Big Ten defense rankings: How does Penn State Football stack up?

4. Northwestern Wildcats 

Head coach Pat Fitzgerald is a defensive minded head coach and his teams usually take on his tough, hard nosed persona which always makes the Wildcats a tough out.

Last season Northwestern led the conference in defense, allowing a mere 15.9 points per game, finishing second in interceptions with 14 in nine games due in large part to freshman cornerback Brandon Joseph who had a mind blowing six interceptions in the shortened season.

Fitzgerald’s bunch will have to replace middle linebacker Paddy Fisher who is off the NFL, who was not only a coach on the field but led the team in tackles with 86 and also had an interception. Northwestern benefited from leading the conference in turnovers last season, expect a minor regression in that department but this will still be stingy bunch in 2021.