Opponent Preview: Does Northwestern Have Enough To Simply Reload?
Note: A version of this Michigan Wolverines opponent preview appears in The Wolverine's Michigan Football Preview magazine, which can be purchased by clicking HERE.
Northwestern Wildcats Quick Facts
All-Time Series: Michigan leads 58-15-2
First Meeting: U-M 10, Northwestern 8 (Oct. 29, 1892 at Chicago)
Last Meeting: U-M 20, Northwestern 17 (Sept. 29, 2018 at Evanston, Ill.)
Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald, 106-81 (16th year) at Northwestern and overall (16th year)
2020 In Review: 7-2 overall, 6-1 Big Ten (1st West)
Final 2020 Ranking: No. 10 in the Associated Press and coaches’ polls
Returning Starters: 9 (3 offense, 4 defense, 2 specialists)
Last Bowl Appearance: 2020 (Vrbo Citrus Bowl vs. Auburn, W 35-19)
Northwestern Wildcats Returning Leaders
Passing: None
Rushing: Cam Porter (333 yards, 5 TD)
Receiving: Cam Porter (57 yards 0 TD)
Tackles: Chris Bergin (78)
Sacks: Adetomiwa Adebawore (2)
Interceptions: Brandon Joseph (6)
Players To Watch
Offense: Peter Skoronski, Fr., OL — Topped the offense last season with an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 81.4 and run-blocking grade of 80.9 … Wass the first Northwestern first-year player to be named second-team All-Big Ten (or higher) since Paddy Fischer in 2017.
Defense: Brandon Joseph, R-Fr., S — His six interceptions in 2020 were tied for the most in the country … Georgia Southern’s Derrick Canteen was the one tied with Joseph, but it took him 13 games to reach the mark, while Joseph played in nine … Appeared in four games in 2019.
Northwestern Wildcats Preview
Northwestern has been consistent, for the most part, over the past 15 years under head coach Pat Fitzgerald. The Wildcats have had some down years, including when they posted a 3-9 record in 2019, but they’ve often bounced back. That was on full display in 2020, when the Wildcats went on a run to remember, finishing atop the Big Ten West and winning a New Year’s Day bowl game (Citrus Bowl) over Auburn.
To prevent a dip back into a subpar season in 2021, Fitzgerald and Co. are tasked with replacing eight starters on offense — including both quarterbacks who registered stats last year — and seven starters on defense.
This isn’t a rebuild, since Fitzgerald has the program on such solid footing overall, but it’s surely going to be an uphill climb for the Wildcats to find themselves atop their division once again come season’s end.
Indiana transfer quarterback Peyton Ramsey, a third-team All-Big Ten choice, threw for 1,733 yards and 12 touchdowns during his one season in Evanston. Now, the Wildcats will likely turn to another transfer to lead the offense — sophomore Ryan Hilinski. The 6-3, 225-pounder started 11 games for South Carolina in 2019 and completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 2,357 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.
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