Northwestern is a bit of a surprise matchup for Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game this weekend. Very few predicted this type of season for the Wildcats, and the campaign has been spearheaded by an opportunistic and very quick defense. There are a few takeaways from watching Northwestern this season.
The coaching staff has been solid. The hiring of offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian was a slight departure from the Wildcats of previous years and their gunslinging wide-open style. Instead, Northwestern has tried to be balanced and efficient, relying on the defense to shut teams down and score on the opportunities.
And, yeah, it has worked wonders while winning the Big Ten’s West division out of seemingly nowhere. But, let’s talk about the guy under center for Northwestern.