EVANSTON — No overtime would be needed this week.
No. 25 Northwestern (7-3, 5-2 Big Ten) overwhelmed Purdue (4-6, 2-5) 23-13 under the lights at Ryan Field, winning its fifth straight contest in a game that felt over midway through the third quarter, though two second-half Boilermakers touchdowns made the Wildcats sweat a bit down the stretch.
Clayton Thorson led the charge offensively for the Wildcats, finishing 26 of 46 for 296 yards and two total touchdowns. The passing game, along with suffocating defense and three Charlie Kuhbander field goals, powered Pat Fitzgerald's team to yet another victory.