Opponent Perspective Q&A: MSU vs. Northwestern

SpartanMag caught up with WildcatReport.com publisher Louie Vaccher for an insider look at the Big Ten West leading Northwestern ahead of this weekend's matchup with Michigan State.

Continue below for this week's Opponent Perspective Q&A:

That’s a good question. As Pat Fitzgerald said this week, they still have a lot of chapters left to write this year. They could turn out to be to be Fitz’s finest. You have to remember, there is some competition, though. Fitzgerald has had three 10-win teams in his career (2012, 2015 and 2017), as well as the 2018 team that won the Big Ten West and finished with nine. I think that the 2012 team was his best. They finished 10-3 and beat Mississippi State like a drum in the Gator Bowl. It was certainly the most balanced and complete team he’s had, with Kain Colter and Trevor Siemian alternating at quarterback, and Venric Mark running for more than 1,000 yards on by far Fitzgerald’s most dynamic offense. They had the customary rock-solid defense, too. The other teams in the hunt – 2015, 2017 and 2018 – relied on defense and had just enough offense to get by. They are a lot like this team, really.

This 2020 team has a tremendous defense that really carries the team. They are not only a stingy group, but they also turn the ball over. The offense is sporadic because while Peyton Ramsey has been clutch, their running game has been abysmal over the last few weeks. Still, they are ranked eighth in the CFP this week, by far the highest of Fitzgerald’s tenure. If they manage to win their next three games and go undefeated in the Big Ten, they have to be considered his best team – no matter what happens in the Big Ten championship game. If they somehow manage to beat Ohio State (assuming the Buckeyes get there) in Indianapolis, they would be the best team in school history.

The addition of Peyton Ramsey has made a night-and-day difference. The Indiana grad transfer has been a godsend.

You have to remember, Northwestern had the worst quarterback play last season that I’ve ever personally seen in the Big Ten. Their five quarterbacks completed 50% of their passes, with just six touchdowns and 15 interceptions. They finished 126th in the nation in passing and dead-last, 130th, in pass efficiency. We really didn’t know who was going to be “the man” for them, so having Ramsey drop into their laps last spring was a stroke of luck – and maybe the biggest reason the Wildcats are in the position they are right now as one of just two undefeated teams in the Big Ten.

Ramsey is a poised, natural leader. He has started 28 games in his career and plays like it. He’s seen and done it all. He gets the offense in the right play and in the right protections, and he puts the ball in the right player’s hands in the right places. All of that was missing last season. His numbers aren’t going to blow anyone away: he ranks 12th in the Big Ten in passing. But he’s smart with the ball (8 TDs to 4 INTs) and is at his best on third downs and in the red zone. He’s been a better runner than I expected, and he is very good at extending plays outside the pocket with his feet but keeping his eyes downfield and finding open receivers. He spreads the ball around well and has really developed a strong connection with wide receiver Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman, who has four touchdown catches in the last two games.