A look at IU football’s 2024 opponents: Week 6 — Northwestern

With college football season starting to creep up, we’re running down Indiana’s schedule to preview all 12 opponents for 2024.

Indiana reaches the halfway point of the 2024 season with a road game at Northwestern. The Wildcats are playing their home games this year at alternate sites, with Ryan Field under construction. They were one of the biggest surprises in the country last year — coming off a 1-11 season in 2022 and after firing head coach Pat Fitzgerald in July in the wake of hazing allegations, Northwestern enjoyed a winning season under Big Ten Coach of the Year David Braun.

Opponent: Northwestern
Date/Time/TV: Saturday, October 5, TBA
Location: Lanny and Sharon Martin Lakeside Facility, Evanston, Ill.
2023 record/postseason result: 8-5, 5-4 Big Ten, 14-7 win over Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl

Returning production, offense: 55 percent (per Bill Connelly/ESPN) (89th in the country)

Offensive outlook: Northwestern’s successful 2023 was not built on the back of its offense. The Wildcats finished 124th in FBS (out of 133) in total offense last year, at 303.9 yards per game. They ranked 121st in rushing offense (101.9 yards per game) and 96th in passing offense (202). But Braun brought in Zach Lujan to take over as offensive coordinator after a successful run in the same position at FCS power South Dakota State.

Quarterback Ben Bryant (62.5 completion percentage, 1,807 yards, 13 touchdowns, six interceptions) exhausted his eligibility after last season, and Brendan Sullivan — this year’s presumptive starter — transferred to Iowa after. The Wildcats went to the transfer portal and brought in Mississippi State graduate student Mike Wright, who started three games for the Bulldogs last year and 11 in three seasons at Vanderbilt. Wright is a dangerous runner, averaging over four yards per carry in each of the last three seasons. Redshirt sophomore Jack Lausch could also have a shot at playing time.

Running back Cam Porter returns after rushing for 651 yards on 166 carries last year with four touchdowns. Redshirt sophomore Joseph Himon II could step into a bigger role in the backfield as well. Northwestern’s top receiver from last season, Cam Johnson, is gone. But the Wildcats return their next two leading receivers in graduate students Bryce Kirtz and A.J. Henning. Senior Calvin Johnson II could step into the open spot out wide.

The Wildcats have three returning starters on an offensive line that needs to improve this year. They ranked 100th in the country in pass blocking grade, per PFF, and 90th in run blocking.

Returning production, defense: 64 percent (per Bill Connelly/ESPN) (50th in the country)

Defensive outlook: NU’s defense performed much better than its offense last season. The Wildcats finished 36th in the nation in total defense (340.8 yards per game allowed), with a particularly stout pass defense (182.9 yards per game allowed, 15th in the nation). Northwestern ranked 27th in the country with 22 takeaways.

The strong secondary lost some pieces, as Garnett Hollis Jr. and Jaheem Joseph transferred to West Virginia, and Rod Heard II transferred to Notre Dame. But redshirt junior cornerback Theran Johnson and junior safety Devin Turner return, after each recorded five PBUs and one interception last season.

The Wildcats bring back their sacks leader from last season in senior defensive lineman Aidan Hubbard, along with most of their other core pieces from the line last year. The team lost two of its three leading tacklers last year in linebacker Bryce Gallagher and defensive back Rod Heard II, but has its second-leading tackler back, graduate student linebacker Xander Mueller. Redshirt sophomore Kenny Soares Jr. is in line to step into the open linebacker spot.

Special teams outlook: Northwestern has all of its specialists back this year. Graduate student kicker Jack Olsen returns after he went 14 for 19 on field goals and 33 for 33 on extra points last season. Graduate student Hunter Renner is back at punter, although he finished last in the Big Ten with 38.6 yards per punt last year. Henning will handle return duties again — he averaged 6.9 yards per punt return and 22 yards per kick return last season.

Overall Outlook: Sometimes the hardest thing for a surprise success like Northwestern last year is sustaining it the next year and avoiding taking a step back. NU has a tough Big Ten schedule this year, facing Ohio State, Michigan, and Washington, along with Wisconsin, Maryland, and others. There will be less margin for error this year compared to last year. If the new offensive system and quarterback can breathe more life into the offense, the Wildcats could be fine. But if that doesn’t happen, and if the defense regresses at all, it could be tough for Northwestern to make a bowl game.

Previous opponent outlooks:

Florida International

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