Northwestern is now bowl-eligible at 6-1 overall.
So what?
The expectations for this team are higher than ever before under David Braun, and winning games like this one against Rutgers in blowout fashion is expected for a team with playoff aspirations.
“This season does feel different,” Braun said at the postgame press conference. “For us to even acknowledge bowl eligibility right now would distract us from what’s right in front of us.”
Last season, when the ‘Cats won their sixth game to become bowl-eligible,
it was a big deal for the program. This year, it’s simply a shrug-off. Aidan Chiles has been one of the best transfer gets at quarterback in the country, and Chip Kelly has been an offensive mastermind. Chiles accounted for five total touchdowns against Rutgers, while Caleb Komolafe ran for 150 yards and Griffin Wilde caught nine passes for 133 yards.
On the other side of the ball, Tim McGarigle’s defense has been gritty as heck, despite injuries throughout the secondary and at times struggling with stopping the run.
“I should probably keep this a secret, but Tim McGarigle is one of the best defensive minds in the country, hands down,” Braun said.
While the ‘Cats did allow 244 on the ground with two backs for Rutgers going for over 100 yards, Northwestern’s injury-riddled secondary allowed just 100 yards and held projected first-round pick KJ Duff to just 3 catches for 33 yards. This was Duff’s worst output of the season by far.
The ‘Cats’ defense sacked Rutgers four times and forced three turnovers: one fumble and two interceptions. They did it even without Josh Fussell and Robert Fitzgerald, showcasing the defense’s depth.
“I challenge our coaching staff to coach every single guy on this roster,” Braun said.
The toughest stretch of Northwestern’s schedule begins next week with a trip to Oregon (who did lose to Illinois this week), then vs. Iowa, at Ohio State and at Minnesota. This stretch will truly test the team, but Northwestern is playing football at an extremely high level, and the goal isn’t simply to go play in a bowl game.
Northwestern has become a team opponents don’t want to play, which reinforces the whole “job’s not finished” sentiment. If the Wildcats can get through this next stretch of games at least 3-1, the playoffs may become a reality. For now, it’s about taking it one week at a time and focusing on the next opponent, especially with the points that the ‘Cats left on the field in the second and third quarters.
