No one expected such a big loss, even in the Big House.
It was nothing short of a brutal Saturday for the Northwestern Wildcats. NU suffered a 50-6 shellacking at the hands of Michigan, a team that has largely underperformed this year. With a miracle bowl game appearance (based on Academic Progress Rate) now seeming out of reach due to the number of bowl-eligible teams, Northwestern will almost certainly play its last game of the season against Illinois at Wrigley Field on Nov. 30. As the ‘Cats prepare for Saturday’s rivalry, here are five things we learned from their ugly loss to the Wolverines.
It’s probably time to move on from Jack Lausch
Some Northwestern fans and staff have held out hope for Lausch throughout an up-and-down 2024 campaign, but last game’s performance likely closed the door on his chances of returning as the starting quarterback. It seemed as though the road atmosphere affected Lausch’s play tremendously, as he barely cracked 100 yards through the air against Michigan, a major step down from his decent performance against Ohio State. It’s unfair to say that Lausch has done only bad things for the ‘Cats this year, but he’s made too many mistakes for the team to overlook his inconsistencies. Lausch now has nearly a full season’s worth of games under his belt, and amid a disappointing season for the team overall, it’s time for David Braun and Co. to think about other options for next year. The hope is that Lausch redeems himself in a slightly friendlier atmosphere against Illinois, but regardless of how that game goes, his chapter as the starter may end up being done for good.
The offensive line has been overwhelmed
NU’s linemen have been relatively inconsistent throughout the year, but Michigan’s defense forced perhaps their worst performance of the season. Following a four-sack affair against the Buckeyes, Lausch was sacked five times by the Wolverines. The running game couldn’t get much going either, with no halfback even cracking 25 yards on the game. Game script dictated – to an extent – NU’s shift away from the running game, but the offensive line was simply unable to penetrate consistently on run plays, nor could it effectively handle the pressure against Lausch. The starting o-line has been shuffled several times this season due to injury, and it’s certainly tough to handle Michigan’s pass rush (31 sacks on the season). Nonetheless, the line’s production has held the ‘Cats back in a major way, culminating in Saturday’s rough performance.
The receiving corps needs a revamp
AJ Henning and Bryce Kirtz are tremendously talented players who have developed considerably during their careers at Northwestern. The problem, however, is that both of them will depart after this year, leaving a considerable void in the receiver room for the ‘Cats. Once again, the Wildcats could not find a third option at wideout, with no player outside of Henning and Kirtz garnering multiple receptions against the Wolverines. Part of the passing game’s struggles can certainly be pinned on Lausch, but Northwestern’s depth receivers have also struggled to find any kind of consistent separation, a continual issue that has plagued this offense. Whether it’s in recruiting, development, or the transfer portal, something has to get better with regard to pass-catchers. Otherwise, Northwestern risks even deeper problems next year following the losses of its two receiving leaders.
Xander Mueller was sorely missed on defense
Even in a 50-6 loss, there were still some positives to be had, and linebacker Xander Mueller was one of them for the Wildcats. After a three-game injury absence, Mueller returned in force, with nine tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception with a 25-yard return. In particular, the pick allowed Northwestern to get back within a score, temporarily keeping them in the game and breathing some life into the Wildcat squad. Mueller, a senior, is the true leader of this team on defense. On a day when almost nothing went right for the ‘Cats, the dynamic linebacker was a bright spot.
Pass coverage is a fatal flaw for the ‘Cats
Despite the return of cornerback Theran Johnson, Northwestern’s secondary struggled far more than it should have against Michigan quarterback Davis Warren. Warren threw for 195 yards — his second-highest yardage output on the season — and the Wolverine staff was more than content with letting him dink-and-dunk against soft Northwestern coverage. Although the ‘Cats limited star tight end Colston Loveland to 22 receiving yards (his quietest performance yardage-wise on the year), they still couldn’t contain Michigan’s passing attack. Warren completed multiple passes to seven different receivers in all, demonstrating a stark contrast with the lack of depth on the NU side. A struggling Michigan passing unit should’ve represented an opportunity for the Wildcats to capitalize, but they were simply unable to do so. That performance encapsulated a rough week for the unit overall, and they’ll need to rebound in a big way to have a chance against Illinois.