Oct. 24, 2005

NU Football Game Notes (vs. Michigan)
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The Game
After starting the Big Ten season with a crushing setback to 11th-ranked Penn State, Northwestern has roared back with three straight league wins to put itself in the thick of this year's conference race. With Saturday's largest Big Ten road win since 1943 in the books, the Wildcats are now 5-2 and ranked for the first time this season -- No. 21 in the Associated Press poll, No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches' poll, No. 22 in the Harris Interactive poll and No. 21 in the BCS poll. Following wins at Purdue and Michigan State, Northwestern is back home this week to celebrate homecoming by hosting 25th-ranked Michigan in a 6 p.m. primetime game at Ryan Field. ESPN is televising the contest to a national audience.

Like the Wildcats, the Wolverines are one of the Big Ten's hottest teams, having handed Penn State a 27-25 loss on the game's final play two weeks ago and then beating Iowa 23-20 in overtime this past Saturday. All five of Michigan's Big Ten games have been decided in overtime or the final seconds of regulation. Their two league losses came by identical 23-20 scores at Wisconsin (Sept. 24) and at home to Minnesota (Oct. 8).

The Wolverines, the two-time defending Big Ten champions, are led by sophomore quarterback Chad Henne (143-of-249, 1,685 yards, 15 TD's), running back Mike Hart (95.5 ypg, 4.7 ypc, 4 TD's) and wide receiver Jason Avant (60 rec., 95.9 ypr, 6 TD's). As an offensive unit, Michigan is averaging 388.0 ypg -- 163.5 on the ground and 224.5 in the air. That figure ranks eighth in the BIg Ten, 48th nationally.

Defensively, the Wolverines surrender just 347.6 yards per game, which is third in the Big Ten and 45th nationally. Cornerback Grant Mason is Michigan's leading tackler (69 tackles). Linebacker LaMarr Woodley has 41 tackles, 14 of which are for loss. He has a team-leading five sacks.

Michigan's primary weapons on special teams are kicker Garrett Rivas (59 points, 13-of-18 field goals) and kick/punt returner Steve Breaston (10.9 yards per punt return and 25.8 yards per kick return).

NU's offense, directed by fifth-year senior Brett Basanez (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator), continues to roll, averaging 559.2 yards per game and 40.8 points against its first four Big Ten foes. The Wildcats are averaging a league-best 6.8 yards per play in Big Ten games. Overall, NU is averaging 529.3 ypg, fourth-best nationally.

Saturday is LaSalle Bank Day. The first 10,000 fans receive a LaSalle Bank purple rally towel.

A limited number of tickets are still available for this game. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 847-491-CATS.

The Broadcasts
Radio -- WGN (720 AM) will carry the game live with its pregame show starting at 5:30 p.m. The radio broadcast can also be heard via the internet at wgnradio.com. Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Ted Albrecht (analyst) call the action. WNUR (89.3), NU's student radio station, also will carry the game live. The contest is also available on the XM Satellite Radio network. (Channel 198).

Television -- ESPN is televising the game to a national audience. Ron Franklin (play-by-play), Bob Davie (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline) call the action.