EVANSTON, Ill. — The slants that hit in the first half were falling incomplete. The few clean dropbacks Clayton Thorson had in the opening 30 minutes evaporated. The running game, which had found a few creases in the first half, ground to a screeching halt.
For the fourth consecutive game to start the season, Northwestern’s second-half offense looked outmatched after halftime, totaling just 56 total yards in the game’s final 30 minutes. The offense has now failed to score in three of four second halves this season, and has amassed just 13 points in eight second halves.