Um we gotta be ranked after this right?

[CappyNU]

Whoa, impressive stat

As a point of comparison, Fitz was 14-3 when leading at the half at the same point in his NU career - 2006 MSU, aka the Biggest Comeback of All Time, 2007 Michigan, up 16-7 and lost 28-16 thanks to 3 Bacher interceptions, and 2007 Iowa, where we missed 2 FGs in the 2nd quarter and Bacher threw 3 interceptions in the last 16 minutes of the game as we blew a 14 point lead to lose 28-17.

Fitz then lost his next two games when leading at the half. First, up 7-0 at MSU in 2009 before allowing 24 unanswered points thanks in part to two fumbles, ultimately losing 24-14. Second, up 13-10 over #21 PSU before losing 34-13 when Persa had to come in for Kafka in the 2nd quarter. His final record leading after halftime was 82-22, if I counted correctly.

The 22 losses: 2006 MSU, 2007 Michigan, 2007 Iowa, 2009 @ MSU, 2009 PSU, 2010 MSU, 2010 @ PSU, 2011 @ Illinois, 2011 Michigan, 2012 @ PSU, 2012 Nebraska, 2013 OSU, 2013 @ Nebraska, 2013 Michigan, 2014 Nebraska, 2016 Western Michigan, 2017 @Wisconsin, 2018 Akron, 2018 Michigan, 2019 Purdue, 2020 #OSU, and 2022 @ Maryland. Kind of wild that he only had 3 seasons when they didn't cough up a halftime lead in any game - 2008, 2015 and 2021.

 

[zeek55]

Just need to focus on winning the next 3 games. Rankings will take care of themselves if we get to 6-1.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

As a point of comparison, Fitz was 14-3 when leading at the half at the same point in his NU career - 2006 MSU, aka the Biggest Comeback of All Time, 2007 Michigan, up 16-7 and lost 28-16 thanks to 3 Bacher interceptions, and 2007 Iowa, where we missed 2 FGs in the 2nd quarter and Bacher threw 3 interceptions in the last 16 minutes of the game as we blew a 14 point lead to lose 28-17.

Fitz then lost his next two games when leading at the half. First, up 7-0 at MSU in 2009 before allowing 24 unanswered points thanks in part to two fumbles, ultimately losing 24-14. Second, up 13-10 over #21 PSU before losing 34-13 when Persa had to come in for Kafka in the 2nd quarter. His final record leading after halftime was 82-22, if I counted correctly.

The 22 losses: 2006 MSU, 2007 Michigan, 2007 Iowa, 2009 @ MSU, 2009 PSU, 2010 MSU, 2010 @ PSU, 2011 @ Illinois, 2011 Michigan, 2012 @ PSU, 2012 Nebraska, 2013 OSU, 2013 @ Nebraska, 2013 Michigan, 2014 Nebraska, 2016 Western Michigan, 2017 @Wisconsin, 2018 Akron, 2018 Michigan, 2019 Purdue, 2020 #OSU, and 2022 @ Maryland. Kind of wild that he only had 3 seasons when they didn't cough up a halftime lead in any game - 2008, 2015 and 2021.

Honestly also pretty good. Feels more like pretty typical though.

 

[Yeswecat]

NU seeded 10th in the college football playoff prediction on Wildcat Report. Projected to play 7th seed Ohio State in the first round. (See, somebody likes us.)

 

[Purple Pete]

Too many of the other teams won and hardly any of the 20-25 lost. At this point in the season it looks like somewhat of a long jam in the 20 to 30 range as teams who were extremely overrated like Michigan and PSU are making their way down while other teams with pretty good resumes like us are making their way up, but there’s not quite enough games been played to differentiate. We certainly couldn’t complain about any undefeated team ahead of us. So of the 1 loss teams, I’d say SMU’s resume is highly suspect. Houston’s is probably similar to ours.

In the Cats defense, I wonder how many of the teams ranked above us, undefeated or 1 loss, played the likes of an Indiana, and took them to the wire, no less. Some of the higher ranked teams, perhaps. Maybe I'm in over my head, but I truly don't think that even some very highly ranked teams like BYU, TX Tech, or Utah can match our resume.

 

[CappyNU]

The flip side isn't as sweet as Braun hasn't had many comeback wins training or tied at the half....he has 19 losses to date. He has 22 wins so......

Conversely, Fitz had 20 comeback wins from being down at the half: 2007 Nevada, 2007 Minnesota, 2007 Indiana, 2008 @ Iowa, 2008 @ Michigan, 2009 @ Purdue, 2009 Indiana, 2010 @ Minnesota, 2012 Vanderbilt, 2014 @ Notre Dame, 2015 @ Duke, 2015 Ball State, 2016 @ Iowa, 2017 Nevada, 2017 Iowa, 2018 @ Rutgers, 2018 @ Iowa, 2018 #Utah, 2020 @ Iowa, 2020 Nebraska

Braun currently has 3: 2023 Minnesota, 2025 @ Penn State and 2025 Minnesota.

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

Conversely, Fitz had 20 comeback wins from being down at the half: 2007 Nevada, 2007 Minnesota, 2007 Indiana, 2008 @ Iowa, 2008 @ Michigan, 2009 @ Purdue, 2009 Indiana, 2010 @ Minnesota, 2012 Vanderbilt, 2014 @ Notre Dame, 2015 @ Duke, 2015 Ball State, 2016 @ Iowa, 2017 Nevada, 2017 Iowa, 2018 @ Rutgers, 2018 @ Iowa, 2018 #Utah, 2020 @ Iowa, 2020 Nebraska

Braun currently has 3: 2023 Minnesota, 2025 @ Penn State and 2025 Minnesota.

I think everyone on the board should have to take a drink every time our most recent former coach is mentioned. That ought to slow it down

 

[EvanstonCat]

Conversely, Fitz had 20 comeback wins from being down at the half: 2007 Nevada, 2007 Minnesota, 2007 Indiana, 2008 @ Iowa, 2008 @ Michigan, 2009 @ Purdue, 2009 Indiana, 2010 @ Minnesota, 2012 Vanderbilt, 2014 @ Notre Dame, 2015 @ Duke, 2015 Ball State, 2016 @ Iowa, 2017 Nevada, 2017 Iowa, 2018 @ Rutgers, 2018 @ Iowa, 2018 #Utah, 2020 @ Iowa, 2020 Nebraska

Braun currently has 3: 2023 Minnesota, 2025 @ Penn State and 2025 Minnesota.

Actually, most of those were when Garrick McGee or Mick McCall were our OC. None of them were in his last couple years when JON took over the D, but it’s also really hard to come back when you don’t have much of an offense to score.

Similarly, Braun didn’t have much of an offense his first 3 years at the helm. Last week against IU, we almost had his first come back in impressive style. I imagine his record in 2nd half come backs will improve markedly under Chip Kelly, although maybe we won’t have nearly as many shots at it, because when you have a really good offense (and a good D to go with it) it can be hard to fall behind.

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

Actually, most of those were when Garrick McGee or Mick McCall were our OC. None of them were in his last couple years when JON took over the D, but it’s also really hard to come back when you don’t have much of an offense to score.

Similarly, Braun didn’t have much of an offense his first 3 years at the helm. Last week against IU, we almost had his first come back in impressive style. I imagine his record in 2nd half come backs will improve markedly under Chip Kelly, although maybe we won’t have nearly as many shots at it, because when you have a really good offense (and a good D to go with it) it can be hard to fall behind.

Off topic EC, but this might be the year Fink beats The Stomach. If Timmy Mac can scheme something, anything to contain JJ Smith, OSU is otherwise vulnerable. Sayin goes from Superman to Clark Kent under pressure, their numerous RBs named Jackson are not scary

Illinois showed the way, they just couldnt do ANYTHING with Smith

 

[hdhntr1]

Apparently not. #30 in both polls.

Just as I suggested

 

[prez77]

Athletic has us #25

 

[NJCat]

If Timmy Mac can scheme something, anything to contain JJ Smith, OSU is otherwise vulnerable.

Other that that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

Other that that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Yeah he is tall, fast, and his hands are the size of baseball gloves