1. Kick return game
While Northwestern doesn’t turn heads for its ground game or passing attack, its kick return game ranks among the best in the Big Ten. The Wildcats rank second in the conference with 410 yards and third with an average of 25.6 yards per return. Redshirt sophomore Joseph Himon II has been the key piece to such success, totaling 331 yards on 12 returns – including a 96-yarder against Washington.
Given Iowa’s tackling struggles last week and its tendency to concede big plays to its opposition, the 5-foot-9 Himon will be a concern for the Hawkeyes’ special teams. Kicker Drew Stevens has the leg to force touchbacks, but even if Himon does rattle off a deep return, Stevens could be counted on for defense – the junior picked up his first career tackle this year against Washington.
2. Rematch against dual-threat QB
In its previous game against Michigan State, Iowa struggled to contain Spartan quarterback Aidan Chiles. The teenaged team captain recorded 51 yards on the ground on 11 carries, including a 26-yard scamper to convert on third down to put the Spartans in field goal range.
“We just got to go back to the drawing board and be extra diligent about staying on our hips and shoulder, keeping them in the pocket,” Iowa defensive lineman Deonate Craig said. “And that’s not the last mobile quarterback we’ll see.”
Against Northwestern, Iowa will have a similar challenge in Wildcat quarterback Jack Lausch.
Hailing from Chicago, Lausch took over the starting role after the team’s first two games and delivered instant production in his season debut against Eastern Illinois, tossing for 227 yards and two passing touchdowns to go along with 62 rushing yards. The second-year player repeated the performance against then-No. 23 Indiana, completing 60.5 percent of his passes for 243 yards and scrambling for another 34 yards. This season, the 6-foot-2 Lausch has 196 yards on 4.2 yards per carry – both better than Chiles and ranking first in the Big Ten among quarterbacks.
3. Reshaped Northwestern offense
The Wildcats coaching staff will look a bit different at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. Head coach David Braun, stepping into a full-time role over the offseason after an interim stint in 2023, made moves under his new title. In December, Braun fired offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian before hiring Zach Lujan as his replacement less than a month later. Evanston marks Lujan’s first FBS coaching job after spending the previous seven years with FCS powerhouse South Dakota State. Lujan was the offensive coordinator for his final season with the Jackrabbits and the architect of a unit that averaged 37.3 points per game.
Partly due to Northwestern’s early-season quarterback struggles, Lujan’s presence hasn’t made much of an impact in the passing game as the Wildcats have become more reliant on the run, averaging 20 more rushing yards per game than they did last season. Senior running back Cam Porter leads the team with 320 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
“They’re still physical up front,” Craig said of Northwestern. “They got good running backs. They want to run the ball but it’s on us up front. We’ve got to do a really good job of getting off blocks and making plays and making it easier for the guys on the back end.”
4. Second cornerback spot
While sixth-year cornerback Jermari Harris has been one of the Hawkeyes’ best defenders this season, his counterpart on the right side of the field remains to be seen. Junior TJ Hall as well as sophomores Deshaun Lee and John Nestor have each seen reps at corner, but none have earned consistent starts.
Lee, who started six games for the Hawkeyes last season, did not see action against Michigan State due to a coaches’ decision. Head coach Kirk Ferentz said Lee is in “a bit of a lull,” but has him as the starter on this week’s depth chart. Lee’s 19 total tackles this season rank best for any Iowa cornerback this season. The quality and quantity of Lee’s play on Saturday will indicate if perhaps the position has been figured out or will need more, as Ferentz put it, “learning on the job.” The Wildcats won’t be a pushover for Lee and Harris either, boasting two wideouts – Bryce Kirtz and AJ Henning – with at least 350 yards averaging 10 yards per catch this season.
5. Brendan Sullivan snaps
While Ferentz said starting quarterback Cade McNamara has to be better under center and more accurate with his throws, the head coach affirmed his position at the top of the depth chart. Yet during his explanation as to why McNamara is still the starter, Ferentz slipped in the line, “Keep an open mind.” Yes, this could just be a red herring for Hawkeye fans clamoring for a position change, but it also could signal that Ferentz will have a shorter leash. Ranking 56th in the FBS in terms of yards allowed per game, the Wildcats sit in the top five in the Big Ten in total tackles and are first in pass defenses with 36. So despite its 3-4 record and 13th place in the conference, Northwestern won’t be a breeze defensively. If McNamara has another first half like he did at East Lansing – 3-of-9 for 30 yards – then perhaps a change might happen after all.
Besides replacing McNamara in the red zone, Sullivan could also appear for short-yardage third-down situations. When Chad Leistikow of The Des Moines Register posed this possibility to Ferentz, the head coach said it would be “a little bit unsettling” for bringing in a new quarterback that often, but added, “Maybe it is something we need to look at.” Once again, this could be wishful thinking, but at least it’s something to keep an eye out for.