Here were my keys to the game and how they played out today:

1. NU pass defense

What I said then: “Javon Ringer is going to get his yards, and it’s unlikely NU will be able to stop him completely. The key will be resisting the urge to bite on Brian Hoyer’s play-action and containing the MSU passing game. If the Cats do that, they’ll give themselves a chance to win.”

What I say now: Ringer did get his yards — 124 of them — although NU held him to 3.5 yards per carry. But even though he was the driving force behind the offense, it was Hoyer who delivered more of the big blows. The senior’s numbers weren’t eye-popping (14-20, 169 yards, 2 TDs), but he converted several crucial third downs and made no mistakes. Give him a lot of credit. Continue reading »