![northwestern ohio state 2017 football northwestern ohio state 2017 football](https://dailynorthwestern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/SPORTS_FBC-OHIOST-WISCONSIN_17_TNS-900x574.jpg)
The ‘Cats failed to score a touchdown on Friday, securing their only points the second time they touched the ball on a nine play, 44-yard drive capped off by a 33-yard FG from Charlie Kuhbander. Let’s shift the focus to the other side of the ball.
![northwestern ohio state 2017 football northwestern ohio state 2017 football](https://media.bleacherreport.com/w_800,h_533,c_fill/br-img-article/003/038/610/299a932632cd3d0ed46eaf7cd753b433_crop_exact.jpg)
The problems lie elsewhere, and that’s no secret. While the defense was, at least partially, exposed Friday night by a talented Ohio State team, they’ve been fantastic for most of the year.
![northwestern ohio state 2017 football northwestern ohio state 2017 football](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/4758b189772907.5e002d54b43a7.jpg)
Even after the blowout is taken into account, they are still holding opponents to 21.7 points per game on average, which is pretty impressive. Prior to the Ohio State game, Northwestern’s defense was giving up just 15.6 PPG, which was top-15 in the country. Unfortunately for Pat Fitzgerald, the stats he so often derides are beginning to speak for themselves. Regardless of the way the schedule runs out after that, six losses in seven games to start the season would be demoralizing for fans and players alike. Iowa’s defense currently ranks seventh in the country in passing yards allowed, allowing just 160 per game (for comparison, Ohio State ranks third, giving up 152 per game).Īlthough crazy things can and have happened in recent years within the rivalry, that matchup specifically seems to portend another loss, which would drop NU to a ghastly 1-6. The Wildcats threw the ball for a measly 42 yards against the Buckeyes, the fewest they’ve put up in a game since 2003. It’s fair to say that the schedule does get easier after Ohio State, aside, perhaps, from the Hawkeyes and Golden Gophers. 23 Iowa, who rolls into town next week, and no. The remaining Northwestern schedule currently contains only two ranked opponent in No. If the level of play displayed by the ‘Cats on Friday night is any indication of what may be coming to finish the season, things could get worse before they get better. It was the worst overall loss (by point differential) that the team has suffered since 2008, but it was the worst home loss since Illinois issued a 63-14 beatdown to cap off the last winless season NU fans had to suffer through. With the defeat, Northwestern harkened back to the years where zero, one, two, and three-win seasons were run-of-the-mill. It appears this year’s team may meet the same fate. The ‘Cats finished that season 3-8, missing a bowl by a considerable margin. Northwestern is now 1-5, holding that record for the first time since 1992, where, coincidentally, their fifth loss also came in a blowout to the Buckeyes. To be fair, nearly everyone expected some sort of blowout, but of that caliber? Tough to say. That’s the shape that Wildcat football, and especially their offense, is in after Friday night’s decimation. Suddenly, the engine begins to sputter, then dies entirely. It hits a few waves here and there, but the ride is otherwise smooth. Imagine a motorboat slowly cruising across the open ocean.