Gameday Central: 'Cats Set to Battle Nebraska on the Road

EVANSTON, Ill. — With both teams fresh off a bye week, Northwestern (3-3, 1-2 B1G) will travel to Lincoln on Saturday for a Big Ten West matchup with Nebraska at 2:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.

How to Follow

Watch on Big Ten Network: Action will be televised on Big Ten Network, with Cory Provus (play-by-play) and Jake Butt (analyst) in the booth, joined by Brooke Fletcher on the sideline.
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Listen on AM 720 WGN: The Voice of the Wildcats, Dave Eanet, returns for his 34th season calling Northwestern Football. Eanet will be joined on the call by 30th-year analyst Ted Albrecht, along with Lauren Withrow on the sideline.
Direct Link to Listen Online

Follow In-Game Updates (NUFBFamily): Stay tuned to Northwestern Football's Twitter and Instagram channels for live highlights, photos and reactions surrounding Sunday's game.

Digital Program: Can't wait for Saturday's game? Catch up on all the latest with the Wildcats prior to kickoff with this week's gameday program! View the Week 8 Digital Program HERE

Five Things to Know

Senior LB Xander Mueller set new career-highs in the last game against Howard with 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. Mueller now leads the team with 3.5 sacks, ranking fifth in the Big Ten. His 3.5 sacks are a new single-season high, while his 7.0 TFLs are just three behind the 10.5 he tallied in 12 games last season. Mueller is the only player in the Big Ten, and one of just four in the nation, to post at least 17.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions since the start of the 2022 season. In last year's meeting with Nebraska, Mueller snatched the first interception of his career.

Senior RB Cam Porter is 82 rushing yards away from 1,000 in his career. Porter was the Wildcats' leading rusher as a first-year in 2020 with 333 yards and has rushed for 299 yards so far this season.

David Braun has led the Wildcats to a 3-3 record through his first six games as a head coach. Among the 11 first-time FBS head coaches this season, Braun's three wins are tied for the lead in the group.

Making his first start of the season against Howard, QB Brendan Sullivan completed 13-of-18 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing 15 times for 38 yards and a touchdown. Sullivan became the only Wildcat in the past 20 seasons to record a touchdown pass and touchdown rush each of at least 35 yards in the same game. His 35-yard rushing touchdown was the longest by a Northwestern QB since Clayton Thorson logged a 42-yard score against Nebraska on Sept. 24, 2016.
Saturday will mark the 17th meeting between Northwestern and Nebraska in a series that dates back to 1902, with Nebraska leading the series 9-7. The 'Cats took last year's matchup in Dublin, Ireland 31-28 in the season-opener, mounting an 11-point comeback in the second half. The two teams have alternated wins over the last five matchups and have split their 12 meetings since their annual matchups began in 2011. Northwestern has won the last five games when it scores 20+ points against the Cornhuskers.

Up Next: The 'Cats head back home to take on Maryland at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Ryan Field. Get your tickets through NUSports.com.

Gameday Central: 'Cats Set to Battle Nebraska on the Road

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Xander Mueller

Cam Porter

Brendan Sullivan

Northwestern University Athletics

Gameday Central: 'Cats Set to Battle Nebraska on the Road

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Xander Mueller

Cam Porter

Brendan Sullivan

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