Northwestern @ Indiana preview

Northwestern at Indiana

Last Meeting ( Oct 24, 2009 ) Indiana 28, Northwestern 29

Following two straight tough losses in the Big Ten, Northwestern could use a win.

Saturday's conference game at Indiana would be a good place to start.

The Wildcats (5-2, 1-2 Big Ten) began the season with five consecutive wins, but have lost back-to-back home games to Purdue and Michigan State. The fact that Northwestern failed to hold leads in both games made the losses even more difficult to handle.

The Wildcats were done in by their own mistakes in blowing a 17-0 lead and falling 35-27 to Michigan State. Running back Jacob Schmidt fumbled at the Spartans' 1-yard line to end one drive. Northwestern fell asleep in the fourth quarter when Michigan State pulled off a fake punt that turned the game around.

Quarterback Dan Persa had a big day as the Wildcats' main offensive threat, but he was sacked eight times. He completed 18 of 29 passes for 187 yards and ran for three touchdowns, but the offensive line must do a better job of protecting him.

Despite the two losses, the Wildcats have no time to feel sorry for themselves. With games against Penn State, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin ahead, Northwestern needs to come out of trip to Indiana with a win.

A loss to the Hoosiers would not only continue the negative momentum, but also put the Wildcats' hopes of going to a bowl game in jeopardy.

Indiana (4-3, 0-3) has also been dealing with hard times. The Hoosiers' four wins have been the result of a creampuff non-conference schedule that produced victories over Towson, Western Kentucky, Akron and Arkansas State. Indiana beat those four teams by a combined score of 160-92.

The Big Ten portion of the schedule hasn't been nearly as kind. The Hoosiers have been outscored 123-58 in losing to Michigan, Ohio State and Illinois. Last week's 43-13 loss to the Illini was the Hoosiers' worst defeat of the season.

Quarterback Ben Chappell also had his toughest game of the season, throwing three interceptions, including one that was returned 68 yards for a touchdown. Chappell, who completed 26 of 48 passes for 279 yards and one touchdown, had thrown three interceptions in Indiana's first six games.

Chappell has completed 66.2 percent of his passes for 2,137 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The offense hasn't been the same since an injury to running back Darius Willis, who is out for the season with a patellar tendon injury. The running game has struggled in the last three games without the star sophomore.

Offensive lineman James Brewer, who has missed the last three games with an ankle injury, is listed as questionable for the game.