Stick-’em: Playing in their older-than-retro black “gothic” uniforms, Northwestern’s defense went medieval with some bone-crunching hits, namely when Nick VanHoose took down I-back Terrell Newby and Drew Smith drilled Ameer Abdullah on a third-quarter rush.
Footsie: Here’s how you avoid giving up another 100-yard kickoff return — you squib-kick it down the middle. The Wildcats had Jack Mitchell do that on his first two offerings.
Game-worthy: The spin move Justin Jackson put on Nebraska cornerback Josh Mitchell was Madden-worthy … and if you don’t get the reference, ask your game-playing son or nephew. Jackson joyously hopped into the end zone after eluding Mitchell on a 5-yard score.
Deep thought: Punter Chris Gradone had to re-earn his job in practice this week. His erratic performance Saturday means the job will remain a week-to-week proposition.
Looking ahead: Northwestern is idle before a Nov. 1 date at Iowa.
