EVANSTON, Ill. - Penn State walked into Friday night already trying to steady itself after blowing a 17-0 lead at home against Wisconsin. It came out of new Ryan Field with a much bigger problem.
Northwestern controlled the line of scrimmage from the start and rolled past the Nittany Lions 34-13, turning what should have been a Big Ten road test into a rough-looking setback for Penn State (3-2). The Wildcats improved to 3-1 behind a pounding ground game that never let Penn State settle in.
Northwestern’s backs Caleb Komolafe and Joseph Himon each went over 100 yards, and together they piled up 350 yards and three touchdowns. As a team, the Wildcats ran for 415 yards and four scores, building a 24-7 lead while Penn State’s front seven kept getting pushed backward.
The Lions’ run defense has now been exposed in back-to-back Big Ten games. Wisconsin ran for 120 yards and a touchdown last week in its 24-20 win, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Northwestern blew past that, using its running game to hammer out 237 yards and three touchdowns before the game was well out of reach.
Penn State’s offense never gave the defense much help, either. The Lions had just seven points through the first 45 minutes, and their only explosive play against Northwestern came on the opening snap, when Rocco Becht hit Chase Sowell for 26 yards.
Becht’s first Big Ten stretch at Penn State has been rocky. The veteran quarterback, who had three strong seasons as Iowa State’s starter, has not looked comfortable against Wisconsin or Northwestern. Against the Badgers, he completed 12 of 29 passes for 114 yards and also underthrew Brett Eskildsen on a throw that would have gone for a game-clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Against Northwestern, the misses kept coming. Becht missed Chase Sowell across the middle on a play that could have opened things up in the first half, then later missed a wide-open Zay Robinson for a long touchdown when Penn State was trailing 24-7 in the third quarter. He finished with 243 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
Matt Campbell brought Becht with him from Iowa State, and that move likely pushed Ethan Grunkemeyer to leave Penn State for Virginia Tech.
Penn State also had to do without Koby Howard, and the offense clearly looked different without him.
In Other News...
Penn State Fans Just Got A New Beaver Stadium Comparison
Northwesterns new Ryan Field made its debut during Penn States visit, giving Nittany Lions fans a fresh point of comparison for what a modern college football venue can look like. The 35,000-seat on-campus stadium, built at a cost of $870 million, puts a premium on closeness to the action, with premium seating, a standing-only student section and a layout that brings the crowd right up to the playing surface.
Penn State broadcaster Steve Jones also took note of the new setup, including the location of the visiting radio booth, while the game added another layer to the conversation with the strong Peacock/NBC production. For Penn State observers, the contrast with Beaver Stadium was hard to miss, especially on a night when the sideline environment again underscored how crowded things can feel in Happy Valley. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Northwestern Prep Just Took A Surprising Turn
Penn States trip to Northwestern now comes with a little more clarity on the injury front for both sides. The Wildcats will be without tight end Luke Dehnicke and defensive back Braden Turner, while defensive back Damon Walters and receiver Hayden Eligon are listed as game-time decisions. There is confidence that Eligon will suit up, which gives Northwestern at least a chance to keep one more piece available as it tries to sort through a thin week of preparation.
For the Nittany Lions, the injury picture is familiar in a less welcome way. Defensive end Max Granville is out for the season, and receiver Koby Howard is sidelined for an extended stretch, leaving Penn State to keep adjusting its depth as the schedule rolls on. Even with Northwestern dealing with its own absences, this is the sort of matchup where availability can shape both game planning and in-game flexibility before either side ever settles into a rhythm. [Read more 🡒]
Former Penn State QB Is Watching One Big Test For This New Era
Drew Allar is keeping a close eye on Penn States next chapter, and he sounds encouraged by the direction the program is headed under new head coach Matt Campbell. The former quarterback said he respects Campbell even though he never played for him, a small but telling sign that the transition has already earned some buy-in from one of the most recognizable players of the previous era.
Allar also pointed to Virginia Techs strong start under James Franklin as another reminder of how quickly new coaching situations can take shape. From his vantage point, both programs have a chance to keep growing beyond his time in college football, and the real test now is whether Penn State can turn that optimism into sustained success in Campbells new era. [Read more 🡒]