Northwestern throttles Indiana 24-14 for third straight win

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Indiana and Northwestern have the look of two Big Ten teams passing in midseason. Quarterback Clayton Thorson threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday, and the resurgent Wildcats bolted to an early lead then coasted past the Hoosiers 24-14 for their third straight victory. In a reversal of its 1/3 start to the season, Northwestern (4-3, 3-1) took a 24-3 lead and wasn't seriously threatened the rest of the way. "Without a doubt, (the difference) is the way we've prepared," Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald said in a hoarse voice that confirmed his more vocal leadership of late. "We really had to change gears with the way we practiced and worked out, a spring-ball type mentality." Meanwhile, Indiana (3-4, 1-3) dropped its third consecutive game after three victories in the first four starts.