Northwestern rallied from a two-score deficit but lost by six to No. 5 Indiana, the defending national champion, in Bloomington after missing a fourth-quarter two-point try. Aidan Chiles threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns in the Wildcats' comeback.
Northwestern's running game was held to 32 yards, averaging 1.2 per carry. Chiles completed 22 of 29 passes without a turnover; Luke Dehnicke led the Wildcats with seven catches for 140 yards, while Griffin Wilde had six catches for 56 yards and both of Northwestern's receiving touchdowns.
Northwestern was without defensive back Braden Turner, and cornerback Josh Fussell left with an injury in the first quarter and did not return. The article says Indiana exploited the depleted secondary; Lee Beebe Jr.'s 70-yard run late moved the Hoosiers to the 5-yard line. Coach David Braun said Northwestern “should have won this football game.” The six-point loss was Northwestern's closest against a top-10 opponent since 2016.
