Purdue Opponent Preview: Northwestern

Purdue enters Year Two of the Ryan Walters era looking for growth following a 4-8 debut campaign. The Boilermakers will again face one of the nation’s most demanding schedules, a daunting proposition as they hope to return to postseason play.

Throughout the summer, GoldandBlack.com will preview each of Purdue’s 2024 opponents. Today, we take a look at the Northwestern Wildcats with the help of Ethan Segall from Inside NU, BTN+ and WNUR .

The overview

Though no longer Big Ten West rivals, the Boilermakers and Wildcats will square off for the 11th straight season this fall. Purdue holds a dominant all-time lead in the series, but Northwestern has won seven of the last ten matchups. After a shocking bowl season under interim coach David Braun, he earned the full-time gig and will lead the Wildcats into 2024 and beyond.

Purdue lost to Braun’s squad last November. In that game, Purdue desperately missed QB Hudson Card and OLB Nic Scourton, who both missed the contest due to injury. The last time Purdue and Northwestern squared off in Ross-Ade Stadium, Purdue eeked out a 17-9 win in one of the coldest games in the century-old stadium’s history.

Name to know: offense

It’s a slightly untraditional answer, but the name to know is offensive coordinator Zach Lujan . In some ways, it speaks to Northwestern’s lack of a true star on the offensive end, but it’s the first-year playcaller Lujan who can best help Northwestern improve from its 2023 campaign. After four years of Mike Bajakian , who left ‘Cats fans frustrated by the end of his tenure, the 28-year-old Lujan enters after orchestrating back-to-back FCS titles with South Dakota State. Northwestern’s offense will feature a lot more motion, deception and diverse personnel groups than it has seen in recent years. On the field, wide receivers Bryce Kirtz and A.J. Henning should be major contributors for the Wildcats.

Name to know: defense

It may be low-hanging fruit, but the easy answer is linebacker Xander Mueller . Mueller is the anchor of the Wildcat defense and put together a career year in 2023, totaling personal bests in tackles (110), sacks (5.0) and interceptions (three). Mueller has already become a beloved Wildcat because of his knack for big plays in high-leverage moments, but the senior appears poised to take another step in 2024, both on the field and as a leader. With four new West Coast teams bringing high-flying offenses to the conference, Mueller and the linebackers will be tasked with bringing the physicality and reminding everyone what Big Ten football is all about.

Biggest question:

What does a David Braun program look like? The 2023 Northwestern Wildcats, fresh off the firing of Pat Fitzgerald , became one of the best stories in college football by posting a winning record and emerging victorious in a bowl game. After being thrust into the interim role under 50 days before the season opener as a fresh face to the staff, Braun’s performance was borderline miraculous, and he was justly awarded Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. But despite all that, 2024 feels like the first true year of the Braun tenure. With the interim tag removed and a full offseason to work with, Braun was able to bring in his staff (including the aforementioned Lujan) and work the transfer portal. Braun’s vision is beginning to take shape, rather than the framework of a roster inherited from the previous regime, but the first few games of the season will be very telling as to whether 2023 was merely a great story or the start of something far more exciting.

Key newcomer

Without a doubt, it’s quarterback Mike Wright . Northwestern has seen a revolving door of Week One starters at the most important position on the field. Some (2020 Peyton Ramsey , 2023 Ben Bryant ) have worked out great while others (2021 Hunter Johnson , 2022 Ryan Hilinski ) have been bumpy. The carousel will continue to spin in 2024 with grad transfer Wright, who comes to Evanston after three seasons at Vanderbilt and one at Mississippi State. Assuming he wins the job in training camp. Wright brings SEC experience and dual-threat ability, but there are questions about his ability to grip it and rip it when the ‘Cats need his arm. The success of the offense will largely depend on Wright’s ability to man the helm.

Early outlook on Purdue vs. Northwestern

Entering the season, this projects as a must-win game for the Boilermakers to reach bowl eligibility. While Northwestern shocked everyone last season by reaching the six-win mark, it’s not likely to improve from that level. Over the past two decades, defeating the Wildcats required fundamentally-sound, clean football. Though Purdue did not fulfill that in Evanston a season ago, if it can play well, it can beat Northwestern this fall.

2024 expectations

I expect the Wildcats to once again be in the mix for bowl eligibility, hovering around the six-to-seven win mark. Parts of the schedule are a gauntlet (including dates with Washington, Ohio State and Michigan) but Northwestern’s defense and style of play should keep them in a lot of close, potentially low-scoring games. I also expect the Wildcats to enjoy the best home-field advantage they’ve seen in years thanks to the unique temporary lakeside stadium that should be an incredible destination venue for fans while Ryan Field is being rebuilt.

2024 Purdue schedule

Previous previews: Indiana State | Notre Dame | Oregon State | Nebraska | Wisconsin | Illinois | Oregon

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