This game had a much bigger final score differential than the teams really played on the field.
NU was able to run on Purdue. Being able to run on Purdue and not be game-scripted into forced throws is the way to destroy Purdue. If Purdue can get you behind the sticks into obvious passing situations, their aggressiveness is disruptive to an offense and they can cause drives to stall. If you can run the ball and stay ahead of down-and-distance, Purdue hasn't shown they can stop the run well enough to get you off the field.
Purdue started the games with drives that ended in missed FG, FG, FG. When the Purdue defense was fresh, that was a 6-0 lead that could almost just as easily have been 21-0 and put Northwestern away early. Instead, Purdue went into the half up 13-7 and NU was able to keep running the ball.
Purdue got lucky coming out of halftime. The kicker was instructed to kick the ball off normally. His plant foot slipped on the [garbage Wrigley] turf and he barely made contact with the ball... BUT it hit the front line blocker (NU didn't have the "hands team" out) and a Purdue player fell on it for an unintentional onside kick. Purdue scored, failed the 2PT conversion, and then NU just marched right down the field.
There were two turning points in the game.
- First was after Purdue had scored again, to go up 26-14. NU needed a touchdown. They had sustained a drive into Purdue territory based on seven straight runs, and faced 4th and 2 at the Purdue 37. Rather than stick with the run, they tried to throw and Purdue blew up the play, forcing a turnover on downs.
- Second was after Purdue scored again, but just a FG. Down 29-14, this was still a 2-score game and there were 11 minutes left. Certainly enough that Northwestern didn't need to abandon the run. NU in 8 plays (6 runs, 2 pass) get into Purdue territory. With 1st and 10, NU attempts four straight passes, gets sacked on every single one of the four downs, and turns the ball over on downs.
From there Purdue kicked another FG, and it became a 3-score game with less than two minutes left to play. That was the ballgame.
Anyone not watching the game will see the 32-14 final score and think Purdue won easily. For me, I think the trepidation I had posted about pregame was warranted--Purdue didn't execute well offensively in the first half, allowed NU to hang around, and well into the second half this game was not decided. Then NU went away from what was working (the run) in critical moments, and Purdue's defense made them pay.
