Northwestern Can't Handle The Pressure, Drops First Game In 2020

Northwestern is close to locking up a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game. With Wisconsin struggling to play games, the Wildcats only needed to win one of its next three games heading into Saturday.

So far, they are 0-1 in the question.

Despite an undefeated record and checking in at No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings, Northwestern fell to a less-than-stellar Michigan State squad to fall to 5-1 on the year. The Spartans, on the other hand, moved to 2-3 with the 29-20 victory.

Good for Michigan State. Bad for Northwestern.

Quarterback Peyton Ramsey had been playing better, but he threw two interceptions and was sacked four times against the Spartans. But he was far from the Wildcats' only issue. The run game was non-existent (63 yards) and the defense was uncharacteristically ineffective.

They had the world at their fingertips, but the pressure was just too much.

There is still a lot that can be accomplished this season. If they can somehow upset Ohio State (or whoever ends up playing) in the Big Ten championship, then there is still an outside shot at being one of the four selected for top postseason play.

But that's a far-fetched idea at the moment.

Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.