Northwestern to Start Nicco Marchiol Against Iowa

Northwestern will likely face No. 19 Iowa without starting quarterback Aidan Chiles, who is dealing with an upper-body injury. Chiles was hurt in the Wildcats’ loss at Oregon last weekend. The game will be his first absence this season, after Northwestern opened 6-2.

Chiles’ passing tally stands at 139 completions on 202 attempts, covering 1,898 yards and producing 13 scores against a single interception. He has also run for 274 yards and 10 touchdowns on 86 carries. The Wildcats have not said how long he is expected to be out.

Nicco Marchiol is expected to take over at quarterback. He transferred to Northwestern from West Virginia, where he had a 6-2 record as a starter. In his college career, Marchiol has thrown for 1,462 yards and 10 touchdowns, with seven interceptions, and added 363 rushing yards.

The change could prompt Iowa to emphasize stopping Northwestern’s running game early and force Marchiol into passing situations. Iowa is coming off a 30-0 win over Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes may also face a choice about how aggressively to pursue points, with a backup quarterback on the other side and Iowa’s defense and punting game offering reasons to play conservatively.