**Michigan Football Looks Ahead to Final Stretch Opener vs. Northwestern at Wrigley Field**
*By Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press*
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The Michigan Wolverines face a pivotal moment as they travel to Chicago for the first game of the final stretch this Saturday, November 15th. They’ll take on Northwestern at the iconic Wrigley Field, with kickoff scheduled for noon. Fans can catch the game on Fox or listen live on WCSX-FM 94.7.
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### Fast Facts
– **Matchup:** No. 17 Michigan (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten) vs. Northwestern (5-4, 3-3)
– **Date & Time:** Saturday, Nov. 15 | Noon
– **Location:** Wrigley Field, Chicago
– **TV/Radio:** Fox | WCSX-FM (94.7)
– **Betting Line:** Wolverines favored by 12½ points
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### Michigan Football vs. Purdue Availability Report
**Michigan Week 12 Expected Availability:**
– *Out for season:* WR I’Marion Stewart, RB Donovan Johnson, OL Andrew Babalola, DL Devon Baxter, WR C. J. Charleston, LB Jaydon Hood
– *Out:* OL Evan Link, RB Justice Haynes, DB Rod Moore
– *Questionable:* LB Jimmy Rolder, LB Jaishawn Barham, LB Cole Sullivan, TE Hogan Hansen
– *Probable:* WR Donaven McCulley, TE Marlin Klein
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### Northwestern Week 12 Availability
– *Out for season:* Cam Porter, Yannis Karlaftis, Jalen Lewis, Dylan Roberts
– *Out:* Seth Valeri, Evan Smith, Damon Walters, Cole Shivers, Tate Crane, Jason Reynolds II, Richie Hagarty, Tanner Jumpp, Jace Bocherding, Chris Petrucci, Braden Blueitt, Cam Russell
– *Questionable:* Joseph Himon II, Dashun Reeder
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### Scouting Report
**When Michigan Has the Ball:**
Michigan’s offense has clearly embraced its identity as a run-first attack this season. Of the 32 touchdowns scored so far, 25 have come on the ground. However, the passing game has struggled recently, with Bryce Underwood completing just 21 of 39 passes for 231 yards and no touchdowns against Michigan State and Purdue—two teams with notably weaker defenses.
Facing a Northwestern pass defense ranked in the top 25 nationally, the Wolverines are expected to lean heavily on running back Jordan Marshall to set the offensive tone. With Justice Haynes sidelined due to injury, backups Bryson Kuzdzal and Jasper Parker are also expected to see significant carries.
Pass-catching duties have mostly fallen to Donaven McCulley and Andrew Marsh, with true freshman Jamar Browder likely joining them in three-wide receiver sets as Michigan searches for an offensive spark.
**When Northwestern Has the Ball:**
Northwestern’s offense isn’t explosive but it knows how to control the clock effectively, ranking 13th nationally by holding possession for an average of 32 minutes and 40 seconds per game. Their ability to sustain drives is aided by efficient third-down conversions, ranked 29th nationally at 46.3%.
Michigan’s defense continues to be a strong suit but remains vulnerable on third downs, allowing opponents to convert 37.6% of the time (ranked 57th nationally). Northwestern’s offense ranks low at No. 95 in total yards per game (351.3) and No. 106 in scoring (21.9 points per game), consistently scoring between 17 and 22 points in each of their last four Big Ten contests.
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### Know the Foe
**Eyes on Caleb Komolafe:**
After the loss of fifth-year tailback Cam Porter, who brought over 2,300 career yards and 19 touchdowns, junior Caleb Komolafe stepped into the starting role and has thrived. Komolafe boasts 141 carries for 726 yards—averaging 5.1 yards per carry—and eight touchdowns. He has surpassed 100 rushing yards in three Big Ten games and scored in five of six league games. Notably, Komolafe posted a career-high 158 yards and a touchdown last week at USC, following a 125-yard, two-touchdown performance at Nebraska.
**Passing Game – “Passin’ Preston”:**
Quarterback Preston Stone, a transfer from SMU, had a rocky start with no touchdowns and four interceptions in his first game. Since then, he has thrown 11 touchdowns and just five interceptions, including eight touchdowns and two picks in his last six games. Stone’s favorite target is receiver Griffin Wilde, who leads the team with 43 catches, 593 yards, and five touchdowns—more than twice the production of the next closest player. Stone’s completion rate sits at 59.3%, and he has been sacked 12 times this season, presenting opportunities for Michigan’s pass rush to create disruption.
**Defensive Standouts:**
Northwestern’s winning record is largely attributed to its stingy defense, ranked 21st in scoring defense (allowing 19.11 points per game) and 32nd in total defense (323.9 yards per game). The Wildcats are disciplined, committing few penalties and ranked fifth nationally in fewest penalties with just 32 this season. Key defenders to watch are defensive back Robert Fitzgerald and linemen Anto Saka, Aidan Hubbard, and Carmine Bastone.
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### Tony Garcia’s Two Cents
**Wrigley Field Woes:**
The Wildcats have never won at Wrigley Field, suffering two losses there last season alone. The Wolverines are expected to bring a large fan presence, creating an environment that may feel neutral—or even pro-Michigan. Northwestern coach David Braun offered confidence, saying, “We say we’re Chicago’s Big Ten team. We’re playing in Chicago, playing at the friendly confines. We’re playing at home. That’s the way that we have to do this.”
**Special Teams Boost Needed:**
Michigan’s special teams unit has struggled this year, ranking near the bottom nationally: 131st in punt returns, 126th in kickoff returns, and 64th in net punting. With Chicago’s unpredictable wind, a game-changing play from special teams could be vital. Special teams captain Joe Taylor is poised to become the player in Michigan history with the most special teams snaps, surpassing Jordan Glasgow at 886 snaps with just three more plays.
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### Prediction
Given both teams’ modest scoring output in Big Ten play, expect a tight, low-scoring battle. Michigan has surpassed 24 points only twice in conference games, while Northwestern has been held to 22 or fewer in every league game this season.
This contest will likely be a hard-fought slugfest, decided by a few key plays. Look for a pivotal catch from Andrew Marsh to shift momentum, followed by Jordan Marshall turning up the heat late in the game. Ultimately, Michigan’s depth and talent should be enough to secure a victory.
**Final Score Prediction:**
Michigan 23, Northwestern 16
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Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press.
Email: [email protected]
Follow on X: [@RealTonyGarcia](https://twitter.com/RealTonyGarcia)
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/michigan-football-vs-northwestern-scouting-100813254.html