Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Michigan State has allowed 33 points per game in its four-game losing streak, and Spartans coach John L. Smith is concerned after looking at Northwestern tapes, even though NU has scored only 26 points in three Big Ten games. “The Wildcats’ scheme scares me, what they do with the football, the option part of it,” Smith said. “They have two good running backs back there and the quarterback (Andrew Brewer) seems like he’s getting more comfortable.” . . . Ironic stat of the week: Northwestern leads the Big Ten in red zone offense percentage, having scored on all four drives inside its opponents’ 20.