If Northwestern is going to make a fourth-quarter comeback against Stanford, the Wildcats will have to do it without their 2018 leading rusher — Isaiah Bowser.

The sophomore running back left in the third quarter with a knee injury and according to multiple reports, he will not return. Before departing, Bowser rushed for 54 yards on 10 carries.

No other Northwestern back has more than 20 rushing yards through the first 50 minutes against Stanford than Bowser. The sophomore back accounted for nearly 30 percent of Northwestern’s yards from scrimmage in the first three quarters as well.

Stanford leads Northwestern, 10-0. While a comeback is much harder without Bowser, the Wildcats also have to hope their top back isn’t going to be dealing with a long-term knee ailment.