Northwestern hosts Ball State

Ball State (1-4) at Northwestern (3-1), Oct. 10 at 12:30 p.m. EDT.

Opening Line: Northwestern by 34.5. Against the spread: Northwestern 4-0, Ball State 2-3.

How to watch: BTN

Key stats

Northwestern Offense

Overall: 437.8 yards per game (44th in FBS)

Passing: 225 yards per game (77th)

Rushing: 212.8 yards per game (27th)

Scoring: 33 points per game (59th)

Northwestern Defense

Overall: 385.8 yards per game (103rd in FBS)

Passing: 224.3 yards per game (89th)

Rushing: 161.5 yards per game (99th)

Scoring: 16.8 points per game (30th)

Ball State Offense

Overall: 297.6 yards per game (130th in FBS)

Passing: 174.2 yards per game (120th)

Rushing: 123.4 yards per game (114th)

Scoring: 19.2 points per game (119th)

Ball State Defense

Overall: 473.6 yards per game (135th in FBS)

Passing: 243.8 yards per game (113th)

Rushing: 229.8 yards per game (135th)

Scoring: 37.8 points per game (132nd)

Ball State is 125th in defensive third down percentage, allowing opponents to convert 46.5% of the time. Northwestern ranks 68th on offense, converting on 41.3% of third downs.

Ball State is 92nd in the FBS with a -2 turnover margin, compared to Northwestern's 14th-ranked +5 margin.

Ball State is 130th in FBS in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on 95% of trips. Northwestern's red zone offense ranks 18th, scoring on 94.7% of red zone opportunities.

Ball State is 106th in the FBS with an average time of possession of 28:26, compared to Northwestern's 54th-ranked average of 31:01.

Team leaders

Northwestern

Passing: Aidan Chiles, 900 yards, 6 TDs, 0 INTs, 70.8 completion percentage

Rushing: Caleb Komolafe, 290 yards on 52 carries, 2 TDs

Receiving: Griffin Wilde, 281 yards on 16 catches, 2 TDs

Ball State

Passing: Keldric Luster, 662 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs, 63.9 completion percentage

Rushing: T.J. Horton, 302 yards on 37 carries, 4 TDs

Receiving: Donovan Hamilton, 220 yards on 20 catches, 1 TD

Last game

Northwestern won 34-13 over Penn State on Oct. 2. Chiles passed for 93 yards on 10-of-14 attempts (71.4%) with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball six times for 21 yards and one rushing touchdown. Komolafe had 188 rushing yards on 25 carries and one touchdown, adding one reception for 14 yards. Wilde had two receptions for 36 yards.

Ball State fell 39-24 to Toledo on Oct. 3. Luster led Ball State with 224 yards on 21-of-33 passing (63.6%) for two touchdowns and one interception. Horton had 90 rushing yards on nine carries and one touchdown, adding two receptions for 10 yards. Hamilton had six receptions for 70 yards.

Next game

Northwestern plays at Michigan State on Oct. 17. Ball State plays at Bowling Green on Oct. 17.