Northwestern head coach David Braun wants his defense to hit harder and his offense to stop beating itself before the final game at Martin Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19.

The Wildcats host Deion Sanders and the 2-0 Colorado Buffaloes at 6:30 p.m. on Fox. It will be the last football game at the 12,023-seat lakefront venue before the $875 million Ryan Field opens Friday, Oct. 2, against Penn State.

At his Tuesday, Sept. 15, press conference, reported by Inside NU, Braun identified two problems from Northwestern's 34-18 season-opening win over South Dakota State on Sept. 5: pre-snap and post-whistle penalties, and too many yards allowed after contact on defense.

Northwestern racked up nine penalties for 61 yards in that opener.

"On the defensive side of the ball, there's too many yards after contact," Braun said. "That's something we pride ourselves on consistently around here being a great tackling outfit. There's certainly room for improvement there."

The fixes start on defense. Braun said the bye week gave his staff time to evaluate personnel across all units and drill situational scenarios rather than rush into the next opponent's game plan. Defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle's weekly priority remains what Braun called "TNT," shorthand for tackling and turnovers.

Those corrections matter because Colorado's offense presents a different challenge. Offensive coordinator Brennan Marion runs what Braun described as a "violent, run-first" scheme. Running back Micah Welch rushed for 106 yards against Weber State on Sept. 12, becoming the first Colorado back to top 100 rushing yards in a game since Sanders took over in Boulder, according to The DNVR. Quarterback Julian Lewis finished 17-of-23 for 366 yards with four passing touchdowns and a rushing score in that 52-21 win.

Colorado opened the season with a 14-13 road win at Georgia Tech, preserved when Boo Carter blocked a field goal on the final play.

Northwestern's opener showed plenty of promise alongside the penalties. Quarterback Aidan Chiles went 14-for-24 for 273 yards and a touchdown. Four running backs combined for 224 rushing yards, led by Joseph Himon II's 80-yard touchdown run. Gavin Sawchuk, who had eight carries for 69 yards, was voted the team's special teams player of the week.

One wrinkle for the lakefront finale: offensive coordinator Chip Kelly calls plays from the sideline rather than the press box. Braun attributed the choice to the different sightlines at Martin Stadium compared to a typical Big Ten venue. Assistant Bob Bicknell serves as Kelly's eyes upstairs.

Braun did not provide an update on center Jackson Carsello, who left the South Dakota State game on a stretcher with a neck injury. The Daily Northwestern reported Carsello was up and walking the day after the game. Braun said he will keep wide receiver Hayden Eligon II's status in-house until Big Ten play begins.

Resale tickets for Saturday's game range from roughly $133 to more than $500, according to Yahoo Sports.

After the Colorado game, Northwestern travels to defending national champion Indiana before hosting Penn State for the Ryan Field opener on Friday, Oct. 2.