History on Ohio State's side
From recent history, two conclusions can be drawn about Northwestern before every football season.
The first states that the Wildcats will never, ever win all of their nonconference contests, no matter how feeble the opponents, how favorable the game sequence or how friendly the site. The second states that Northwestern will pull an upset in Big Ten play - moderate to mind-blowing - and usually in dramatic fashion.
NU has already fulfilled the first pledge, stumbling against Duke, which snapped the nation's longest losing streak at 22 games. This latest non-league disaster made them a national punchline - much like last year's epic collapse against Michigan State - and will loom large if NU is on the bowl bubble.
"We were all pretty down, I took it pretty hard on myself," wide receiver Eric Peterman said. "But you have to let it go, you've got to move on."
The team now turns its attention to a more positive prospect, scoring a major Big Ten upset. Saturday's game at No. 8 Ohio State would certainly qualify for NU, which enters as a 22.5-point underdog (2:30 p.m., Ch. 7).
Then again, the Wildcats' previous league upsets look like routine victories next to the challenge of winning at Ohio State. NU's 13-game road losing streak against the Buckeyes, stretching back to 1971, is one of the program's few remaining links to the so-called dark ages.
"I guarantee everybody's excited," said senior linebacker Adam Kadela, who grew up in the shadow of The Shoe in Dublin, Ohio. "It'd be a great team win."
Junior running back Tyrell Sutton likely will play after missing the Duke game with an ankle injury. Sutton did light running this week and was expected to join in team drills at Thursday's closed practice (because of his injury, Sutton was not allowed to speak with reporters).
The Wildcats will need Sutton against the nation's third-ranked defense, led by linebacker James Laurinaitis, defensive end Vernon Gholston and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. Laurinaitis leads OSU with 22 tackles and already has 2 interceptions and 2 sacks.
NU coach Pat Fitzgerald was the keynote speaker last year at the presentation of the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, which Laurinaitis took home.
"He's not a freelance linebacker," Fitzgerald said. "He does exactly what he's coached to do, and you can tell he's a leader. He plays with a ton of passion. Just a very, very athletic player."
To have a chance Saturday, NU must avoid penalties and convert red-zone opportunities, which it didn't do against Duke. Fitzgerald called the 13 penalties last Saturday "out of our character" and said the offense must finish drives after stalling three times inside the 12-yard line.
The Wildcats also struggled with blitzes and will get a heavy dose from Ohio State.
"They're an attack-style defense," Fitzgerald said. "We need to throw on time. We need to do some things schematically that give us an opportunity to throw."
NU has had 19 plays from scrimmage go for 20 yards or longer, but not one has reached the end zone.
"We're going to get there," Peterman said. "We've just got to keep working, beat one guy and then take it to the house."
A Jekyll-and-Hyde defense faces a formidable Ohio State rushing attack led by sophomore Chris "Beanie" Wells, who has 278 rushing yards in his last two games. NU must also stay aware of speedy freshman Brandon Saine and limit quarterback Todd Boeckman, who looked solid last week at Washington.
"We can't react against this team, especially this week," Kadela said. "If we're reacting to what they're doing slowly, they're going to come off fast and knock us back. You can't afford to do that."
Northwestern (2-1) at Ohio State (3-0)
When: 2:30 p.m. at Ohio Stadium TV: Channel 7
Radio: WGN 720-AM (starts on the Internet, will join in progress after Cubs game), WNUR 89.3-FM. Series: OSU leads 57-14-1
Coaches: Pat Fitzgerald (6-9, second year at NU and overall); Jim Tressel (65-14, seventh at OSU, 200-71-2, 22nd year overall).
Players to watch: Buckeyes QB Todd Boeckman performed well in his first road start, throwing for 218 yards and 2 touchdowns at Washington. His passing adds to an offense centered on running back Chris "Beanie" Wells. Everyone knows about linebacker James Laurinaitis, the reigning national defensive player of the year, but watch out for defensive end Vernon Gholston. Kevin Mims has been NU's most active defensive lineman, collecting 4.5 tackles for loss so far. Running back Tyrell Sutton led NU in rushing (57 yards) and receiving (75 yards) last year against OSU.
The skinny: NU needs to rebound after the Duke disaster, but this might not be the place. The Wildcats last won at Ohio Stadium in 1971, and OSU has on a 21-game regular-season win streak. NU has committed 7 turnovers in its last two games against the Buckeyes. Buckeyes running back Chris Wells has recorded back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances. NU is 11-3 in its last 14 games decided by 7 points or fewer.