Wildcats Conclude Non-Conference Play against Eastern Illinois

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern (1-1) wraps up non-conference play and its season-long three-game homestand by hosting in-state opponent Eastern Illinois inside Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 14 as part of Hall of Fame weekend. The game will air on BTN and WGN Radio 720.

How to Follow

Watch on BTN: Action will be televised on BTN with Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst) and Kylen Mills (sideline). Direct Link to Watch Online (Sign-In with TV Provider)

Listen on AM 720 WGN: The Voice of the Wildcats, Dave Eanet, returns for his 35th season calling Northwestern Football. Eanet will be joined on the call by 31st-year analyst Ted Albrecht, along with Lauren Withrow on the sideline. The broadcast can also be heard on SiriusXM Channel 372.
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 Saturday's game.

Five Things to Know

Northwestern suffered its first loss of the year in a 26-20 double overtime setback to Duke on Friday, Sept. 6. The Wildcats led 10-7 at halftime with points coming from a Jack Olsen 44-yard field goal and a Cam Porter 4-yard touchdown rush. Olsen converted on a 35-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, but the Blue Devils connected on two field goals in the second half to send the game to overtime. Porter found the end zone for a second time on a 10-yard rush, but Duke responded, sending the game to a second overtime. Duke scored a touchdown and came up empty on the 2-point conversion attempt, but Northwestern was stopped at the 11-yard line to end the game.

Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Anto Saka posted 5.5 sacks in 2023 to rank second on the team. His total was the most by a Northwestern first-year (including redshirt first-years) since Samdup Miller had 5.5 sacks in 2017. Through two games in 2024 Saka has recorded 1.5 sacks to rank second on the team. According to PFF, Saka leads Big Ten edge rushers with 10 pressures this season. Dating back to last season, Saka has tallied at least 0.5 sacks in five consecutive games.

Coming to a Backfield Near You.@TheAntSaka ?? pic.twitter.com/VguLz151lz
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) September 10, 2024

Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Coach David Braun announced in his weekly press conference that redshirt sophomore QB Jack Lausch will make his first career start against the Panthers. The Chicago, Ill. native played in 10 games last year completing 2-of-3 passes for 10 yards, while rushing 19 times for 80 yards (4.2 ypc) and a touchdown. A versatile playmaker, Lausch also lined up at wide receiver last season and made two catches for nine yards. A Brother Rice HS product, Lausch is the first Chicago native to start at QB for the 'Cats since Mike Kafka (St. Rita HS) in 2009.

A two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, two-time Big Ten Kicker of the Year and a 2013 first team all-american, Jeff Budzien is being inducted into the Northwestern Hall of Fame Class of 2024 and will be the honorary captain before the EIU game. He graduated as Northwestern's career record holder for points (280), field goal percentage (.872), single-season field goals made (23), consecutive field goals made (17) and extra points made (136-for-136). Budzien remains the most accurate kicker in Big Ten history among kickers with at least 50 career attempts.

The Wildcats, who are 2-0 all-time against the Panthers will meet for the third time in series history and the first time since claiming a 41-0 win on Sept. 12, 2015. In that game QB Clayton Thorson completed 11-of-16 passes for 152 yards, and he connected with WR Austin Carr on a 44-yard connection combining for their first career score. The touchdown pass was the first of Thorson's school career record 61 touchdown passes, while Carr, a former walk-on, completed his Northwestern career (2013-16) with 14 touchdowns, tied for the fourth most by a receiver in school history.

Up Next: Northwestern begins Big Ten Conference play as it travels to Washington for a 6 p.m. CT kick on Saturday, Sept. 21. The game will air on FS1 and WGN Radio 720.

Wildcats Conclude Non-Conference Play against Eastern Illinois

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jack Lausch

Jack Olsen

Cam Porter

Anto Saka

Northwestern University Athletics

Wildcats Conclude Non-Conference Play against Eastern Illinois

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jack Lausch

Jack Olsen

Cam Porter

Anto Saka

Related Videos