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Early season Washington Huskies foe struggles in season opener vs. MAC team

By Ethan Lee

Aug 31, 2024; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats running back Cam Porter (1) runs against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks during the first half at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 31, 2024; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats running back Cam Porter (1) runs against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks during the first half at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports / David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
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As the Washington Huskies continue to get used to life in the Big Ten, it’s worth keeping an eye on some of the other teams in the conference and getting familiar with them. Like, for example, the first fellow Big Ten team that Washington will face this year: the Northwestern Wildcats.

And what do you need to know about Northwestern right now? Well, the Wildcats were UNDERWHELMING in their first game of the season. Very, very uninspiring. Northwestern struggled in a lackluster showing against Miami (OH) (who is from the MAC). That’s not a foe that a Big Ten team should struggle with.

And yet, here we are, seeing Northwestern have issues with the RedHawks. For Northwestern fans, that should raise a few red flags about whether or not the Wildcats will be ready to make a trip across the country and face the Huskies in Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium in a few weeks.

If I were a Northwestern fan, I don’t think I’d be looking forward to that one.

Washington Huskies football: Huskies’ first conference foe in Big Ten struggles in Week 1 vs. MAC team

Northwestern was ineffective in several different aspects of the game, but the Wildcats’ offense really sputtered throughout the afternoon. It’s never a good thing to just put up 328 yards of offense against a MAC defense, but the Wildcats really couldn’t get things figured out on offense.

Mike Wright struggled at quarterback, completing 18 of 30 passes (not awful, I suppose) for 178 yards and no touchdowns (that’s not inspiring). Where Wright did thrive is on the ground as he ran the ball 9 times for 65 yards and the Wildcats’ only touchdown of the game. 

As a whole, Northwestern’s rushing attack was decent, but it only accumulated 150 yards and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. That won’t win much in the Big Ten. 

Northwestern will have to get a few things figured out before they get Big Ten play started. But, for the sake of the Washington Huskies, I hope Northwestern’s offensive issues continue on.

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