Northwestern Week 5: Wildcats Welcome The ULM Warhawks

By Bill Carroll

Saturday, October 4, 2025, the Northwestern Wildcats will host the ULM Warhawks for a Week 5 match-up at Martin Stadium in Evanston, IL. Both teams’ running games define much of what they do on offense, therefore, controlling the line of scrimmage a vital cog in the outcome of the game. In three of Northwestern’s four games this season, the Wildcats have out-gained their opponents (versus Western Illinois, Oregon, and UCLA). In two of the three games (Western Illinois and UCLA), the Northwestern Wildcats were dominant on the ground.  They ran for more yards than their opponent by over 60 yards and secured their first two victories of the season.

Bryant Vincent, prior to his hiring, as head coach at ULM, in December 2023, was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at New Mexico. Currently he is the offensive play-caller and head coach. He also coached former New Mexico Lobos running back, Jacory Croskey-Merritt during a record-breaking season.

Northwestern on Defense

Northwestern’s 2025 defensive scheme under coordinator Tim McGarigle is built around a Multiple 4–3 base, but it’s highly adaptable depending on the opponent and personnel groupings. Here’s a breakdown of how it functions:

? Core Structure: Multiple 4–3 Defense

• Base Formation: 4 down linemen, 3 linebackers, 4 defensive backs
• Flexibility: Shifts into nickel (4–2–5) or dime packages against spread offenses
• Philosophy: Leverages speed and discipline over raw power, emphasizing gap integrity and pursuit angles

? Key Features

• Edge Pressure: Led by Anto Saka (R-Jr.), and Richie Hagarty the Wildcats rely on athletic edge rushers to collapse the pocket and set the edge
• Interior Rotation: Veterans like Carmine Bastone and Najee Story anchor the middle, with younger talent like Tyler Gant rotating into the game as needed.
• Linebacker Versatility: Mac Uihlein (MLB) and Braydon Brus (WLB) are tasked with run fits and zone drops, while talented youngster, Yannis Karlaftis adds blitz capability.
• Secondary Coverage: Uses a mix of man and zone, with Fred Davis II and

  

  Ore Adeyi at corner, and Garner Wallace patrolling as a strong safety.

? Situational Adjustments

• Nickel Package: Brings in Braden Turner as nickel-back, replacing a linebacker for better coverage
• Blitz Looks: Occasionally deploys disguised blitzes from the secondary, especially with Sean Martin or Jon Jon Stevens Jr.
• Run Defense Focus: Against power-run teams, they tighten gaps and bring safeties closer to the box.
• Battle in the Box: This Saturday, McGarigle’s defense faces a ULM team with an offensive identity that mirrors the Wildcats’. The ULM Warhawks’ rushing attack ranks 22nd in the nation with 920 yards rushing 6 touchdowns and 213.3 yards per game. To illustrate the run proficiency they average 5.7 yards per attempt and the lack of explosiveness in their passing game, they only average 5.7 yards per attempt but only 6.02 through the air. ULM only averages 128 yards per game via the pass.
• What this means is that the team that can stop the run consistently, is very likely to prevail. The Wildcats average 19 points per game, which is 119th in FBS, the good news is that they only allow 19 ½ per game.

Northwestern on Offense

The numbers:

Passing: 164 yards per game (115th)

Rushing: 183.5 yards per game (47th)

Overall: 347.5 yards per game (97th in FBS)

As was established before, the strength of the offense is the offensive line and the running game.

ULM on Defense

The UL Monroe Defense

Overall: 365.3 yards per game (76th in FBS)

Passing: 279.5 yards per game (127th)

Rushing: 85.8 yards per game (16th)

Scoring: 28.5 points per game (104th)

Defensive Line

The capacity of Kevontay Wells (DE), and their rotation in absorbing and stalemating double teams is critical. Gap integrity by the ‘Nose Tackle and 3-technique DTs will determine whether the Wildcats’ inside and outside zone runs stall at the line or gash the second level.

Team leaders

Northwestern

Passing: Preston Stone, 656 yards, 4 TDs, 6 INTs, 60.6 completion percentage

Rushing: Caleb Komolafe, 269 yards on 63 carries, 2 TDs

Receiving: Griffin Wilde, 311 yards on 22 catches, 1 TD

UL Monroe

Passing: Aidan Armenta, 434 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs, 57.9 completion percentage

Rushing: Braylon McReynolds, 317 yards on 49 carries, 2 TDs

Receiving: Jacob Godfrey, 110 yards on 7 catches, 2 TDs

The Xs and 0s

While the aerial attack of the Warhawks is anemic, but if they are able to get a big play via the pass it would most likely come from a connection to Jacob Godfrey who had 37 yarder versus Arkansas State.

Conclusion: Schematic Chess in Evanston

Northwestern’s multiple 4–3 defensive structure is fundamentally well-equipped to counter ULM’s spread zone run game. Its strengths are rooted in simple, sound one-gap principles, disciplined linebacker reads, and flexible alignments that can adapt pre- and post-snap. However, in-game success depends on the Wildcats executing with discipline. This is especially matters on the edge and at the second level.

ULM’s inside/outside zone and zone-read packages challenge all defenses, exploiting hesitation and missed assignments. The Wildcats’ defensive leadership, particularly middle linebacker Mac Uihlein

and the discipline of their defensive ends, those elements are central to their ability to limit big plays and force the Warhawks into passing downs. Discipline by the corners and safeties cannot be overstated, especially against RPO elements or play-action passing that unfolds off efficient zone runs. Expect to see Bubble Screens, occasionally out of what will look like  a running play.

Ore Adeyi and Fred Davis, as corners, must set the edge against perimeter screens, while the strong safety, at times Dillon Tatum, will be the eighth man in the box at key moments. Aggression, good tackling, the proper angles and toughness will prevent any “cheap” bag plays resulting from these lower difficulty throws.

Conclusion/Prediction

I think the combined brains and brawn of allow Incorporating lessons from modern play designers and the best coaching clinics, Northwestern’s defensive staff must prepare weekly to make coverage and pressure adjustments keyed to ULM’s formations, back alignments, and shifting tendencies. In this chess match, every gap, every key read, and every containment effort will determine the outcome in the trenches and, ultimately, the scoreboard.