GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Saturday’s game will come down to defense, as the Wildcats take on one of the Big Ten’s most well-rounded teams in Wisconsin. The Badgers are one of two teams in the conference to rank in the top five in both scoring offense (5th) and scoring defense (3rd), the other being No. 5 Michigan. Wisconsin averages 33 points per game while surrendering an average of 20 and are the top-ranked rushing offense in the conference at 282.1 rushing yards per game, giving the Wildcats little margin for error on both sides of the ball.
DRAFT SLANT
–QB Clayton Thorson’s draft stock would appear to be on the rise as questions concerning his overall health and ball security have been laid to rest in recent weeks. Thorson has progressed from a limited snap count mandated by Northwestern’s medical training staff at the start of the season to taking every snap and setting new career-highs in passing attempts, completions and yards in the Wildcats’ 34-31 overtime victory against Nebraska.
ROSTER REPORT
–K Charlie Kuhbander is dealing with a muscle-related injury in his kicking leg, and while no official long-term timetable has been announced, it seems likely that Kuhbander will miss multiple games while nursing the injury.
–LB Nate Hall did not participate in Saturday’s win at Rutgers, and no official timetable has been announced for his return. Hall left the field in the first half of Northwestern’s 20-17 loss to Michigan Sept. 29 with an apparent lower body injury and has not played since.
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