No one would call Northwestern’s offense particularly explosive, but that doesn’t mean the Wildcats don’t have any dangerous offensive pieces that might threaten Ohio State in the Big Ten championship Saturday night.
Only nine teams in the country, including one team from a Power Five conference – Rutgers – have fewer 10-plus-yard plays than the Wildcats. Just four teams, including one team from a Power Five conference – Rutgers, again – average fewer yards per play than Northwestern.
The Wildcats don’t move the ball down the field quickly, and they don’t score frequently (No. 108 in points per game), but they extend drives in large part due to a passing offense that attacks defenses with targets for short-to-medium gains, moving the chains in order to grind out tight games.