Inside NU - Know Your Opponents: Previewing every team on Northwestern's 2015 scheduleRoll Damn 'Catshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52532/insidenu_fav.png2015-08-09T14:48:06-05:00http://www.insidenu.com/rss/stream/87755782015-08-09T14:48:06-05:002015-08-09T14:48:06-05:00Know Your Opponent, Week 12: LOLinois
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<figcaption>Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>When the Illini become the subject, objectivity goes out the window.</p> <p><i>With our </i><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/northwestern-football-2015-season-preview" target="_blank">Summer Guide</a><i> now complete, you probably have a general sense of Northwestern's outlook for the coming season. But breaking down any given team's strengths and weaknesses doesn't paint a complete picture. To truly gauge a team's win-loss potential, analyzing the schedule is arguably just as important.</i></p>
<p><i>Come game week, we will have detailed, timely, matchup-based write-ups on each opponent, but in the interim, we present to you our Know Your Opponent series. It's our look ahead at all 12 teams on Northwestern's 2015 schedule. So by the time training camp rolls around, you'll have a fuller view of the upcoming season.</i></p>
<p><i>Today, we conclude our opponent previews with the team that shall not be named, nor projected to make a bowl as long as their coach is there.</i></p>
<h3>The Basics</h3>
<p><b>Returning Starters: </b>Offense -7, Defense - 7<br><b>2014 Record: </b>6-7 (3-5 Big Ten)<br><b>Coach: </b>Tim Beckman, 4th year (12-25 at Illinois)</p>
<h3>The Stats</h3>
<p><i style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">The following metrics are courtesy of Bill Connelly of SB Nation and Football Outsiders. You can read more about the rankings and theory behind them <a style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #492a7a; font-weight: bold;" data-ref-index="6" target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa">here</a>.</i></p>
<p><a style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #492a7a; font-weight: bold;" data-ref-index="7" target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa">2014 S&P+ Overall Rank:</a> 65th<br><a style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #492a7a; font-weight: bold;" data-ref-index="8" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaaoff" target="_blank">2014 S&P+ Offense Rank</a>:<a style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #492a7a; font-weight: bold;" data-ref-index="9" target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa"> </a>60th<br><a style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #492a7a; font-weight: bold;" data-ref-index="10" target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa">2014 S&P+ Defense Rank:</a> 72nd<br><a style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #492a7a; font-weight: bold;" data-ref-index="11" target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/5/20/8625261/2015-college-football-rankings-projections">2015 S&P+ Projection:</a> 63rd</p>
<h3>2014 Capsule</h3>
<p>After two <strike>tough</strike> atrocious years at the helm, Tim Beckman somehow managed to steer Illinois to a bowl berth last year. After escaping the mighty Penguins of Youngstown State and the fearsome Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky with fourth-quarter comebacks in both games, the Illini got railed by Washington (see what happens when you schedule SOMEONE). They managed another fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Texas State to finish the non-conference slate 3-1.</p>
<p>The Illini then lost to Nebraska and Purdue, the game in which starting quarterback Wes Lunt broke his leg. Reilly O'Toole took over. The Illini lost at Wisconsin before stunning Minnesota in front of the largest crowd at Memorial Stadium all season. After getting thumped by Ohio State and Iowa, the Illini beat Penn State and won the season-finale-that-didn't-actually-happen-because-Northwestern's-injury-list-was-longer-than-Tim-Beckman's-accusation-list in Evanston. Illinois then earned the title of "worst bowl team" by nearly getting doubled up by Louisiana Tech, 35-18, in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.</p>
<h3>Offensive Overview</h3>
<p>Lunt is back and should be 100 percent health-wise. He showed promise as a freshman at Oklahoma State before getting hurt and struggling to regain early season form. He lost his job and transferred to Illinois, where he sat out a year before having another strong start to last season. Another injury put an end to the success though, so his health will be key.</p>
<p>At running back, the Illini return explosive playmaker Josh Ferguson. The senior averaged over five yards per carry last year and had eight touchdowns on the ground. He also had 50 catches for nearly 500 yards last year. He had trouble holding onto the ball (four fumbles lost), but has loads of talent. There are no experienced options behind him at the position, so his health, too, is crucial.</p>
<p>Mike Dudek was a second-team All-Big Ten wideout last year as a freshman. He's a terrific player that can take the top off the defense or run precise routes and pick a defense apart underneath. Unfortunately, he <a href="http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/08/illinis-mike-dudek-freshman-all-american-wr-tears-acl/" target="_blank">tore his ACL</a> in April and will miss about half the season if his rehab goes perfectly. If not — or if Illinois is 0-6, probably the more likely scenario — Dudek might just take a medical redshirt this season.</p>
<p>The Illini have plenty of experienced options behind him, though. Geronimo Allison, Malik Turner and Justin Hardee all saw significant time last year, but Illinois will need all three to step up in Dudek's absence. Tight ends are not a major factor in Illinois' passing attack, but the Illini lost their top two at the position from last year.</p>
<p>The offensive line is not expected to be a strength. The two top linemen in terms of career starts, Michael Heitz and Simon Cvijanovic — <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/5/12/8593977/tim-beckman-illinois-football-simon-cvijanovic" target="_blank">you may have heard of him</a> — are gone. So is starting center Alex Hill. Ted Karras returns from injury, but this line could be an adventure.</p>
<h3>Defensive Overview</h3>
<p>This unit struggled against the run last year, but the Illini return most of their starting front seven. The defense was solid against the pass but loses its two standout safeties. It will be interesting to see how co-coordinators Mike Phair and Tim Banks deal with those losses.</p>
<p>Up front, Austin Tietsma is gone, but Jihad Ward, Duwuane Smoot and Rob Bain return. Ward (6-foot-6, 295 pounds) and Bain (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) provide some meat. Talented backup Jarrod Clements is also in the mix.</p>
<p>The linebacking corps should be strong. Mason Monheim and T.J. Neal, last year's top two 'backers, return. They are joined by Mike Svetina, who returns after missing all of 2014 with injury. There is also decent depth at this position; LaKeith Walls saw action in all 13 games last year.</p>
<p>The secondary will have to replace Zane Petty and Earnest Thomas III, two very good playmakers, but second-leading tackler Taylor Barton returns as do basically every cornerback that saw playing time last year. Eaton Spence is solid in coverage and V'Angelo Bentley, who will start opposite of him, is terrific against the run. He had 7.5 tackles for a loss last year.</p>
<h3>Three Players to Know</h3>
<p><b>Wes Lunt (QB) - </b>If he's healthy, he's by far the best and most experienced option at QB on the roster. He completed well over 60 percent of his passes, had a 14-to-3 touchdown to interception ratio and averaged 6.7 yards per attempt in 2014, nearly 1.5 yards better than O'Toole. If Lunt is healthy, Illinois (probably won't be but still) might be bowl-bound yet again, especially if Dudek gets back.</p>
<p><b>Josh Ferguson (RB) - </b>Ferguson is a terrific option as a runner and pass-catcher. Despite running behind a below-average offensive line, he managed 5-plus yards per carry and can break off long runs if he gets to the second level.</p>
<p><b>Mike Dudek (WR) - </b>What a weapon. His numbers as a freshman — 78 catches, 1,038 yards — ranked fifth and seventh in school history, respectively. It was indisputably the best performance from an Illini freshman wideout ever. Should he return even close to full strength, he adds a dimension to the Illini attack that not many other players in the nation can offer.</p>
<h3>Behind Enemy Lines</h3>
<p><i>Jim Vainisi from SB Nation Illinois blog <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thechampaignroom.com/">The Champaign Room</a> gives us his best- and worst-case scenarios for the Illini in 2015. And becuase he's from Illinois, he begins with the worst-case:</i></p>
<p><b>Worst-case sceanrio: 3-9 (0-8), Beckman fired</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>So much can go wrong, but let's assume that the player mistreatment allegations are proven false (almost certainly going to happen) and Beckman keeps his job for at least most of the season.</p>
<p>Illinois' only non-conference loss is a poor showing against North Carolina in Week 3 and the team enters Big Ten play with a 3-1 record. Unfortunately, Wes Lunt suffers another season-ending injury early in the calendar and the Illini proceed to lose their first 7 league games before heading to Chicago to defend the LOLhat. Pat Fitzgerald runs up the score and Illinois loses by, like, 35 points to finish with an overall record of 3-9 (0-8). Needless to say, Mike Thomas marches down to the 50-yard line at Soldier Field to publicly fire Beckman immediately after the game.</p>
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<p><b>Best-case scenario: 8-4 (4-4), Beckman back!</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Hey, Illinois is good! The Illini pull out a surprise win against the Tar Heels and enter conference play at 4-0. They lose a close game against Nebraska, but more than make up for it a few weeks later with a huge home victory over Wisconsin. A few road wins (and an ass kicking at the hands of Ohio State) later and Illinois is sitting at 7-4 for the Northwestern game. Tim Beckman and Abraham Lincoln himself lead the Illini out of the tunnel to a sea of orange—almost as if the fans had confused this with a Bears game. The Wildcats forfeit and Illinois finishes the regular season at 8-4 (4-4).</p>
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<p><b>Season Prediction: 6-6 (3-5), Beckman probably retained</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b></b>Kent State - W<br>WIU - W<br>@ UNC - L<br>MTST - W<br>-----------------<br>NEB - W<br>@ IOWA - L<br>WIS - L<br>@ PSU - L<br>@ PUR - W<br>OSU - L<br>@MINN - L<br>NU - W</p>
<p>If Illinois finishes the season at 6-6, I think the team would need to win the bowl game in order for Beckman to keep his job. Personally, I'm all for retaining Beckman if he can consistently guide us to 6 wins, but for some reason a lot of fans think we deserve better because we're Illinois. F*ck that—I'll take the bowl appearances.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<p> </p>
<h3 style="font-weight: bold;">Bill Connelly Says...</h3>
<p><i>SB Nation college football guru Bill Connelly has been maniacally churning out previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here's an excerpt from his </i><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/5/22/8638261/illinois-football-2015-preview-schedule-roster" target="_blank"><i>Illinois preview</i></a><i> on the off-field distractions, and how they could make or break Beckman and his team this year.</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Looking at things from a certain angle, you could talk yourself into Illinois being ready for another 2013-level breakthrough. Depth is questionable, but the first string could be capable of an above-average Big Ten level.</p>
<p>The problem is that negativity creates narratives, and it is impossible to escape it. If we've heard about the problems and potential divides in the locker room, then the players have, too. If we've heard Beckman's name listed high on hot seat lists, the players have, too.</p>
<p>I often say you become your record; whether you are lucky or unlucky, precedent is in your memory. Good luck becomes confidence, and bad luck becomes fear. You could make the case that a team becomes its problems, too. For every example of a team banding together to prove clubhouse unity, there are two examples of a team failing to overcome negative vibes.</p>
</blockquote>
<h3 style="font-weight: bold;">Final Thoughts</h3>
<p>Illinois and Beckman have been in the headlines this offseason for all the wrong reasons. Dudek's injury. Cvijanovic's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/5/11/8583855/former-illinois-football-player-twitter-rant-tim-beckman-simon-cvijanovic">Twitter rant</a>. And the fallout from his accusations. Still, Wes Lunt and Josh Ferguson form a potent backfield, Dudek could be back at some point, and the defensive front seven returns almost all of last year's contributors. If players in the secondary step up, the defense could be ok. So unless everything completely falls apart...</p>
<p>Wait. What are we saying here. Of course things will completely fall apart. This is LOLinois. The Illini and Wildcats will meet at Soldier Field — thanks for sparing us an awful trip to Champaign, guys! — in frigid temperatures, and bowl eligibility could be on the line again. But remember, last year, Northwestern lost on purpose to preserve Beckman's job. It was a short-term sacrifice for a long-term (and comedic) gain. This year, things will be different. Northwestern will win. It will not be close. There will be no mercy.</p>
<h3 style="font-weight: bold;">The Game</h3>
<p><b style="font-weight: bold;">Date: </b>Nov. 28<br><b style="font-weight: bold;">Time: </b>TBD<br><b style="font-weight: bold;">Home/Away: </b>Home... YEAH WE SAID IT #CHICAGOSBIGTENTEAM<br><b style="font-weight: bold;">TV: </b>TBA<br><b style="font-weight: bold;">Projected Betting Line: </b>Northwestern -2.5</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/8/9/9123027/northwestern-football-schedule-preview-illinois-lolinoisZach Pereles2015-08-08T14:00:25-05:002015-08-08T14:00:25-05:00Know your Opponent, Week 11: Wisconsin
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<figcaption>Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Can Northwestern pull off a second straight upset over the Badgers?</p> <p id="paragraph0" class="pgh-paragraph has-dropcap" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">With our </i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.insidenu.com/northwestern-football-2015-season-preview" data-ref-index="5" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; image-rendering: optimizequality; color: #492a7a; font-weight: bold;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Summer Guide</i></b></a><i style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> </i><i style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">now complete, you probably have a general sense of Northwestern's outlook for the coming season. But breaking down any given team's strengths and weaknesses doesn't paint a complete picture. To truly gauge a team's win-loss potential, analyzing the schedule is arguably just as important.</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"></i></p>
<p id="paragraph1" class="pgh-paragraph" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Come game week, we will have detailed, timely, matchup-based write-ups on each opponent, but in the interim, we present to you our Know Your Opponent series. It's our look ahead at all 12 teams on Northwestern's 2015 schedule. So by the time training camp rolls around, you'll have a fuller view of the upcoming season.</i></p>
<p id="paragraph2" class="pgh-paragraph" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Today, we preview Wisconsin.</i></p>
<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 32px; margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; line-height: 36px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">The Basics</b></h3>
<p id="paragraph3" class="pgh-paragraph" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Returning Starters:</b> Offense: 5, Defense: 8<br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">2014 Record:</b> 11-3 (7-1 Big Ten)<br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Coach:</b> Paul Chryst, 1st year (19-19 at Pittsburgh)</p>
<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 32px; margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; line-height: 36px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;">The Stats</h3>
<p id="paragraph4" class="pgh-paragraph" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">The following metrics are courtesy of Bill Connelly of SB Nation and Football Outsiders. You can read more about the rankings and theory behind them <a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa" target="_blank" data-ref-index="7" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; image-rendering: optimizequality; color: #492a7a; font-weight: bold;">here</a>.</i></p>
<p id="paragraph5" class="pgh-paragraph" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa" target="_blank" data-ref-index="8" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; image-rendering: optimizequality; color: #492a7a; font-weight: bold;">2014 S&P+ Overall Rank:</a> 25th<br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaaoff" data-ref-index="9" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; image-rendering: optimizequality; color: #492a7a; font-weight: bold;">2014 S&P+ Offense Rank</a>:<a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa" target="_blank" data-ref-index="10" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; image-rendering: optimizequality; color: #492a7a; font-weight: bold;"> </a>13th<br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa" target="_blank" data-ref-index="11" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; image-rendering: optimizequality; color: #492a7a; font-weight: bold;">2014 S&P+ Defense Rank:</a> 15th<br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/5/20/8625261/2015-college-football-rankings-projections" target="_blank" data-ref-index="12" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; image-rendering: optimizequality; color: #492a7a; font-weight: bold;">2015 S&P+ Projection:</a> 25th</p>
<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 32px; margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; line-height: 36px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">2014 Capsule</b></h3>
<p>After a heartbreaking loss to LSU in week 1, Wisconsin was able to rebound by winning 10 of its next 11 games to finish off the regular season with a 10-2 record (7-1 in the Big Ten). That was enough to earn the Badgers a Big Ten West title, and a spot in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/big-ten-championship-game">Big Ten Championship</a>. Their lone loss during that span came when they traveled to Evanston in week 6 and were upset by the Wildcats, 20-14. There were several notable victories though: a 59-24 victory over Nebraska in week 12, as well as two absolute thrashings of Big Ten newcomers Maryland and Rutgers in back-to-back weeks (52-7 over Maryland, 37-0 over Rutgers).</p>
<p>Wisconsin peaked as high as No. 13 in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-playoff">College Football Playoff</a> rankings before heading to the Big Ten Championship to face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com/">Ohio State Buckeyes</a> and their third-string quarterback, Cardale Jones. The Badgers were completely embarrassed by the eventual national champions, ultimately getting shut out 59-0. Four days after that loss, news broke that head coach Gary Andersen was leaving the program to take the head coaching position at Oregon State. Just 11 days after Andersen's departure, Paul Chryst was hired and introduced as the Badgers' new head coach — their third in four seasons. But the Badgers were able to rally together, and, led by interim head coach Barry Alvarez, finished the season off with a 34-31 overtime victory over Auburn in the Outback Bowl to finish the year 11-3.</p>
<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 32px; margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; line-height: 36px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Offensive Overview</b></h3>
<p>Wisconsin's bread and butter on offense has always been the product of two things: talented running backs and a dominant offensive line. Last season was no exception, as running back <span>Melvin Gordon</span> turned in one of the greatest single season rushing performances of all-time, rushing for 29 touchdowns and 2,587 yards (second most of all-time, behind only Barry Sanders). Over the past decade, Wisconsin has cemented itself as one of the most consistent rushing attacks in college football, averaging 3,594 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns over the last 5 seasons.</p>
<p>Last season, thanks to Gordon's Heisman-runner-up performance, the Badgers had the best rushing offense in the Big Ten as they totaled 320 rushing yards per game, 4482 yards and 46 touchdowns. Gordon averaged an astounding 7.5 yards per carry. Gordon is gone this season, along with All-American linemen <span>Rob Havenstein</span> and <span>Kyle Costigan</span>, but it would be foolish to assume that the departures are going to prohibit the Badgers from having yet another impressive season on the ground.</p>
<p>The Badgers started the 2014 season with converted-safety <span>Tanner McEvoy</span> at quarterback. While McEvoy showed some flashes of athleticism and dual-threat ability, he ultimately struggled the majority of the time with his accuracy and decision-making, and by week 7, <span>Joel Stave</span> had recaptured the starting quarterback position. The passing game ended up being one of the team's weaknesses, as they finished ranked No. 112 in the country with only 2,082 total passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions between the two quarterbacks.</p>
<p>One of the biggest problems with the Badgers' passing game last season stemmed from the thin receiving corps. All of the Badgers' pass-catchers struggled early in the season with route-running and drops. However by the end of the season, <span>Alex Erickson</span> showed great improvement — finishing the year with 55 receptions for 772 yards and three touchdowns — and will enter his senior season as the clear cut No. 1 receiver in Madison.</p>
<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 32px; margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; line-height: 36px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Defensive Overview</b></h3>
<div>Heading into last season, the Badgers were tasked with the challenge of replacing their entire front seven on defense. But many of the inexperienced players on the defensive side of the ball rose to the challenge and it was clear by the middle of the year that the Badgers' defense had gelled together and was among the strongest units in the conference. Their defense finished No. 4 in the nation last year, allowing only 294 yards per game, and even adjusting for tempo, they still finished 15th in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaadef">S&P+ rankings</a>. And while their play last year was definitely a positive, there was also <i>plenty</i> of room for improvement (if you have any doubt about that, go re-watch the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2014/12/6/7346355/wisconsin-ohio-state-final-score-cardale-jones-devin-smith-ezekiel-elliott-melvin-gordon/in/7077116">Big Ten Championship game</a>).</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>While Wisconsin is losing its two starting inside linebackers (<span>Derek Landisch</span> and <span>Marcus Trotter</span>) in 2015, there's less rebuilding to do this year than last year. Among the notable contributors returning this season include safety Michael Caputo, the outside linebacker tandem of <span>Joe Schobert</span> and <span>Vince Biegel</span>, nose tackle <span>Arthur Goldberg</span>, cornerbacks <span>Sojourn Shelton</span> and <span>Darius Hillary</span>, and, perhaps most importantly, defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. There was much speculation that Aranda would depart along with Anderson this past offseason, especially following the successful 2014 campaign. But Aranda decided to stay, and as a result, the defense has the potential to be improved in 2015.</div>
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<div>Wisconsin also loses four of its front seven starters from 2014, but the returning players show plenty of promise for the future. In hopes of improving his 3-4 scheme, Aranda plans to shift Goldberg from nose tackle to defensive end, making room for younger players like defensive end <span>Chikwe Obasih</span>.</div>
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<div>In the secondary, the Badgers return all four of their starters from last season, and also have moved McEvoy back to free safety following his brief stint at quarterback in hopes of adding more depth. Having Shelton and Hillary return at cornerback should improve the Badgers' pass defense, while returning sophomore <span>Lubern Figaro</span> will look to have a breakout season at free safety playing alongside Caputo, one of the best in the country.</div>
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<h3><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">Three players to know</b></h3>
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<p style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph19"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span>Corey Clement</span>, RB </b><span>-</span><span>As Gordon's backup in 2014</span>, Clement was still able to register 949 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 6.5 yards per carry. A large portion of his work came late in games after Gordon had already run all over opposing defenses, but nevertheless, he was impressive. Now, with Gordon gone, Clement will enter his junior year as the every down back for the Badgers. He is a powerful runner who is capable of running between the tackles, but can also showcase breakaway speed if given space. He will have high expectations weighing on his shoulders, but don't be surprised if Clement is able to exceed those expectations — just as Wisconsin's running backs have done time and time again over the year.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;" class="pgh-paragraph"><span></span><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Joel Stave, QB</b> - It has been a roller-coaster ride of a career for Stave, filled with quarterback battles and injuries. But this season, Stave enters camp as the undisputed starter. He is reunited with Chryst — his old offensive coordinator from 2011 when he won the starting job midway through the season as a freshman. Stave has thrown for 4,948 yards, 37 touchdowns and 26 interceptions so far in his career; and at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, he possesses the ideal size, arm strength, and accuracy to be a successful college quarterback. In the past, his downfall has been poor decision-making in crucial moments. Perhaps his best weapon is his ability to accurately throw the deep ball, something that Chryst will be eager to utilize in his pro-style offense come this season.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph21"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span>Michael Caputo</span>, SS</b> - Caputo, a fifth-year senior, was the Badgers' leading tackler last year, totaling 106 tackles (6 tackles for a loss). As one of the captains this year, Caputo will look to provide leadership and use his disruptive play-making abilities to lead by example. Last season, Caputo was a consensus second-team All-Big Ten selection, and if he performs up to his standards this season, he could earn first-team honors.</p>
<h3>Behind Enemy Lines</h3>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;" class="pgh-paragraph">Jake Kokorowski from SB Nation Wisconsin blog <a target="_blank" href="http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/">Bucky's 5th Quarter</a> gives us his best- and worst-case scenarios for Wisconsin in 2015:</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;" class="pgh-paragraph"><b>Best-case scenario</b>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;" class="pgh-paragraph">On offense, head coach Paul Chryst's pro-style provides a surge to the Wisconsin passing game and senior quarterback Joel Stave -- who completes 65 percent of his passes in 2015. Wide receivers Alex Erickson and a healthy Robert Wheelwright provide the first, substantial receiving duo at the position since 2011, and sophomore tight end Troy Fumagalli provides a deep threat down the seam that lives up to the hype Melvin Gordon mentioned in 2014. That makes opposing defenses stop stacking eight or nine defenders in the box as seen in the past two seasons and opens up the dominant Wisconsin running game even further for junior running back Corey Clement, who scampers for over 2,000 yards behind a rebuilt offensive line that avoids major injury. Wisconsin's offense does not reach the levels seen under quarterbacks in Scott Tolzien and Russell Wilson in 2010 and 2011, respectively, but scores close to 31 to 35 points per game.</p>
<p>The defense holds its own against Alabama in the season opener, creating several turnovers and the chance to win late in the game, but the Crimson Tide holds on to a hard-fought defensive struggle 17-14. From there, the offense regains its confidence, owning the rest of the softer non-conference schedule post-Bama and Iowa at Camp Randall, and go on the road and defeat the Huskers in a tough contest in Lincoln. Without Ohio State or Michigan State during conference play, Wisconsin wins the rest of its regular season games, and faces the Buckeyes in a rematch of last year's Big Ten Championship game. Wisconsin puts up a bigger fight than last year, but still falls in the title game. Their reward, however, is another New Year's Day bowl and a highly successful first season for Chryst.</p>
<p>Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda's 3-4 scheme continues to lay havoc as it has the past two seasons. Outside linebackers Vince Biegel and Joe Schobert lead the most dynamic set of linebackers Wisconsin's ever seen, racking up sacks and tackles for loss each game. The veteran secondary lives up to its hype, as a rejuvenated Sojourn Shelton interceptions six passes during the season, and safety Michael Caputo continues to stuff running games as a pseudo fifth-linebacker. The defensive line solidifies with the experience gained in 2014, as sophomores Chikwe Obasih and Alec James add to the pass rush, helping the Badgers to average two turnovers forced per game.</p>
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<p style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;" class="pgh-paragraph"><b>Worst-case scenario</b>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;" class="pgh-paragraph">Injuries plague the offensive line, as center Dan Voltz and left guard Ray Ball miss valuable time during the season. Younger players have to step up but the line doesn't gel -- causing hiccups in the running game with inconsistent efforts. That forces the offense to depend upon Stave and the passing game, but his progress is stunted with opposing defenses picking off errant passes when the former walk-on tries to do too much and the projected receiving targets do not live up to their potential.</p>
<p>Bama shocks the Badgers early on in Dallas with forcing turnovers early against that offensive line and Stave that translate to easy points for the Tide. Wisconsin never fully recovers to make it a close contest, as junior running back Derrick Henry carries the Tide offense. Wisconsin owns the next four contests, but Jordan Stevenson -- the former verbal commit who was just denied admissions to the university in early July but signed with the Huskers -- runs wild in early October and scores two touchdowns in an emotional victory at home. The Badgers narrowly escape in the rest of their home games, but stumble in a Northwestern-like loss circa 2014 at Maryland -- and, after holding the Paul Bunyan's Axe for 11 straight years, the Badgers lose a shocker against Jerry Kill's Gophers surprise and shock Wisconsin at TCF Stadium with turnovers and injuries hurting UW's chances at holding the Axe for the 12th straight year. At 8-4, Wisconsin misses the Big Ten Championship game but flounders into a non-New Year's Day bowl game, it's first not played on Jan. 1 since the Champs Sports Bowl in 2009.</p>
<p>The defense carries its weight on the team, but with being on the field for over 35 minutes a game, the wear and tear take their toll. Wisconsin's inside linebackers, Leon Jacobs and T.J. Edwards, though showing flashes of great potential in the spring, show their greenness in their first season starting and face some problems staying healthy. With five of Wisconsin's eight projected inside linebackers true freshmen, the Badgers have to rely on youth to step up quickly with mixed results. The defensive line misses the leadership of Warren Herring and Konrad Zagzebski, and offenses take advantage of that position group trying to find its identity. The secondary, which many believe to be of great potential for the third straight year, stumbles with quarterbacks picking on Shelton as they did in 2014 -- which causes the junior to lose the confidence he regained in the spring.</p>
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<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 32px; margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; line-height: 36px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;">Bill Connelly says...</h3>
<p id="paragraph30" class="pgh-paragraph" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin-top: 1em;"><i style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">SB Nation college football guru Bill Connelly has been maniacally churning out previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here's an excerpt from his </i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/6/4/8702645/wisconsin-football-2015-preview-schedule-roster" style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><i>Wisconsin Preview</i></a><i><font color="#292929" face="Mercury SSm A, Mercury SSm B, Georgia, serif" size="3"><span> on why Wisconsin is still the favorite to capture the Big Ten West title.</span></font></i></p>
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<p class="pgh-paragraph" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin-top: 1em;">It's hard to avoid making assumptions. No matter the coach, no matter the personnel, you know the Badgers are going to run well, and thanks to four top-30 defenses in the last six years, you assume they are going to play steady D. There will be power football, there will be "Jump Around," and there will be wins.</p>
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<p>Still, Wisconsin is the surest bet in the Big Ten West. Minnesota has risen for three straight years, and Nebraska's got new energy and a nice schedule. But the kings are still the kings until they are dethroned. The Badgers have won three of four against Nebraska and 11 straight against Minnesota. That they have to go to Lincoln and Minneapolis is scary, especially since the passing game isn't guaranteed to improve, but they avoid both Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, and Penn State out of the East and will be favorites in each of their other six conference games.</p>
<p>Paul Chryst isn't a perfect hire, but he seems good enough to keep this ship steered. Wisconsin will have a solid chance of winning the West, and with quite a few high-impact underclassmen, the Badgers set up well for 2016 as well.</p>
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<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 32px; margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; line-height: 36px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Final Thoughts</b></h3>
<p>Last year, the Badgers' traveled to Evanston, turned in a sluggish performance, and fell 20-14. However, in the Wildcats' last three trips to Madison, they've been outscored by the Badgers 146-38. Although this may be Chryst's first season at the helm, he returns plenty of impact starters on the defensive end and a plethora of talent on offense, coupled with a promising incoming recruiting class. The Badgers could have one of the best defensive units in the Big Ten, and a dominant rushing game is basically a given.</p>
<p>While the extent of Wisconsin's success this season could ultimately hinge on how well Stave develops under Chryst's supervision, against NU, the Badgers' should be able to lean on Clement and have success on the ground. If Stave is able to connect on the occasional downfield pass, this game could be over in the third quarter, especially with Wisconsin seeking revenge from last season's loss. The key for Northwestern will be controlling the Badgers' offense, as it did last season.</p>
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<b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">
<h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 32px; margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; line-height: 36px; font-family: 'Sentinel SSm A', 'Sentinel SSm B', Georgia, serif; color: #292929;">The Game</h3>
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<p style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; margin-top: 1em; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph36"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Date:</b> Nov. 21<br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Time:</b> TBA<br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Home/Away:</b> Away<br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">TV:</b> TBA<br style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Projected Betting Line:</b> Wisconsin -14</p>
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https://www.insidenu.com/2015/8/8/9119327/northwestern-football-schedule-preview-wisconsin-week-11Zach Wingrove2015-08-07T12:45:01-05:002015-08-07T12:45:01-05:00Know your Opponent, Week 10: Purdue
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<figcaption>Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Boilermakers are now in year three of their rebuild, but how much better will they really be in 2015? </p> <p><i>With our </i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.insidenu.com/northwestern-football-2015-season-preview"><b><i>Summer Guide</i></b></a><i> </i><i>now complete, you probably have a general sense of Northwestern's outlook for the coming season. But breaking down any given team's strengths and weaknesses doesn't paint a complete picture. To truly gauge a team's win-loss potential, analyzing the schedule is arguably just as important.</i><i></i></p>
<p><i>Come game week, we will have detailed, timely, matchup-based write-ups on each opponent, but in the interim, we present to you our Know Your Opponent series. It's our look ahead at all 12 teams on Northwestern's 2015 schedule. So by the time training camp rolls around, you'll have a fuller view of the upcoming season.</i></p>
<p><i>Today, we preview Purdue.</i></p>
<h3><b>The Basics </b></h3>
<p><b>Returning Starters: </b>Offense - 9, Defense - 7<br><b>2014 Record: </b>3-9 (1-7 B1G)<br><b>Coach: </b>Darrell Hazell, 3rd year (4-20 at Purdue)</p>
<h3><b>The Stats</b></h3>
<p><i>The following metrics are courtesy of Bill Connelly of SB Nation and Football Outsiders. You can read more about the rankings and theory behind them </i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa"><b><i>here</i></b></a><i>.</i></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa"><b>2014 S&P+ Overall Rank:</b></a> 79<br> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaaoff"><b>2014 S&P+ Offense Rank</b></a>: 97<br> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaadef"><b>2014 S&P+ Defense Rank</b></a>: 53<br> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/5/20/8625261/2015-college-football-rankings-projections?_ga=1.101528066.205633692.1419711847"><b>2015 S&P+ Projection:</b></a> 74</p>
<h3><b>2014 Capsule </b></h3>
<p>The Boilermakers did not have a particularly successful 2014 campaign. In head coach Darrell Hazell's 2nd year on the job, Purdue started the season 3-3 and even got Hazell his first Big Ten win at Illinois in October. That would prove to be the high point of the season, as the win in Champiagn was followed by six straight losses, four by double digits. This included a 38-14 thrashing at the hands of Northwestern. Although it's hard to believe, Purdue's 3-9 record in 2014 was still a step in the right direction for the program. The Boilermakers went 1-11 in 2013 and were barely a competitive football team, losing multiple games by 30+ points (most notably 56-0 against Ohio State). In 2014, they had their moments, including beating Illinois in Champaign and almost upsetting Minnesota in Minneapolis. This Purdue team is still improving, and might be ready to make a leap, although it's unclear how big that leap will be.</p>
<h3><b>Offensive Overview </b></h3>
<p>Purdue's offense is all about efficiency, they use the run and short passes to set up a deep shot down the field. The only problem is that it's hard to be efficient when your quarterbacks only complete 50% of their passes. As is always the case, the offense runs through the quarterback, and Purdue will once again have an open competition for the starter spot. Last year Danny Etling won the preseason competition over Austin Appleby, but was replaced by Appleby in week six against Illinois. Appleby had a good game against Illinois (15-20, 202 yards, 1 TD) but was average for the rest of year, only completing 52% of his passes and going 1-6 as the starter.</p>
<p>While it's easy to put all the blame on the quarterbacks, their supporting cast isn't exactly stellar either. The Boilermakers have one real deep threat, senior Danny Anthrop, and when he got injured against Nebraska last year, the offense fell apart. To put in perspective how underwhelming Purdue's wideouts were last year, after Anthrop the next two highest reception totals were 19 from Cameron Posey and 12 from DeAngelo Yancey. Digging a little deeper, you'll find that Yancey's stats were downright absurd. He was targeted 51 times and caught 12 passes for 147 yards. That's a 23% catch rate and 2.9 yards per target. Now most of those incompletions are on the quarterback not on Yancey, but that might very well be the most inefficient stat line by a wide receiver in the entire country.</p>
<p>The tailback situation isn't much better, although it is much more of an unknown. Purdue employs a pass-heavy offense, but the run game is vital for both the play action and taking some pressure off the quarterbacks. Both of last year's leading rushers, Akeem Hunt (172 carries, 952 YDS, 6 TDs) and Raheem Mostert (93 carries, 529 YDS, 3 TDs) are no longer on the team, and the rest of the backs have a total of 27 career carries. The source of those 27 carries, sophomore Keyante Green, averaged 9.1 yards per carry in B1G play last year, but fellow sophomore D.J. Knox is currently ahead on him on the depth chart. Knox boasts some big-play potential as does Green, and this could be a solid one-two punch during the season. Whoever starts will have the vital role of attempting to set up Purdue's big plays as well as catching lots of the check downs out of the backfield.</p>
<p>Purdue's line is the team's strongest offensive unit and it's only getting better. The line brings back all five starters, as well as 6-foot-8, 420-pound guard Corey Clements. Yes, you read that right. 420 pounds. After an atrocious season in 2013, the offensive line was 47th in the nation in Adjusted Line Yards and 3rd in power success rate. (They were 104th and 125th in those categories in 2013) There are a lot of unknowns all around them, but the line should be able to give the quarterbacks enough time to at least attempt the big plays.</p>
<h3><b>Defensive Overview</b></h3>
<p>The defense was a mixed bag for the Boilermakers last year. Inside the redzone, Purdue was one of the better units in the nation, ranked 30th in redzone S&P+, and only gave up 3.9 points per possession inside the 40. However, strong defense inside the 20 didn't translate to good defense overall. The unit as a whole was the typical bend-don't-break defense. They got tough on teams once they were near the goal line, but it was not a real struggle to get there.</p>
<p>The problems with the defense start up front with the defensive line. Purdue was terrible against the run last year, allowing 194.1 rushing yards per game, and will desperately need younger players to step up to be any better this year. The loss of veteran ends Ryan Russell and Jalani Phillips hurts, but it opens up places for younger players like converted linebacker Gelen Robinson and Evan Panfil. The line also returns defensive tackle Jake Replogle, who led the team with 11.0 tackles for loss last season. If the younger players step up then the line can improve and be much better than the sieve it was last year.</p>
<p>The linebackers will once again be solid; all three starters return, and good play there can help take a little pressure off the front four. Similar to the defensive line, the linebackers will benefit from another year of experience; both middle linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley and will linebacker Danny Ezechukwu were freshman last year, and SAM linebacker Jimmy Herman was only a sophomore. The linebackers will have to make sure they do a better job covering up the mistakes made by the front four, a job that fell mostly to the defensive backs in 2014.</p>
<p>The secondary is the best part of this defense, and it's not really that close. In fact the team's leading tackler last year was free safety Landon Feitchter with 88.0, and the team's second leading tackler was cornerback Frankie Williams with 62.5. (MLB Bentley was third with 59.5) The only problem is that both Feichter and fellow safety Taylor Richards have moved on, as has Antoine Lewis, one of their better corners. For a team that survives by not giving up big plays, turnover in the secondary could spell doom for the entire unit as a whole. A solid pass rush could help smooth the transition, but due to the current state of the line, that's a big question mark.</p>
<h3><b>Three Players to Watch</b></h3>
<p><b>Danny Anthrop, WR - </b>The only real deep threat on the roster, Anthrop is vital to Purdue's offense. He's primed for a big year as the main option for whoever plays quarterback, but is recovering from a knee injury against Nebraska that ended his 2014 season.</p>
<p><b>Frankie Williams, CB - </b>A physical cornerback, Williams will be the cornerstone of a secondary that heads into the season in transition. Purdue's second leading tackler is also a beast in coverage, intercepting three passes last year as well as breaking up seven others. Not content with only contributing on one side of the ball, Williams is also one of the team's best punt returners.</p>
<p><b>Austin Appleby, QB - </b>At 6'5, 229, Appleby is a big dual-threat quarterback who had his moments last year. While not the best passer, Appleby can certainly beat the defense with his legs (6.0 YPC, 292 YDS, 5 TDs) and will most likely be the starter come week one. Whether or not redshirt freshman David Blough is starting by the time Purdue rolls into Evanston will ultimately depend on the quality of play from Appleby early in the season. <b></b></p>
<h3><b>Behind Enemy Lines</b></h3>
<p><i>SB Nation Purdue blog <a href="http://www.hammerandrails.com/">Hammer and Rails</a> manager Travis Miller gives best and worst case scenarios for Purdue this season:</i></p>
<p><b>Best-case scenario</b>:</p>
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<p>Year three of Darrell Hazell starts to pay dividends and the Boilers surprise folks by getting through a sneaky tough non-conference schedule undefeated. They begin by winning comfortably at Marshall and people really start to notice when Purdue upsets Virginia Tech in week 3. A rough opening stretch to conference play quickly cools everyone as Purdue goes 1-3, beating Minnesota but losing to Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Michigan State. The back end is the opposite, however as Purdue goes 3-1 against Iowa, Northwestern, Illinois, and Indiana. A surprising 8-4 record sets up for a big 2016 season with most everyone including Austin Appleby/David Blough who finally took the reins at quarterback.</p>
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<p><b>Worst-case scenario</b>:</p>
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<p>A confident Marshall team blows out Purdue in the opener. The Boilers only go 1-3 in the non-conference, beating Indiana State, but losing to Virginia Tech and Bowling Green (making it a third straight year with a home MAC loss). The losing streak continues with a 0-4 start to Big Ten play. Purdue salvages something with a second straight win over Illinois, but Northwestern and Iowa put Purdue at 2-9 heading into the Bucket game with Indiana. The Hoosiers clinch a bowl birth and beat Purdue three times in a row for the first time in 70 years. An ineffective Austin Appleby is replaced again midseason at quarterback as Hazell goes to the backup for the third straight year. David Blough doesn't fare much better and overall the offense continues to look lost.</p>
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<h3><b>Bill Connelly Says...</b></h3>
<p><i>SB Nation college football guru Bill Connelly has been maniacally churning out previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here's an excerpt from his <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/5/20/8626311/purdue-football-2015-preview-schedule-roster/in/8400608">Purdue preview</a> on Purdue's trouble with special teams:</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Paul Griggs is automatic inside of 40 yards, and in Frankie Williams, Purdue has one of the more dynamic punt returners in a conference loaded with dynamic punt returners.</p>
<p>But special teams is going to only be so much of a strength if kickoffs and punts are a drain on field position. Purdue allowed 11.4 yards per punt return, 12th in the conference, and while the Boilermakers allowed a healthier 19.8 yards per kick return (37th nationally), Griggs' kickoffs were short and inefficient. Purdue ranked in the triple digits in kickoff and punt efficiency, which meant that the bend-don't-break defense was already bending before a drive even started.</p>
</blockquote>
<h3><b>Final Thoughts</b></h3>
<p>The theme of 2015 for the Boilermakers is improvement. 2014 was an improvement on 2013, and there's plenty of optimism heading into the new season. I think Purdue plays better this year, but I don't think the ceiling is too high. The quality of play will improve, but the schedule is just too tough. They've got two tough non-conference games, against Marshall and Virginia Tech, and then they play Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. Ouch. The second half of B1G play is much easier: Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa, Indiana, but at that point a bowl might very well be out of reach. They'll probably finish somewhere around 5 wins, maybe 6 and a bowl if they pull an upset somewhere along the line.</p>
<p>As for the November 14th game against Northwestern, it's still way too early to predict (we have no idea who's playing quarterback for either team), but I don't think it'll be a blowout. Purdue will be coming off of a win against Illinois the week before, but the Wildcats have the home field advantage. My way-too-early prediction is that Northwestern comes out on top in a one score game. It's just too difficult to overlook how bad Purdue's run defense was last year, and the Wildcats should be able to ride Justin Jackson to victory.</p>
<h3><b>The Game</b></h3>
<p><b>Date: </b>Nov. 14<br><b>Time: </b>TBA<br><b>Home/Away: </b>Home<br><b>TV: </b>TBA<br><b>Projected Betting Line: </b>Northwestern -13.5</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/8/7/9103863/northwestern-football-schedule-2015-opponent-purdue-week-10Ian McCafferty2015-08-07T07:15:01-05:002015-08-07T07:15:01-05:00Know your opponent, Week 9: Penn State
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<figcaption>Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Christian Hackenberg will lead another talent-stuffed Nittany Lion roster into Evanston in early November.</p> <p><i>With our </i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.insidenu.com/northwestern-football-2015-season-preview">Summer Guide </a><i>now complete, you probably have a general sense of Northwestern's outlook for the coming season. But breaking down any given team's strengths and weaknesses doesn't paint a complete picture. To truly gauge a team's win-loss potential, analyzing the schedule is arguably just as important.</i></p>
<p><i>Come game week, we will have detailed, timely, matchup-based write-ups on each opponent, but in the interim, we present to you our Know Your Opponent series. It's our look ahead at all 12 teams on Northwestern's 2015 schedule. So by the time training camp rolls around, you'll have a fuller view of the upcoming season.</i></p>
<p><i>Today, we preview Penn State.</i></p>
<h3>The Basics</h3>
<p><b>Returning Starters: </b>Offense - 9, Defense - 6<br><b>2014 Record: </b>7-6 (2-6 Big Ten)<br><b>Coach: </b>James Franklin, 2nd year (7-6 at Penn State; 24-15 in 3 years at Vanderbilt)</p>
<h3>The Stats</h3>
<p>The following metrics are courtesy of Bill Connelly of SB Nation and Football Outsiders. You can read more about the rankings and theory behind them <a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa">2014 S&P+ Overall Rank</a>: 46<br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa">2014 S&P+ Offense Rank</a>: 109<br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa">2014 S&P+ Defense Rank</a>: 4<br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/5/20/8625261/2015-college-football-rankings-projections?_ga=1.113785476.205633692.1419711847">2015 S&P+ Projection</a>: 37</p>
<h3>2014 Capsule</h3>
<p>The season started off well enough for the Nittany Lions. After surviving an opening-week scare from Central Florida, James Franklin's bunch handled Akron, snuck by Rutgers and blew out UMass to get to 4-0. But then Northwestern came to town and rolled in Happy Valley on homecoming weekend. And then after a bye, Penn Sate lost at Michigan, had another bye week, and proceeded to drop a tough one to the eventual national champions, Ohio State. Another loss to Maryland levelled their record at 4-4.</p>
<p>The Nittany Lions managed an ugly win against Indiana, and rolled Temple, but then fell to both Illinois and Michigan State to close the regular season at .500. A bowl game win over Boston College in an overtime thriller was nothing more than a consolation prize. Overall, the defense usually kept the Nittany Lions in games, but the offense was inconsistent at best. Christian Hackenberg showed his obvious talent at times, but struggled mightily under constant pressure behind a very shaky offensive line.</p>
<h4>Offensive Overview</h4>
<p>This was a young unit last year, and that that actually hasn't really changed. Hackenberg struggled through a rough sophomore campaign (12 TDs, 15 INTs) behind an offensive line that gave up 44 sacks. He took a beating and his confidence looked way down at certain points. Hackenberg has great size and a talented arm, and draft sites have him rated as a top prospect in <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2015/insider/story/_/id/13053839/mel-kiper-early-ranking-top-qb-prospects-2016-nfl-draft">the 2016 NFL Draft,</a> but he's got to show more this season.</p>
<p>Penn State brings back top running back Akeel Lynch, who is very good once he gets to the second level, but loses tough between-the-tackles runner Zach Zwinak and multi-purpose back Bill Belton, who had almost as many carries as Lynch did. There is no experience behind Lynch, so his health is key. Four-star true freshman Saquon Barkley could see carries, as could redshirt freshmen Mark Allen, Nick Scott and Johnathan Thomas.</p>
<p>At wide receiver, the Nittany Lions have talent to spare; they bring back their top four from last year. DaeSean Hamilton is the leader of the group. Coming of an 82-catch, 899-yard campaign, the 6-foot-1, 211-pound rising sophomore should be one of the nation's top playmakers this year. Behind him are Geno Lewis (55 catches last year), and talented rising sophomores Chris Godwin and Saeed Blacknall. The team lost its top tight end, Jesse James, to the NFL Draft, but has a talented trio to replace him in Kyle Carter, Adam Breneman and Mike Gesicki.</p>
<p>Up front, through, there are still major questions. As Bill Connelly wrote in <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/6/1/8682523/penn-state-football-2015-preview-schedule-roster" target="_blank">his preview of the team</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Only seven teams allowed more frequent sacks on passing downs. Only three teams allowed more run stuffs in the backfield. Only four teams created fewer downfield opportunities for their backs."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And that unit lost its top player from last year: left tackle Donovan Smith was a second-round of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So, not only do the Nittany Lions need someone to replace Smith as Hackenberg's blindside protector, they need improvement across the board. Center Angelo Mangiro returns, along with the entire right side of the offense line.</p>
<h4>Defensive Overview</h4>
<p>Plain and simple, it was the defense that allowed James Franklin to sneak into a bowl game in his first year at the helm in Happy Valley. Up front, the Nittany Lions return man-beast Anthony Zettel. The 6-foot-4, 278-pound tackle had 17 tackles for a loss and eight sacks. He even tied for the team lead in interceptions with three. Also back is Zettel's running mate, massive Austin Johnson (6-foot-4, 325 pounds), who had six tackles for a loss a year ago. Deion Barnes and C.J. Olaniyan, who combined for nine sacks and 18 tackles for loss last year, will surely be missed, though.</p>
<p>Tackling machine Mike Hull is gone from the linebacking corps, but Nyeem Wartman-White and Brandon Bell return. Four-star true freshmen Manny Bowen and Daiquan Kelly could see time, as could a bevy of redshirt freshmen. Whoever replaced Hull will have big shoes to fill. He had 107.5 tackles and 10.5 tackles for a loss while starting all 13 games last year.</p>
<p>In the secondary, Penn State returns stud Jordan Lucas (who will move from corer to safety to replace Adrian Amos) and the other starting safety from last year, Marcus Allen. Senior Trevor Williams mans one corner spot, but the real question is who will step up at the other. It likely will be someone without much experience. Sophomore Grant Haley is the most likely candidate, but classmate Christian Campbell and redshirt freshman Daquan Worley could also have big roles.</p>
<h3>Three Players to Know</h3>
<p><b>Christian Hackeberg (QB) - </b>The immensely talented pocket-passer struggled holding on to the ball last year (21 turnovers), but put in a masterful performance in the Nittany Lions' bowl win (34-for-50, 371 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs). Northwestern's defense rattled him, sacking him four times, pick-sixing him once and recovering a fumble. But he has a great arm and, if he's behind a better offense line (admittedly a big "if"), he's one of the top quarterbacks in the conference.</p>
<p><b>DaeSean Hamilton (WR) - </b>A matchup nightmare, Hamilton is big, strong and fast. His hands could use some improvement, but he is still just a redshirt sophomore. Nick VanHoose and Matt Harris will have their hands full, and will likely require plenty of safety help. Hamilton showed his immense potential with a 14-catch, 126-yard performance against Ohio State last year.</p>
<p><b>Jordan Lucas (S) - </b>Lucas is moving from cornerback to safety, but it should not be too big of a transition. He led the team with nine pass breakups and was third with 47.5 tackles The rising senior is undoubtedly the leader of the secondary.</p>
<h3>Behind Enemy Lines</h3>
<p><i>Bill DiFilippo from SB Nation Penn State blog <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/" target="_blank">Black Shoe Diaries</a> gives best and worst case scenarios for the Nittany Lions this season:</i></p>
<p><b>Best-case scenario</b>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Well the way I see it this year, Penn State will probably be favored in all but two games — Ohio State and Michigan State. So let's say that, in a best case scenario, the Nittany Lions win all 10 of those. I'm going to assume that even in a best case scenario, Ohio State's talent and coaching is unbeatable, so we'll call that a loss. Sparty will probably be a loss no matter what, but hell, this is a best case scenario, so let's call that a win, and Penn State finishes the year 11-1.</p>
<p>As for a bowl, I think the second-best team in the Big Ten would probably go to one of the New Year's Six bowls. I would like to take a trip to the Rose Bowl, so I'll guess Penn State would make it to the Rose Bowl, where it would beat Alabama. And of course, Penn State can build on its current recruiting class, end in the top-5 classes in America, and somehow convince Rashan Gary to come to Happy Valley. Christian Hackenberg wins the Heisman and comes back for his senior year, hungry for a national championship.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Worst case-scenario</b>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Penn State's biggest concerns — namely the offensive line and the amount of youth on the roster — are never really alleviated, so we see a lot of similarities between this year's team and last year's squad that had a ton of issues on offense. On defense, Penn State can't fully replace guys like Mike Hull and Adrian Amos, and that unit takes a sizable step back.</p>
<p>Things are rough from the start with a loss to Temple, San Diego State shocks the Nittany Lions, and Penn State loses four total conference games: Ohio State, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State. The Nittany Lions go 6-6, limp to the Foster Farms Bowl, get waxed by Cal, and Hackenberg is joined in the NFL Draft by fellow redshirt junior Austin Johnson. In recruiting, Miles Sanders, Shane Simmons, Lavert Hill, Michal Menet, and all of the other really good players Penn State has pulled in so far flip to other schools. I cry a lot.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Season prediction</b>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I'll say 9-3, the offensive line comes together under year two of Herb Hand, and most of Penn State's youth isn't fazed by playing major college football. The team loses to a OSU, MSU, and a Michigan squad that has figured it all out by that point in the season. Other than that, Penn State looks generally not bad for most of the year and wins all of the games that it should. As for a bowl game, gimme the Outback Bowl, I suppose. That seems like a good time. Hackenberg probably goes pro, but Johnson stays for his senior year. And recruiting stays in the top-10, with one or two of the team's big targets - my mind goes to Ohio linebacker Brendan Ferns and/or Florida wide receiver Tre Nixon - decide to commit to the Nittany Lions.</p>
</blockquote>
<h3>Bill Connelly Says...</h3>
<p><i>SB Nation college football guru Bill Connelly has been maniacally churning out previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here's an excerpt from his <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/6/1/8682523/penn-state-football-2015-preview-schedule-roster">Penn State preview </a>on the Nittany Lions' pass rush:</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p>We're talking about the pass rush because it's about the only area of the defense that suffered any sort of loss. Barnes and Olaniyan were both solid, though it certainly bears mentioning that while they combined for nine sacks, dynamic Anthony Zettel had eight by himself. (He also had nine non-sack tackles for loss and eight passes defensed. He is fantastic.)</p>
<p>Sophomore end Garrett Sickels had two sacks in limited opportunities, and in Zettel, enormous Austin Johnson, and reserves Parker Cothren and Tarow Barney, PSU has one of the best sets of play-making tackles in the country. The line was so good that Shoop rarely had to rely on his linebackers; on a top-10, high-havoc defense, PSU linebackers combined for only four sacks, only one more than what safeties managed.</p>
</blockquote>
<h3>Final Thoughts</h3>
<p>Penn State has fought hard through the post-Sandusky scandal years. The talent that they lost on the recruiting trail, and through transfers away from the school for that matter, has basically been replaced. The Nittany Lions have a lot of four-stars that are either incoming this year or should contribute as redshirt freshmen. James Franklin did a terrific job rebuilding Vanderbilt, and his team this year returns a lot of contributors. Northwestern went into Happy Valley and dominated last year after an underwhelming first few weeks, and this should be a intriguing matchup. Will Hackenberg figure out Northwestern's defense? More importantly, will his offensive line give him time to do so?</p>
<h3>The Game</h3>
<p><b>Date: </b>Nov. 7<br><b>Time: </b>TBD<br><b>Home/Away: </b>Home<br><b>TV: </b>TBA<br><b>Projected Betting Line: </b>Penn State -3.5</p>
<h3></h3>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/8/7/9109845/northwestern-football-schedule-2015-penn-state-week-9Zach Pereles2015-08-04T09:26:53-05:002015-08-04T09:26:53-05:00Know your opponent, Week 8: Nebraska
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<figcaption>Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Nebraska could be the class of the Big Ten West.</p> <p><i>With our <a target="_blank" href="http://www.insidenu.com/northwestern-football-2015-season-preview">Summer Guide</a> now complete, you probably have a general sense of Northwestern's outlook for the coming season. But breaking down any given team's strengths and weaknesses doesn't paint a complete picture. To truly gauge a team's win-loss potential, analyzing the schedule is arguably just as important.</i></p>
<p><i>Come game week, we will have detailed, timely, matchup-based write-ups on each opponent, but in the interim, we present to you our Know Your Opponent series. It's our look ahead at all 12 teams on Northwestern's 2015 schedule. So by the time training camp rolls around, you'll have a fuller view of the upcoming season.</i></p>
<p><i>Today, we preview Nebraska.</i></p>
<h3><b>The Basics</b></h3>
<p><b>Returning Starters: </b>Offense - 6, Defense - 7<br><b>2014 Record: 9-4</b> (5-3 Big Ten)<br><b>Coach: </b>Mike Riley, 1st year (93-80 in 14 seasons at Oregon State)</p>
<h3><b>The Stats</b></h3>
<p><i>The following metrics are courtesy of Bill Connelly of SB Nation and Football Outsiders. You can read more about the rankings and theory behind them <a data-ref-index="7" target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa"><b>here</b></a>.</i></p>
<p id="paragraph5"><a data-ref-index="8" target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa"><b>2014 S&P+ Overall Rank:</b></a> 31<br><a data-ref-index="9" target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaaoff"><b>2014 S&P+ Offense Rank</b></a>: 33<br><a data-ref-index="10" target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaadef"><b>2014 S&P+ Defense Rank</b></a>: 41<br><a data-ref-index="11" target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/5/20/8625261/2015-college-football-rankings-projections?_ga=1.101528066.205633692.1419711847"><b>2015 S&P+ Projection:</b></a> 30</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><b>2014 Capsule</b></h3>
<p>Nebraska was a good football team in 2014 that won nine games and whose four losses -- aside from a brutal loss to Wisconsin -- all fell within five points. So, after seven-straight years of winning <i>at a minimum </i>seven games, the Cornhusker brass, naturally, fired Bo Pelini. The decision still puzzles me.</p>
<p><b style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">Offensive Overview</b></p>
<p>Losing running back Ameer Abdullah will put more pressure on junior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr., who showed glimpses in 2014 of being a real solid option under center. Nebraska will also have to replace top playmaking wide receiver Kenny Bell, as well as their entire interior offensive line. Senior running back Imani Cross and junior Terrell Newby, both former four-star recruits, will get their first opportunities to show what they can do carrying the load in Lincoln. The passing game looks to take another step up as Armstrong continues to develop and wideout weapon De'Mornay Pierson-El takes a bigger role on offense.</p>
<p><b style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">Defensive Overview</b></p>
<div>
<p>The defense is definitely the weaker of the two units for Nebraska. Losing Randy Gregory to the NFL is a huge loss for a line that tended to struggle overall a season ago. Regardless, the defense is experienced and, on paper, should be better than it was a year ago. This defense has the talent to be solid but most of that will be based on its ability to defend against the run as a cohesive unit.</p>
<h3><b>Three Players to Know</b></h3>
<p><b>Tommy Armstrong Jr. (QB) - </b>Quietly, Armstrong was one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten last season racking up yards both through the air and on the ground. As a junior, the arrow is pointing way up for the 220-pounder. He's a dark horse, in my opinion, to be a transformative offensive player in the Big Ten West.</p>
<p><b>De-Mornay Pierson-El (WR) - </b>Pierson-El is probably<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zfCP0pPSWs"> the best special teams weapon</a> in the country. He is dominant in the return game and has the potential to be a standout wide receiver on offense. He caught four touchdowns in 2014 in a limited role and his targets will surely go up in 2015. As the team's top weapon on offense with the departures of Bell and Abdullah, Pierson-El will be Armstrong's top target.</p>
<p><b>Nate Gerry (S) - </b>After making the switch from linebacker to safety ahead of the 2014 season, Gerry was a monster for Nebraska. In six of the Huskers' eight Big Ten games, Gerry had a takeaway, earning him an All-Big Ten second team selection. A junior, Gerry joins Armstrong and Pierson-El in a nucleus of playmakers on both sides of the ball. He will be the leader of an experienced, yet relatively untested group in the defensive backfield.</p>
</div>
<div>
<h3>Behind enemy lines</h3>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.omaha.com/huskers/shatel-excelling-at-basics-is-job-one-for-nebraska-in/article_431a3b55-b97b-5303-85ae-4162c4999043.html">Tom Shatel of the Omaha World-Herald on expectations for Mike Riley in year one:</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>This is a 9-4 program. That's where Nebraska football is now. That's the standard, the expectation. The Husker players know how to do enough to get to nine wins and also do enough to lose three or four.</p>
<p>If you want more, expect more. After last season's overtime win at Iowa, a Nebraska assistant — former assistant now — walked by some Nebraska media types on the way to the locker room and shouted, "Nine wins, baby!"</p>
<p>Mission accomplished?</p>
<p>Time to change the mission.</p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<h3><b>Bill Connelly Says...</b></h3>
<p><i>SB Nation college football guru Bill Connelly has been maniacally churning out previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here's an excerpt from his </i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/6/3/8694665/nebraska-football-2015-preview-schedule-roster-mike-riley">Nebraska preview</a><i> on their chances this season:</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>Mike Riley has brought infinite good vibes to a program that needed them, but the goodwill will expire if he misses out on an opportunity to make noise in a wide open West.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<h3><b>Final Thoughts</b></h3>
<p>Nebraska, at this point, seems to be the class of the Big Ten West and I say that because I think they have the best quarterback in the division. Armstrong is a game-changer for the Cornhuskers and Riley should be able to make his skill set blossom in a pro-style offense. His big arm could be devastating in a play-action scheme when coupled with his ability to escape the pocket. Nebraska's schedule sets up nicely with two decent tests (home for BYU in week one and at Miami in week three) before Big Ten play gets started. In back-to-back-to-back weeks, the Cornhuskers host Wisconsin, go to Minnesota and are home against Northwestern in what could very well determine they're fate in the division. Go 3-0, the crown is there's. If they end up 2-1, they've still got a shot. But wind up 1-2 or 0-3 and the season goes down the tubes.</p>
<h3><b>The Game</b></h3>
<p><b>Date: </b>Oct. 24<br><b>Time: </b>TBA<br><b>Home/Away: </b>TBA<br><b>TV: </b>TBA<br><b>Projected Betting Line: </b>Northwestern +8.5</p>
</div>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/8/4/9092579/northwestern-football-schedule-2015-nebraska-preview-week-8Josh Rosenblat2015-07-29T08:53:22-05:002015-07-29T08:53:22-05:00Know your opponent, Week 7: Iowa
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<figcaption>Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Hawkeyes Nation is losing patience with Kirk Ferentz. Is this the year he marches Iowa out of mediocrity?</p> <p><i>With our </i><i><a data-ref-index="6" target="_blank" href="http://www.insidenu.com/northwestern-football-2015-season-preview"><b>Summer Guide</b></a> now complete, you probably have a general sense of Northwestern's outlook for the coming season. But breaking down any given team's strengths and weaknesses doesn't paint a complete picture. To truly gauge a team's win-loss potential, analyzing the schedule is arguably just as important.</i></p>
<p id="paragraph1"><i>Come game week, we will have detailed, timely, matchup-based write-ups on each opponent, but in the interim, we present to you our Know Your Opponent series. It's our look ahead at all 12 teams on Northwestern's 2015 schedule. So by the time training camp rolls around, you'll have a fuller view of the upcoming season.</i></p>
<p><i>Today, we preview Iowa.</i></p>
<h3><b>The Basics</b></h3>
<p><b>Returning Starters: </b>Offense - 5, Defense - 6<br><b>2014 Record: 7-6</b> (4-4 Big Ten)<br><b>Coach: </b>Kirk Ferentz, 17th year (115-85)</p>
<h3><b>The Stats</b></h3>
<p><i>The following metrics are courtesy of Bill Connelly of SB Nation and Football Outsiders. You can read more about the rankings and theory behind them <a data-ref-index="7" target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa"><b>here</b></a>.</i></p>
<p id="paragraph5"><a data-ref-index="8" target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa"><b>2014 S&P+ Overall Rank:</b></a> 70<br><a data-ref-index="9" target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaaoff"><b>2014 S&P+ Offense Rank</b></a>: 71<br><a data-ref-index="10" target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaadef"><b>2014 S&P+ Defense Rank</b></a>: 67<br><a data-ref-index="11" target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/5/20/8625261/2015-college-football-rankings-projections?_ga=1.101528066.205633692.1419711847"><b>2015 S&P+ Projection:</b></a> 57</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><b>2014 Capsule</b></h3>
<p>Despite an embarrassing home defeat to in-state foe Iowa State in non-conference play, the Hawkeyes started the season 6-2 and looked as if they would win more than eight games for the first time since 2009. But Iowa, plagued by a subpar running game and an un-Iowa-esque defense, failed to take advantage of an easy schedule and fizzled down the stretch to finish at an all-too-familiar 7-6. After Tennessee romped Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl, many wondered if Kirk Ferentz had coached his final game for the Black and Gold.</p>
<h3><b>Offensive Overview</b></h3>
<p>Iowa has to replace its top passer, top rusher, top receiver and top two tackles from a season ago. And you thought Northwestern had a lot of turnover on offense? While the players on the field will change, Iowa's offensive identity will remain the same. As they have historically, expect the Hawkeyes to run the ball over 60 percent of the time. Senior running back Jordan Canzeri and junior Leshun Daniels Jr. should get most of the carriers now that Mark Weisman has graduated.</p>
<p>On the other 40-odd percent of plays, signal caller C.J. Beathard will get to show off his powerful arm. The junior battled for the starting job late last season, forcing former starter Jake Rudock to transfer to Michigan. Beathard's athleticism makes him more of a dual threat than Rudock was, but it also makes him more prone to injury, which the Hawkeyes can ill afford since they lack depth at the position. Despite losing their star left-tackle Brandon Scherff, the line returns three starters and has enough experienced replacements to perform at a high level. Wideouts Tevaun Smith, Matt VandeBerg and tight end Jake Duzey round out a pretty promising passing game.</p>
<div>
<h3><b>Defensive Overview</b></h3>
<p>Last season Iowa had a strong pass rush and a decent everything else. This season it'll most likely be the other way around. Three-fifths of the line are gone and all but one of the linebackers and one of the defensive backs return with an extra year of experience.</p>
<p>Senior pass rusher Drew Ott will anchor the line, which had the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/5/27/8654499/iowa-football-2015-preview-schedule-roster" target="_blank">46th best adjusted sack rate </a>last season and shouldn't have too much trouble getting to the quarterback again this season. But rush defense could be a problem since the Hawkeyes have to replace both starting tackles and linebacker John Lowdermilk, who led the team in tackles a season ago. Overall the Hawkeyes, who were never comfortable on defense in 2014 with a brand new linebacker core, should see an improvement, especially against the pass.</p>
<h3><b>Three Players to Know</b></h3>
<p><b>C.J. Beathard (QB) - </b>Beathard's only major reps at quarterback came last season against Pittsburgh and Purdue after Rudock went down with an injury and against Tennessee in the bowl game. In those two and a half games he threw for a combined 488 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. His father, Bobby Beathard was a successful general manager in the NFL, whose lasting blemish was drafting Ryan Leaf second overall in 1998.</p>
<p><b>Drew Ott (DE) - </b>Ott finished tied for fifth in the Big Ten with 7.5 sacks last season. With his sack partner Louis Trinca-Pasat (6.5 sacks) gone, Ott has to carry the sack load for the D-line. How he handles the extra attention from opposing teams will go a long way in determining the effectiveness of Iowa's defense.</p>
<p><b>Tevaun Smith (WR) - </b>Smith enters 2015 as this team's No. 1 receiver. Though he only started eight games, Smith led the team in receiving yards (593) and hauled in a team-high three touchdowns. You might remember Smith as the guy who upstaged Odell Beckham Jr.'s one-day-old world record by catching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHtc5QeNMSo" target="_blank">41 passes with one hand in 60 seconds</a>.</p>
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<div>
<h3>Behind enemy lines</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.rantsports.com/ncaa-football/2015/07/23/iowa-football-coach-kirk-ferentzs-job-may-hinge-on-upcoming-season/" target="_blank">Jason Shawley of <i>Rant Sports </i>on Ferentz' job security:</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>Kirk Ferentz currently ranks ninth on the list of highest paid college football coaches, pulling in just over $4.07 million per year. But few coaches tenured as long as Ferentz have produced so many average seasons through their careers...Ferentz made a decision in January to make an adjustment to the depth chart, bumping quarterback CJ Beathard to the top over two-year starter Jake Rudock. Subsequently, Rudock transferred to Michigan and will be eligible to play immediately. Expectations are that Rudock will be the starter for the Wolverines this upcoming season under new head coach Jim Harbaugh.</span><span>The decision to make a change at the quarterback position can be effective, but it’s also risky. Should Rudock have a great year with the Wolverines and Beathard have a disappointing campaign with the Hawkeyes, the decision to make the change could be one that costs a coach his job. On the other hand, making a bold decision like this one could be a great career decision if Iowa has success this season.</span></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<h3><b>Bill Connelly Says...</b></h3>
<p><i>SB Nation college football guru Bill Connelly has been maniacally churning out previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here's an excerpt from his </i><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/5/27/8654499/iowa-football-2015-preview-schedule-roster" target="_blank">Iowa preview</a><i> on their chances this season:</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>Once again, Iowa's schedule is manageable, with only one projected top-25 team and seven projected 60th or worse. If Iowa doesn't improve one iota, the Hawkeyes will go to another bowl, their 13th in 15 years.</span></p>
<p><span>But if you're an Iowa fan, 2009 is getting further away in the rearview mirror, and you'd like to know that Ferentz is building toward something better eventually. There's little proof.</span></p>
<p><span>In 2013, we thought the end was nigh, and Ferentz responded by fielding a top-30 team. It's not inconceivable that the same thing could happen -- the passing game clicks, the run game isn't terrible, the run defense is stable, the pass defense improves.</span></p>
<p><span>But a) while top-30 could be possible, top-20 or better seems impossible, and b) the smart money isn't on such a rebound. By focusing on the floor more than the ceiling, Ferentz has created one of the more stable programs in the conference, one less capable of collapsing than at least half of the rest of the Big Ten.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<h3><b>Final Thoughts</b></h3>
<p>Northwestern's worst performance last season came in a 48-7 rout at the hands of the Hawkeyes in Iowa City. The Wildcats can't afford another dud against their self-manufactured "rivals" this time around. The Iowa game is one of those Big Ten 50-50 contests Northwestern has to win to win six or more games.</p>
<p>Iowa, like NU, is going through a bit of a transition period, especially on offense. This offensive turnover, along with home field advantage, make the Hawkeyes vulnerable. Pat Fitzgerald will have his team fired up to avenge last season's embarrassing loss. Expect NU to feed Justin Jackson early and often to test Iowa's shaky rush defense and for this one to be much closer than it was last season.</p>
<h3><b>The Game</b></h3>
<p><b>Date: </b>Oct. 17<br><b>Time: </b>11:00 a.m. CT<br><b>Home/Away: </b>Home<br><b>TV: </b>BTN<br><b>Projected Betting Line: </b>Northwestern -1</p>
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https://www.insidenu.com/2015/7/29/9054385/northwestern-football-schedule-2015-iowa-preview-week-7Kevin Dukovic2015-07-28T10:33:49-05:002015-07-28T10:33:49-05:00Know your opponent, Week 6: Michigan, HARBAUGH
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<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Jim Harbaugh is the source of a lot of optimism, but there are still a lot of unanswered questions on offense.</p> <p id="paragraph0"><i>With our </i><i><a data-ref-index="4" target="_blank" href="http://www.insidenu.com/northwestern-football-2015-season-preview"><b>Summer Guide</b></a> now complete, you probably have a general sense of Northwestern's outlook for the coming season. But breaking down any given team's strengths and weaknesses doesn't paint a complete picture. To truly gauge a team's win-loss potential, analyzing the schedule is arguably just as important.</i></p>
<p id="paragraph1"><i>Come game week, we will have detailed, timely, matchup-based write-ups on each opponent, but in the interim, we present to you our Know Your Opponent series. It's our look ahead at all 12 teams on Northwestern's 2015 schedule. So by the time training camp rolls around, you'll have a fuller view of the upcoming season.</i></p>
<p id="paragraph2"><i>Today, we preview Jim Harbaugh's Michigan Wolverines, Northwestern's week six opponent.</i></p>
<h3><b>The Basics</b></h3>
<p><b>Returning Starters:</b> Offense: 7, Defense: 7<br><b>2014 Record:</b> 5-7 (3-5 Big Ten)<br><b>Coach:</b> Jim Harbaugh, 1st year (29-21 at Stanford)</p>
<h3>The Stats</h3>
<p><i>The following metrics are courtesy of Bill Connelly of SB Nation and Football Outsiders. You can read more about the rankings and theory behind them <a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></p>
<p><a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa" target="_blank">2014 S&P+ Overall Rank:</a> 45th<br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaaoff">2014 S&P+ Offense Rank</a>:<a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa" target="_blank"> </a>73rd<br><a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa" target="_blank">2014 S&P+ Defense Rank:</a> 37th<br><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/5/20/8625261/2015-college-football-rankings-projections" target="_blank">2015 S&P+ Projection:</a> 35th</p>
<h3><b><strike>2014 Capsule</strike> LET'S TALK ABOUT JIM HARBAUGH</b></h3>
<p>Let's just say it like it is: 2014 was a complete disaster for Michigan football. The Wolverines won five games, two of which were against Appalachian State and Miami (Oh.), and one of which was... <a target="_blank" href="http://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/8/7178853/embracing-the-suck-of-northwestern-michigan">this</a>. They lost seven, one of which was to <strike>Rut</strike>Buttgers. They also lost to Maryland at home, and got shut out, 31-0, by Notre Dame. Their quarterbacks threw 10 touchdown passes; they threw 18 interceptions. They <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fncaaf%2Fbigten%2F2014%2F09%2F30%2Funiversity-of-michigan-football-concussion-shane-morris-brady-hoke-dave-brandon%2F16465901%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidenu.com%2F2015%2F7%2F28%2F9044837%2Fnorthwestern-football-schedule-2015-michigan-preview-week-6" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">let one play through a concussion</a>.</p>
<p>But all of that is irrelevant, because the savior has arrived. Yes, a khaki-wearing, whistle-and-sharpie-sporting god has returned to Ann Arbor. And he's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/weird-jim-harbaugh">had quite the offseason</a>. He has <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2015-04-24/jim-harbaugh-trolls-satellite-camps-sec-acc-invites-coaches-to-work-michigan-camp-june-twitter">trolled the SEC</a>. He's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/6/5/8736545/jim-harbaugh-exquisite-yardwork-strength">played football shirtless</a>. He <a target="_blank" href="http://www.maizenbrew.com/2015/5/7/8567385/jim-harbaugh-would-nominate-judge-judy-for-the-supreme-court">wants Judge Judy on the Supreme Court</a>. He wants you to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2015/4/5/8347445/jim-harbaugh-easter-egg-tips-tweet">think like an... egg</a>? Yup. And he has <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/2015/3/14/8216655/jim-harbaugh-prom-sign-boss-tagaloa-recruiting-2016">modeled recruiting pitches after prom proposals</a>.</p>
<p>It's almost as if Brady Hoke and 2014 never happened.</p>
<p><b style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">Offensive overview</b></p>
<p>Brady Hoke and 2014 did happen though, and things weren't pretty, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The UM offense didn't generate any big plays (118th nationally in <a href="http://www.footballstudyhall.com/2015/2/9/8001137/college-football-advanced-stats-glossary?&&&_ga=1.58548650.1286697092.1419824000#pgh/19/4126.5" target="_blank">isolated points per play</a>), and turned the ball over 26 times. The raw numbers actually paint a deceivingly ugly picture, because Michigan's offense played at an extremely slow pace under Hoke, but nonetheless, the 2014 unit really struggled.</p>
<p>A lot of that had to do with quarterback play. Devin Gardner really struggled. Gardner is gone in 2015 though, and things will be, if not better, at least different. Just like at Northwestern though, there's a competition for the starting gig. Shane Morris came out of spring ball as the leader over a group of underclassmen, but he'll be joined in fall camp by Iowa graduate transfer Jake Rudock. Both have had underwhelming careers so far, but Rudock has more experience, and is somewhat familiar with the type of pro-style, west coast offense Harbaugh wants to run. He also led <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/1/7142295/northwestern-vs-iowa-gamethread" target="_blank">a beatdown </a>of Northwestern last year. Whoever wins the job will be counted on as a game-manager, though — less Colin Kaepernick, and more Alex Smith.</p>
<p>For a program that traditionally recruits so well though, there's a startling lack of established talent elsewhere on offense. The offensive line is senior-laden, but shaky, and there are no standouts at wide receiver. However, that doesn't mean there isn't talent at all. Tight end Jake Butt could be a stud, left tackle Mason Cole was a freshman All-American in 2014, and the running back room is overflowing with highly-touted recruits. Former five-star recruits Ty Isaac (USC transfer) and Derrick Green will be relied upon heavily.</p>
<p>For a detailed breakdown of the offense Harbaugh could bring to Michigan, and how prepared the Wolverines are to run it, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/1/23/7852435/michigan-football-jim-harbaugh-offense-2015">read this</a>.</p>
<p><b style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">Defensive overview</b></p>
<p>Michigan's defense was actually quite good last year, especially against the run, but many leading contributors are gone. Defensive end Frank Clark and middle linebacker Jake Ryan were 2nd and 4th round NFL Draft picks respectively, and defensive end Brennen Beyer and cornerback Raymon Taylor are both now in NFL camps. To exacerbate things, cornerback Blake Countess transferred to Auburn.</p>
<p>However, the cupboard is anything but bare. There's a ton of size up front, and Mario Ojemudia and Taco Charlton (All-name team!) should be able to fill the voids left by Clark and Beyer. The linebacking unit features six upperclassmen, including fifth-year senior middle linebacker Desmond Morgan.</p>
<p>The secondary is the Wolverines' strongest position group though. The cornerback duo of junior Jourdan Lewis and Stanford graduate transfer Wayne Lyons should be stout, and top 2014 recruit Jabrill Peppers will be a playmaker at safety after injury forced him to redshirt last year. The defensive backs totalled just two interceptions in 2014, but with Peppers, depth, and new defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin coming from Florida, this group, and the defense as a whole, could be even better in 2015.</p>
<p><b style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">Three players to know</b></p>
<p><b>Jake Rudock, QB </b>- Rudock is a classic low ceiling, high floor senior quarterback. His career at Iowa was pretty simple. He wasn't asked to do much, and... well, he didn't do much, good or bad. He was anything but a prolific downfield passer, but he took care of the ball well (16 touchdowns, five interceptions in 2014) and made many of the simple throws. He lost his starting job to C.J. Beathard though, which prompted him to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/25102427/report-iowa-qb-jake-rudock-to-transfer-visit-michigan-">transfer</a>. He is likely the favorite to start at Michigan.</p>
<p><b>Shane Morris, QB</b> - You'll likely only have to know one of the QBs come gameday. But for now, you have to know two. Morris, a lefty, was the <a target="_blank" href="http://247sports.com/Player/Shane-Morris-8186?Institution=2737">No. 3 pro-style QB</a> in the class of 2013, but his first two years at Michigan were rough to say the least. His career stats, in two starts and ten appearances: 43-87 (49.4%), 0 TDs, 5 INTs. Perhaps Harbaugh can make a player out of him though. He's the high-risk, high-reward option for Harbaugh.</p>
<p><b>Jabrill Peppers, FS</b> - Peppers, with his <a target="_blank" href="http://247sports.com/Player/Jabrill-Peppers-13084?Institution=3392">247 composite score of .9992 coming out of high school</a>, is an outstanding athlete who some believe could already be Michigan's best player. And while he may not be positionally sound right away, he'll be able to cover an extraordinary amount of ground in centerfield to make up for any mental mistakes. He also may see some time on the <a href="http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/07/jim_harbaugh_says_jabrill_pepp.html" target="_blank">other side of the ball</a>, according to Harbaugh.</p>
<p><b style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">Behind enemy lines</b></p>
<p><i><b></b>SB Nation Michigan blog </i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.maizenbrew.com/">Maize N Brew</a><i> manager Joshua Henschke gives best and worst case scenarios for Michigan this season:</i></p>
<p><b>Best Case Scenario:</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Michigan shows up and performs against its biggest rivals this season in Michigan State and Ohio State. A victory against one or both teams would be the perfect start to the Michigan coaching career of Jim Harbaugh. It's highly unlikely and probably a reach, but it would go a long way toward righting the ship.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Worst Case Scenario:</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>I think at this point, Michigan has seen rock bottom. Everything that happened last season couldn't get any worse. So, at this point, I think the worst case scenario for the 2016 season would be a lack of improvement. There are a few areas that the Wolverines could improve upon in the quarterbacks and receivers. Not seeing progress in both areas would be a huge disappointment considering who Michigan hired as their head coach and assistants.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Season Prediction:</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>I think we're looking at an eight-win football team this season. There are swing games early on that could either improve or make the season worse in Utah and BYU. If Michigan could come away from the non-conference schedule unscathed, it could make some noise in the conference schedule. However, I expect Michigan to be a growing team and be about average in the Big Ten. There's potential for an upset or two, but I don't believe they have enough established talent to sustain success from start to finish. However, there's plenty of opportunity for growth for next year.</p>
</blockquote>
<h3>Bill Connelly says...</h3>
<p>SB Nation college football guru Bill Connelly has been maniacally churning out previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here's an excerpt from his <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/5/29/8676637/michigan-football-2015-preview-schedule-roster-jim-harbaugh">Michigan preview</a> on Harbaugh's turnaround capabilities:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>No one is guaranteed success when taking on a new job. If previous history correlated with future success, the last two Michigan hires would have worked out.</p>
<p>But Harbaugh is as close to a sure thing as you can hire. In just 11 years, he has raised the standard at every stop. He hires hungry assistants, builds an ultra-competitive environment, and then wins. He has coaching in his bloodstream, and he's been successful just about everywhere.</p>
<p>Hell, the Oakland Raiders haven't had a winning season since he was their quarterbacks coach in 2002. As a volunteer assistant, he recruited a large number of players on his father Jack's 2002 FCS championship Western Kentucky team. He almost reached the Super Bowl at age 32 with the Indianapolis Colts. He beat No. 1 Miami in his first start as a Michigan sophomore in 1984, then came back from injury and went 21-3-1 in 1985-86.</p>
<p>Sometimes it takes a year. Sometimes it takes a couple. But he has won as a head coach in three completely different environments, and it feels like more of a "when" than an "if" when talking about his prospects of winning at Michigan.</p>
</blockquote>
<h3><b>Final thoughts</b></h3>
<p>Well, this is the year to get them. For Northwestern, Michigan has now surpassed Nebraska when it comes to heartbreaking losses — 2012, 2013 and 2014 brought a combined four overtime periods, three losses, and one <a target="_blank" href="http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2015/7/17/8954419/erase-this-game-michigan-10-northwestern-9">M00N</a> — and the window for getting revenge could be close to closing. It almost seems like a foregone conclusion that Harbaugh will turn Michigan into a national championship contender. But while some immediate improvement can be expected, the Harbaugh effect might be being overstated for 2015. This should be another slugfest between two strong defenses and potentially-out-of-sorts offenses. NU will likely be an underdog on homecoming weekend in Ann Arbor, but don't expect a blowout.</p>
<h3>The Game</h3>
<p><b>Date:</b> Oct. 10<br><b>Time:</b> TBA<br><b>Home/Away:</b> Away (Michigan Homecoming)<br><b>TV:</b> TBA<br><b>Projected Betting Line:</b> Michigan -7</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/7/28/9044837/northwestern-football-schedule-2015-michigan-preview-week-6Henry Bushnell2015-07-25T12:15:33-05:002015-07-25T12:15:33-05:00Know Your Opponent: Week 5, Minnesota
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<figcaption>Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Gophers lose a lot of production from last year, but they should be a solid bunch once again.</p> <p id="paragraph0"><i>With our </i><i><a data-ref-index="4" target="_blank" href="http://www.insidenu.com/northwestern-football-2015-season-preview"><b>Summer Guide</b></a> now complete, you probably have a general sense of Northwestern's outlook for the coming season. But breaking down any given team's strengths and weaknesses doesn't paint a complete picture. To truly gauge a team's win-loss potential, analyzing the schedule is arguably just as important.</i></p>
<p id="paragraph1"><i>Come game week, we will have detailed, timely, matchup-based write-ups on each opponent, but in the interim, we present to you our Know Your Opponent series. It's our look ahead at all 12 teams on Northwestern's 2015 schedule. So by the time training camp rolls around, you'll have a fuller view of the upcoming season.</i></p>
<p id="paragraph2"><i>Today, we preview the Big Ten opener against Minnesota.</i></p>
<h3><b>The Basics</b></h3>
<p><b>Returning Starters:</b> Offense: 5, Defense: 7<br><b>2014 Record:</b> 8-5 (5-4 Big Ten)<br><b>Coach:</b> Jerry Kill, 5th year (25-26 overall)</p>
<h3>The Stats</h3>
<p><i>The following metrics are courtesy of Bill Connelly of SB Nation and Football Outsiders. You can read more about the rankings and theory behind them <a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></p>
<p><a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa" target="_blank">2014 S&P Overall Rank:</a> 36th<br><a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa" target="_blank">2014 S&P Offense Rank: </a>44th<br><a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa" target="_blank">2014 S&P Defense Rank:</a> 31st<br><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/5/20/8625261/2015-college-football-rankings-projections" target="_blank">2015 S&P Projection:</a> 42nd</p>
<h3><b>2014 Capsule</b></h3>
<p>Minnesota, at one point last season, was 6-1 and on the precipice of establishing itself as a legitimate top-25 team in the country. All the Gophers had to do was go down to Champaign and beat the Illini. The game wasn't pretty but after three quarters Minnesota led 24-21. The results of the Gophers' fourth-quarter drives: missed field goal, fumble, punt, fumble, end of game. Illinois scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to take the lead and punted on its final five drives. But Minnesota couldn't make anything happen. Sure, Minnesota went on to hammer Iowa, play Ohio State as close as anyone would the rest of the season and beat Nebraska in Lincoln, but that loss at Illinois encapsulated the '14 campaign. Minnesota was a good football team. It had opportunities to win the Big Ten West. Plenty of them. But the Gophers could never break through and establish themselves.</p>
<p><b style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">Offensive overview</b></p>
<p>Last season the offense was all about David Cobb and the run game with a little play action sprinkled in to get tight end Maxx Williams involved. Now, those two weapons are off to the NFL and the burden will fall even more heavily on junior quarterback Mitch Leidner. Minnesota will still run the football more than they throw it, but the Gophers may have to be a bit more balanced this season. Replacing Cobb, who ran for over 1600 yards in 2014, will be impossible, especially considering the guys behind him-- Berkley Edwards and Rodrick Williams Jr.-- combined for just 53 carries last year. It'll have to be a series of improvements across the board offensively that will help make up the difference.</p>
<p>Those series of improvements will have to start with Leidner. Basically the only skill position starter who returns from last year's team, he completed just over 50 percent of his passes and threw 11 touchdowns to eight interceptions. He also ran for 600 yards and 10 touchdowns. But this year, he doesn't have Cobb, who was the centerpiece of the offense, which Connelly described as "basically David Cobb right and David Cobb left." Minnesota will still base their offense heavily on the run, but Leidner making strides in the passing game will be key. Edwards and Williams Jr. are the only running backs with any experience. Williams Jr. is a bruiser who will get the first chance to take over for Cobb, but Edwards provided a nice change of pace in limited action last year. Still, it's unlikely that either will produce like David Cobb did. At wideout, KJ Maye and Drew Wolitarsky are the only returning players who caught more than six passes last year, so there are questions there as well.</p>
<p><b style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">Defensive overview</b></p>
<p>The Gopher defense will have to carry the squad this season. The run defense is solid but replacing All-Big Ten linebacker Damien Wilson will be an issue. But De'Vondre Campbell, the six-foot-five senior linebacker, is poised for a breakout year. On the line, Thieren Cockran will look to be even more dangerous off the edge in 2015 as the former two-star recruit has worked his way into becoming a really good player in the Big Ten. The secondary will also look to improve on a good 2014. Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Eric Murray combine to form one of the best cornerback tandems in the conference.</p>
<p><b style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">Three players to know</b></p>
<p><b>Mitch Leidner, QB </b>- The junior is somewhat of a dual-threat at quarterback, but doesn't really run or throw particularly well. He'll have to step up on both areas for Minnesota to have a stable offense. He has a solid offensive line in front of him, but it'll be up to Leidner to take advantage of it.</p>
<p><b>De'Vondre Campbell, LB</b> - Physically, Campbell is unmatched. His size and speed is overwhelming and he started to put it all together last season. As a senior, Campbell will be the center of the defense and will be called on to make plays from sideline to sideline.</p>
<p><b>Briean Boddy-Calhoun, CB</b> - Coming off a knee injury that ended his 2013 season in September, no one knew quite what to expect out of Boddy-Calhoun in 2014. After a strong season that earned him All-Big Ten first team honors, the senior will look to build upon that success and bolster Minnesota's defensive backfield.</p>
<p><b style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">Behind enemy lines</b></p>
<p><i><b></b>SB Nation Minnesota blog <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thedailygopher.com/">Daily Gopher</a> manager GopherNation gives best and worst case scenarios for Minnesota this season:</i></p>
<p><b>Best Case Scenario: </b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>If you are allowing me to dream a little I think that best case scenario is the Gophers winning the Big Ten West. Can that happen? This is probably the closest we have had to a legit shot at winning the division since long before there were divisions. In our favor is the fact that we get Nebraska and Wisconsin at home. A year ago the Gophs were playing in Madison on the final weekend of the year for the right to go to Indianapolis. It is entirely possible that this year's matchup holds the same weight but this time they are hosting the Badgers. It is possible. I'm going to assume losses to TCU and Ohio State but in a best case scenario world the Gophers are capable of winning the rest and finishing 10-2 and a date with Ohio State in the Big Ten Title Game. Unfortunately I fear in this scenario we lose in Indy and then are passed over for the Rose Bowl for the runner-up in the East (presumed to be Michigan State). But this, in my mind, is the best case scenario.</p>
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<p><b>Worst Case Scenario: </b></p>
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<p>Last year the Gophers dropped a Big Ten road game that they were favored to win. This ended up not factoring into their final standing or bowl game destination. But there are plenty of road games out there that are no guarantee for Minnesota with trips to Iowa, Northwestern and Purdue. Worst case is that the Gophers lose a couple of these, lose at Ohio State and then lose to Nebraska and/or Wisconsin. If I had to put a number on it I would say that 3-5 in conference, 6-6 overall and a really bad bowl is worst case scenario. It could be worse but that is more doomsday than worst case.</p>
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<p><b>Season Prediction: </b></p>
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<p>Obviously somewhere in the middle is most likely. Much like the last couple years I believe they will win a game or two they shouldn't and lose a game or two they shouldn't as well. I would put 8 wins as the win total again this year. My gut tells me that by the last week of the season we are not in the picture for heading to Indy but we beat Wisconsin at home and get The Axe back for the first time since 2003. But it mostly comes down to the quarterback this year and if Mitch Leidner can improve his passing, even just a little. I think the defense will be very good, the offensive line is going to be very good and special teams is a huge component to what the Gophers do and is very good. This team will be much like last year, my prediction is another 8-win season.</p>
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<h3>Bill Connelly says...</h3>
<p>SB Nation college football guru Bill Connelly has been maniacally churning out previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here's an excerpt from his <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/6/2/8688759/minnesota-gophers-football-2015-preview-schedule-roster">Minnesota preview</a>:</p>
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<p>We saw this with Michigan, and we see it with Minnesota: a volatile schedule with better teams visiting you (in this case, TCU, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Michigan, all projected higher than the Gophers) and slightly lesser teams hosting you (trips to Iowa, Northwestern, Colorado State, and Purdue await).</p>
<p>That suggests Minnesota will be in close games and introduces a wide array of outcomes from "scraping by at 6-6" to "Big Ten West champs."</p>
<p>If the passing game doesn't completely fall apart without four of its top five targets, and if the defense can avoid fading, getting Nebraska and Wisconsin at home could make the difference in the division. But if special teams gets a little flaky, and last year's run defense was a bit of a mirage, then Minnesota could stumble outside of the top 50.</p>
<p>Years ago, one of the preseason mags would feature a one-page look at teams' likely records broken into likely wins, likely losses, and tossups. I know Minnesota fans are aiming high -- that's what happens when you've improved for three straight years and your biggest division rivals come to your place -- but a glance at the Gophers' schedule gives me something like four to five likely wins, two likely losses, and five to six tossups.</p>
<p>The Gophers might be ready for big things, and hey, keep betting on Kill until he gives you a reason not to. But the margin of error is small.</p>
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<h3><b>Final thoughts</b></h3>
<p>While Minnesota's offense will undoubtedly suffer, the Gophers defense should continue to improve in 2015. The matchup in Evanston for both teams' Big Ten-opener could say a lot about the trajectory of both programs in 2015. A win could set either on a path for contention in the weak Big Ten West.</p>
<h3><span>The Game</span></h3>
<p><b>Date:</b> Oct. 3<br><b>Time:</b> TBA<br><b>Home/Away:</b> Home<br><b>TV:</b> TBA<br><b>Betting Line:</b> PK</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/7/25/9038343/northwestern-football-schedule-2015-opponent-minnesota-week-5Josh Rosenblat