Ranking last in the Big Ten in passing yards allowed isn't exactly a point of pride for Northwestern's defense. But cornerback Marcus McShepard is going somewhere with his thought to illustrate the unit's greatest strength.
Peel the yardage away and look only at whether opponents actually score. What you'll notice is the Wildcats have allowed the third-fewest touchdown passes in the league and rank fifth in scoring defense. Considering the secondary has been decimated by injuries all season, Northwestern can take a great deal of satisfaction in what it has accomplished.
"To be honest, that's been the story of our team all year," McShepard said.