With Robert Fitzgerald back on the field, Northwestern’s defense stiffened considerably after a shaky start, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 24-17 loss to No. 19 Iowa at Ryan Field on Saturday. The Wildcats, now 6-3 overall and 3-3 in Big Ten play, faced a tough Iowa squad that improved to 7-2 and 4-2 in the conference.
Iowa opened with a burst, scoring 14 points on its first three drives and racking up 179 yards. The Hawkeyes’ offense looked poised to pile on, but after that initial surge, Northwestern’s defense clamped down. The Wildcats allowed just a single field goal over the final three quarters, even as they faced an offense that had been averaging over 400 yards per game.
Fitzgerald’s return gave Northwestern’s defense a much-needed boost. The safety had missed several weeks due to injury, and his absence was felt in previous games. Against Iowa, the captain recorded seven tackles, the second most on the team, and intercepted a pass on the opening drive of the second half. That interception provided Northwestern with excellent field position, leading to their first points of the night. Fitzgerald’s presence helped the defense limit Iowa to just 29 yards in the third quarter, forcing two turnovers and two punts.
With a Big Noon Kickoff game against Ohio State looming next week, Fitzgerald’s health and form will be important for Northwestern’s hopes. Seeing him return so effectively against ranked opposition offers some encouragement after a period of defensive struggles.
On offense, Nicco Marchiol stepped in for the injured Aidan Chiles, who missed the game with an upper-body injury. Though Marchiol was not expected to match Chiles’s production, he showed mobility and resilience under pressure. Iowa’s defensive line frequently disrupted Northwestern’s passing attempts, but Marchiol’s scrambling helped avoid sacks and extended plays. He ran 23 times, mainly on scrambles, and made the Wildcats’ biggest passing plays on the move. Despite the offense managing only three points, Marchiol’s performance gave Northwestern a fighting chance.
The Wildcats’ early passing defense, however, was a weak point. Iowa’s quarterback Hank Brown completed nine of his first ten passes for 93 yards and a touchdown, finishing the game with only five incompletions. Northwestern’s secondary, which had recently allowed over 300 passing yards to Oregon and 280 to Michigan State, struggled again. Brown found open receivers consistently and had ample time in the pocket throughout the night. This efficiency helped Iowa maintain control despite being held in check later.
Chip Kelly’s decision to run a similar offense to what Chiles operates was evident from the start. Marchiol was tasked with scanning the field and making reads on designed rollouts, including a play-action run. Early on, Marchiol had four passing attempts and two rushes in the first drive, mirroring the style of Northwestern’s usual quarterback. Kelly’s trust in Marchiol to execute a complex offense was clear, even if the results were limited.
Northwestern’s ground game was outgained 170 to 105 yards by Iowa, which is not unexpected given the Hawkeyes’ strong rushing attack. Still, the Wildcats’ defense tightened up after the initial burst and avoided any big plays for much of the game, which prevented the margin from growing wider.
Despite the loss, Northwestern’s defense showed signs of recovery with Fitzgerald back and the Wildcat Wall remaining intact and injury-free through the first half. The team will look to build on that foundation as they prepare for their next challenge on the road at Ohio State.
According to Yahoo Sports.
