Northwestern football dropped its third consecutive game on Saturday, falling 28-19 to No. 20 Ohio State in a Big Ten matchup.
The Wildcats, now 6-4 overall and 3-4 in conference play, struggled to maintain momentum during the second half, “fading late at No. 20 Ohio State,” according to Yahoo Sports.
Ohio State freshman quarterback Luke Fahey threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns, while wide receiver Jeremiah Smith recorded 117 receiving yards.
The Buckeyes improved to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten following the victory.
Northwestern quarterback Nicco Marchiol finished the game 18-for-31 for 225 yards and one touchdown in his second start of the season.
The Wildcats managed to pull within one point at 14-13 early in the third quarter following a two-yard touchdown run by Marchiol.
However, the Buckeyes answered with a scoring drive capped by an eight-yard touchdown pass to Devin McCuin.
The game featured a controversial officiating decision regarding a catch by Smith that was confirmed following a replay review, “agree with the call?” asked FOX College Football.
Late-game mistakes proved costly for Northwestern, including a muffed punt that gave Ohio State possession deep in Wildcats territory.
Fahey capitalized on the turnover, finding Smith for a touchdown pass that extended the lead to 28-13 with 6:33 remaining.
Northwestern added a late touchdown on a pass to Luke Dehnicke, but the deficit remained too large to overcome.
The Wildcats’ defensive effort included an early interception by Braden Turner, which was “deflected off Chris Henry Jr.’s helmet,” as noted by the Big Ten Network.
Despite the loss, Northwestern showed flashes of offensive production, including a 37-yard reception by tight end Alex Honig.
The team now prepares for its next challenge on the road.
Northwestern is scheduled to face Minnesota on Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. CT, looking to snap its current losing skid.