Northwestern freshmen to carry rushing load

Northwestern (5-2, 1-2) at Indiana (4-3, 0-3)

When: 11 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium

TV: BTN; Radio: WGN 720-AM

Series: Northwestern leads 43-34-1

Coaches: Pat Fitzgerald (32-25, fifth year at NU); Bill Lynch (18-26, fourth year at IU; 99-93-1 overall).

NU players to watch: Northwestern QB Dan Persa is the nation's only player ranked among the top eight in passing efficiency (eighth) and total offense (fifth). To put that into perspective, premier Heisman candidate Cam Newton of Auburn ranks third in efficiency and ninth in total offense. With starting RB Jacob Schmidt questionable with an ankle injury, freshmen Adonis Smith and Mike Trumpy are likely to carry the load. DE Vince Browne ranks second in the Big Ten and 18th nationally with 6 sacks in 7 games.

Indiana players to watch: IU leads the Big Ten and stands sixth nationally with 313.6 yards per game. Senior Ben Chappell (66.2 percent, 2,137 yards, 17 TDs, 6 INT) has led the Hoosiers to at least 35 points in five of their 7 games. WRs Damarlo Belcher and Tandon Doss are 1-2 on the Big Ten receptions chart while Doss, who returns kicks and the occasional punt, leads the nation with 183.3 all-purpose yards per game.

The skinny: As mentioned earlier this week, Northwestern and Indiana are clinically unable to play a one-sided game. In their last six meetings, they've been separated by a total of 10 points at the end of regulation play. The Wildcats defense hasn't been special in Big Ten action, though they figured out some run issues and stuffed Michigan State last week. Alas, the pass defense sprung a leak with 352 yards and 3 TDs allowed. Considering passing is all Indiana can do, the Wildcats spent this week tightening up their coverages.

He said it: Fitzgerald on NU's pass-defense issues last week: “Well, a little bit of breakdown in trust from some guys trusting their technique. Getting out way too fast in some circumstances and giving up way too much time and distance to a good group of receivers. We just need to trust ourselves and trust our technique and the things that we do. “There was no indication from practice that this was going to happen. We've got to have better undercoverage. There were some times where we needed to get some better re-routes, so we that could take some steam off their receivers especially in the fourth quarter.”