Sept. 27, 2010
Northwestern (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. Minnesota (1-3, 0-0)
11 a.m. CT Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010
TCF Bank Stadium (47,130) Evanston, Ill.
Television: ESPN
Radio: WGN (720 AM), WNUR (89.3 FM)
Internet: wgnradio.com, wnur.org
Gametracker: NUsports.com
In-game Twitter updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
Next Home Game: vs. Purdue, Saturday, Oct. 9 6:30 p.m. (BTN)
Ticket Information: Season tickets, as well as single-game tickets remain on sale for all NU home games (you must be a season ticketholder to purchase tickets for the Nov. 20 game at Wrigley Field); tickets can be purchased on NUsports.com or by calling 847-491-2287 (CATS).
NU FB Game Notes (vs. Minnesota) 
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For Openers
The 115th Big Ten football season gets underway this weekend with Northwestern opening league action at Minnesota. This is the 16th time the Wildcats have played the Golden Gophers in their Big Ten opener. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Northwestern is making its first visit to Minnesota's new TCF Bank Stadium.
Northwestern, which has won a Big Ten-best nine road games dating to the start of the 2008 season, carries a four-game true road winning streak into Saturday's action at Minnesota. The Wildcats, who won five consecutive road games during their 1995 Big Ten title run, have posted victories over Iowa, Illinois, Vanderbilt and Rice in their last four away contests. (See page six of the game notes for more information on NU's recent road successes.)
The Wildcats also bring a seven-game regular-season winning streak into Saturday's Big Ten opener. The seven-game streak is the Wildcats' longest since 1996, when they won seven successive contests. Northwestern has started 4-0 for the second time in the past three years.
After four games of the 2010 season, or 240 minutes of football, Northwestern has yet to trail at any point. With the Wildcats leading 6-0 last Saturday vs. Central Michigan, the Chippewas scored a touchdown and were poised to take the lead. The Wildcats, however, blocked the PAT kick and prevented themselves from facing their first deficit of the season.
Junior Dan Persa continues to lead all Division I (FBS and FCS) quarterbacks in completion percentage after notching another game with a completion rate of 75 percent or better this season. Persa converted 23-of-30 passes (76.7 percent) against Central Michigan and now owns a season completion percentage of 80.2 (85-of-106). Persa is also virtually tied for second place nationally among FBS quarterbacks in pass efficiency with a rating of 186.3 (tied with Oklahoma's Brandon Weeden). Utah's Terrance Cain leads the nation with a mark of 192.5. Persa ranks 12th nationally in total offense (305.3 ypg).
Northwestern picked off two more passes to up its season total to eight, which is the most by any Big Ten team this season. That figure ranks fifth nationally. Senior linebacker Quentin Davie leads all NU players with a Big Ten-best three interceptions. The Wildcats have recorded at least one interception in their last eight games.
Ticket Info/Next Home Game
Season tickets, single-game tickets and three-pack plans for the 2010 Northwestern football season are still available. Ticket information can be found on NUsports.com or by calling NU's ticket office at 847-491-2287 (CATS).
Tickets for Northwestern's Big Ten home opener vs. Purdue on Oct. 9 are on sale, with prices at $50 (reserved seats), $35 (end zone), $40 (corner adult reserved) and $20 (corner youth reserved). Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. At the conclusion of the game, a special fireworks show will immediately follow the conclusion of the game. Northwestern also will honor its 2000 Big Ten championship team that night.
The Broadcasts
Radio -- WGN Radio (720 AM and wgnradio.com) will carry the game live with the pregame show starting at 10:30 a.m. Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Ted Albrecht (analyst) call the action. WNUR (89.3), NU's student station, also will carry the game. The game can also be heard on satellite radio: Sirius (Ch. 90), XM Satellite (Ch. 196).
Television -- ESPN is televising the game to a national cable audience. Bob Wischusen (play-by-play) and Brian Griese (analyst) call the action.
For a complete set of notes, click on the PDF above.
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