GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins broke Drew Brees’ single-season Big Ten record for passing touchdowns in a 62-39 rout of Michigan last Saturday; he has 42 touchdowns with only seven interceptions on the season. Northwestern’s ability to pressure and contain Haskins will be paramount, as the Heisman-hopeful signal caller is coming off a six-touchdown performance against the Wolverines’ top-ranked defense in the country.
“He’s a complete quarterback,” Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said of Haskins. “What jumps out is his poise, his accuracy, his understanding of the offense, and he just does a phenomenal job of taking what the defense gives him.”
DRAFT SLANT
–QB Clayton Thorson is the first quarterback in Big Ten history with at least 10,000 career passing yards and 20 career rushing touchdowns. He needs only 358 passing yards to pass Brett Basanez as the school’s all-time leader. Thorson already has the most passing touchdowns (58), completions (943) and pass attempts (1,622) in school history.
ROSTER REPORT:
–S Jared McGee was injured during Northwestern’s 31-21 loss to Notre Dame on Nov. 3 and has missed the last three games. The extent of McGee’s injury is unknown, so his availability for Saturday’s Big Ten Championship game against Ohio State is uncertain.
–CB Trae Williams was also injured against Notre Dame and subsequently held out of the Wildcats’ division-clinching win at Iowa Nov. 10. Williams’ injury status is undisclosed, but given that he has missed the last three games, his availability against Ohio State is questionable.
–WR Flynn Nagel suffered an undisclosed lower-body injury in a 24-14 win at Minnesota on Nov. 17 following a 2-yard reception, and did not return. Nagel did not participate in last Saturday’s win over Illinois, and no updates have been given regarding his availability for the Big Ten Championship Game.
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