FOX Sports Big Noon Kickoff comes to town, but NU falls 34-14

FoxBigNoonkickoff1 — FOX Sports hosted its Big Noon Kickoff national pregame show at the NU lakefront before the NU-Oregon game. Credit: Todd Thomas

Big Noon Kickoff, FOX Sports’ nationally-televised Saturday morning college football pregame show, came to Evanston’s lakefront this weekend for a Big Ten showdown between Northwestern and Oregon.

Despite a rainy and windy morning on campus at NU’s temporary lakefront stadium (which affords views of Lake Michigan and the downtown Chicago skyline in the background), students came out with signs and ponchos for the occasion (fall quarter classes start on Tuesday).

The Wildcats ultimately fell to the No. 4 Ducks 34-14 in their conference opener. Luckily, though, the skies cleared after a stormy morning, and the intimate setting on the lakefront was on full display for fans in attendance and the national TV audience.

The outcome was never in doubt, but the Wildcats (1-2) did perform better than many had predicted and avoided the type of drubbing the Ducks (3-0) had handed their previous two opponents, whom they had outscored 128-16.

Northwestern’s Ricky Ahumaraeze tries to haul in a pass, but it’s broken up by a Duck defender. Credit: Todd Thomas
A Wildcat receiver is upended after making a catch. Credit: Todd Thomas
A defender closes in on a Duck running back. Credit: Todd Thomas

The choice to feature this game was somewhat unusual considering the lopsided matchup, but FOX wanted to showcase not just the teams involved, but the unique small-scale venue with picturesque views, a far cry from the typically huge stadiums that often host college teams.

Northwestern Head Coach David Braun was also on board with Big Noon Kickoff coming to campus.

“This is why you play in the Big Ten. Big Noon Kickoff coming to campus — the students are back, and we need [student fan group] Wildside at a whole other level. It may be a smaller venue, but it can be an incredible advantage for the ‘Cats. These are the days that you dream of when you play college football,” Braun said at his weekly press conference ahead of the game. “I think it’s really important that we tune that out during the week and acknowledge it on Saturday, take a moment to take it in and say, ‘Yeah, this is awesome,’ and then focus on executing.”

The fans were enthusiastic throughout the game, even when NU was trailing by as many as 30 points, and they finally did have something to cheer about in the fourth quarter when the Wildcats scored two touchdowns to trim the final margin of victory and avoid a shutout.

Wildcat fans celebrate a fourth-quarter touchdown. Credit: Todd Thomas
Dashun Reeder scores on a 79-touchdown run for Northwestern in the fourth quarter. Credit: Todd Thomas

The first score came on a one-yard run by sophomore running back Caleb Komolafe. Redshirt freshman Dashun Reeder followed that up with an explosive 79-yard touchdown run, providing much-needed production from the running game after leading rusher Cam Porter suffered a season-ending leg injury last week against Western Illinois.

Saturday was just the second time NU has faced Oregon, the first being in 1974, when the Cats won 14-10 at Dyche Stadium.

The Wildcats have a bye week and then play UCLA in a home contest on the lakefront Saturday, Sept. 27.

FOX Sports Big Noon Kickoff comes to town, but NU falls 34-14

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