IT’S WILD, WILD WEST
Win over Wisconsin puts Northwestern in control of division
Every clutch play by Peyton Ramsey. Every big hit by Northwestern’s defense. It was all designed to send a message.
The Wildcats had something they wanted to say.
“We woke up the country now, and we need our damn respect,” cornerback Greg Newsome II said.
Ramsey threw two touchdown passes and No. 19 Northwestern shut down Graham Mertz and No. 10 Wisconsin for a 17- 7 victory on Saturday in Evanston that put the undefeated Wildcats in control of the Big Ten West.
Northwestern forced five turnovers — four in the first half — and sacked Mertz three times in its first win over a top- 10 team since a 28- 25 victory over No. 9 Nebraska on Nov. 5, 2011. Ramsey, a graduate transfer from Indiana, went 23for- 44 for 203 yards, and Ramaud Chiaokhiao- Bowman had four receptions for a career- high 95 yards.
Rising from the ashes of an ugly 3- 9 season, the Wildcats improved to 5- 0 for the first time since 2015. They also moved to 5- 0 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1996.
“Very resilient by our guys,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “Just staying in the fight. It wasn’t pretty. Oldschool game, but they grinded it out all the way through to the finish.”
Wisconsin ( 2- 1, 2- 1) had committed only one turnover this year, a fumble during a 45- 7 victory over Illinois on Oct. 23. The Badgers then had backto- back games canceled because of a COVID- 19 outbreak within the program before rolling to a 49- 11 victory at Michigan last weekend.
Mertz, a redshirt freshman, lost a fumble and threw the first three interceptions of his career against NU. Senior running back Garrett Groshek also lost a fumble in his return after he missed the victory against the Wolverines.
“Obviously, when you turn the ball over the number of times we did, it makes it hard,” Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said.
Mertz was 23- for- 41 for 230 yards. Jalen Berger had 15 carries for a career- best 93 yards for the Badgers.
Wisconsin managed to stay in the game thanks to stout defense.
But Charlie Kuhbander kicked a 32yard field goal with 11: 35 left, and Northwestern finished off another second- half shutout. The Wildcats have allowed only 10 points in the second half this season.
“Northwestern’s a great, veteran defense,” Mertz said. “They knew what was coming with our progressions. Obviously, it was something I’d love to get back, but now it’s just taking it as a learning experience and growing from it.”
Northwestern got off to a fast start. After Wisconsin went nowhere on its first possession, Ramsey tossed a two- yard touchdown pass to Charlie Mangieri with 10: 50 left in the first quarter. John Raine set up the score by drawing two pass- interference penalties in the end zone.
Groshek then fumbled the ball away, and Chiaokhiao- Bowman’s 36yard reception on a pass by fellow receiver Riley Lees moved the Wildcats to the Badgers’ 1. The play was originally ruled a touchdown, but a replay review showed Chiaokhiao-Bowman stepped out of bounds.
The overturned call took on added significance when Isaiah Bowser fumbled on the next snap, and Spencer Lytle recovered for Wisconsin in the end zone. The Badgers then put together a six- play, 80- yard drive, tying the score at 7 on Mertz’s 49- yard pass to Chimere Dike for the freshman’s first career touchdown with 5: 14 left in the first quarter.
Wisconsin had a couple of chances to move in front in the first half, but Mertz fumbled on a sack by Blake Gallagher and threw two interceptions to Brandon Joseph.