Northwestern’s offensive fireworks in Saturday’s 51-48 victory over Wisconsin has vaulted some of the Wildcats up in NCAA individual statistical rankings. The opposite can be said for the defense.
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After rushing for 244 yards and scoring four touchdowns, freshman Tyrell Sutton leads the nation in scoring (14.4 points per game) and is second in rushing with an average of 154.5 yards per game behind Memphis’ DeAngelo Williams (177). Quarterback Brett Basanez is ninth in the nation in total offense with an average of 319 yards per game after Saturday, when he threw for 361 yards and ran for 69.
But the Wildcats rank 116th of 117 Division I-A teams in total defense, allowing 509.2 yards per game. They are 111th in scoring defense at 37 points per game. Linebacker Tim McGarigle, however, won his second national defensive player of the week award after a career-high 25 tackles (15 solos).