes incredibly important. Ifeadi Odenigbo & Co. <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/6/13146120/northwestern-football-defensive-line-ifeadi-odenigbo-defensive-player-of-the-week-iowa-hawkeyes">came alive</a> against Iowa last week, and Northwestern will need a similar performance this week. Michigan State will probably try to establish the running game early due to the quarterback situation, so the Wildcat defensive line has to be up to the task. Another big performance Saturday will go a long way toward a victory.</p>
<h2 id="mu7Hta">Why Michigan State will beat Northwestern</h2>
<h3 id="ORUaZ7">1. The Spartan defensive line will dominate the game</h3>
<p id="FjxXEJ">Though the Northwestern offensive line held it together against Iowa, it has been atrocious for most of the season. This week, the line faces a challenge unlike any they have seen thus far: <a href="http://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-football-2016-all-america-team">preseason first team All-American</a> pick Malik McDowell. McDowell could wreak havoc in the Northwestern backfield this week, which would make it extremely difficult for Thorson, Jackson and the rest of the offense to get into any sort of rhythm. Northwestern’s offensive line got manhandled against Illinois State earlier this season and, with no disrespect to the Redbirds, their defensive line is not nearly as good as Michigan State’s. </p>
<h3 id="A3qgO3">2. Northwestern will lose the turnover battle</h3>
<p id="eWYZOO">In a game that looks like it will be relatively low-scoring, Northwestern cannot afford to turn the ball over. Thorson has five turnovers in five games this season, which isn’t bad, but he has proven to fall fatal to ill-timed turnovers in the redzone. Because Northwestern’s offense is not explosive, turnovers are that much more crippling for the team as a whole. </p>
<p id="zjiETf">With McDowell’s presence on the inside, Thorson may have to get rid of ball quickly at times, a recipe for turning the ball over. After a lackluster performance a week ago, Mark Dantonio will surely make sure his defense is ready to play this week. In a loud stadium, taking care of the ball will be paramount for Northwestern. </p>
<h3 id="OVer1q">3. Tyler O’Connor will bounce back and torch the Wildcats’ secondary</h3>
<p id="vXXgBH">Dantonio benching O’Connor last week feels like a wake-up call. The chances are that O’Connor will the guy this week, and he could have good chance to succeed. Northwestern’s secondary is still thin, and it’s not like O’Connor has been horrible all season. He threw for three touchdowns and no interceptions in the Spartans’ overtime loss to Indiana and completed over 70 percent of his passes in a high-scoring win against Notre Dame, before Notre Dame became a train wreck. There’s a reason O’Connor was the clear heir apparent to Connor Cook coming into the season, and he’ll have a chip on his shoulder this weekend. </p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2016/10/13/13263110/northwestern-michigan-state-preview-football-keys-to-the-game-justin-jackson-malik-mcdowellCaleb Friedman