Penn State’s trip to Evanston on Friday comes with a new backdrop - the first game at Northwestern’s new Ryan Field, set for 8 p.m. - but the Wildcats’ biggest problems for the Nittany Lions are the same kind that travel well: a quarterback who can hurt teams with both his arm and legs, and a receiver who has already become his favorite target.
Aidan Chiles sits at the center of it all. After two seasons as Michigan State’s starter, he moved to Northwestern and has quickly become the engine of the offense through three games. He brings the full dual-threat package, and the numbers back it up: 30 carries, four rushing touchdowns, both team highs, plus a 70.7% completion rate and 807 passing yards.
That production is a sharp jump from his final season with the Spartans. In 2025, Chiles dealt with an injury, missed the final three games - including Michigan State’s matchup against Penn State - and finished with 1,392 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, three interceptions, and 227 rushing yards with six scores.
He also showed what he can do last week against Indiana, completing 22 of 29 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns while getting sacked four times. Even with the pressure, he added 15 rushing yards and kept the offense moving.
The other name Penn State has to account for is Griffin Wilde, especially if tight end Luke Dehnicke is indeed “doubtful.” Wilde has already stepped into a major role in the passing game, and the Wildcats may lean on him even more on Friday.
Wilde arrived after two years at South Dakota State and immediately made an impact in 2025, earning All-Big Ten third team honors in his first season at Northwestern. He caught 71 passes for 880 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior.
This season, he has remained Chiles’ top target with 14 catches for 245 yards and two touchdowns. One of those grabs was a 71-yard reception against his old team.
Both touchdowns came in the loss to Indiana, when he also posted a season-high six receptions.
The gap behind Wilde tells the story, too. No other Northwestern wide receiver has more than 78 receiving yards this season, which makes him the clear focal point if the Wildcats are going to attack Penn State through the air.
Northwestern can also create problems in different ways with Joseph Himon II. While Gavin Sawchuk and Caleb Komolafe are the backs the Wildcats use more routinely, Himon has been the one making the biggest plays. He gives offensive coordinator Chip Kelly a flexible option because he can work as both a runner and a receiver.
Himon has been explosive on the ground, averaging 11.5 yards per carry on 10 attempts. One of those runs went for an 80-yard touchdown against South Dakota State.
He’s been just as dangerous in the passing game, especially near the goal line. Against Colorado on Sept. 19, he caught three passes for 46 yards and scored three touchdowns.
He also had a 15-yard catch against the Jackrabbits.
On the other side of the ball, Robert Fitzgerald is the defender Penn State has to worry about most. The redshirt senior safety has climbed from depth player to one of the Big Ten’s better defenders over four seasons at Northwestern, and he’s already leading the defense again with 38 tackles, including 15 solo stops. He also has a fumble recovery against Colorado and a pass breakup against South Dakota State.
Fitzgerald’s 2025 season was historic. He earned All-Big Ten second team honors, led the Big Ten with 69 solo tackles, and finished with 115 tackles, four pass breakups, a fumble recovery and an interception. He also became the first Northwestern defensive back to top 100 tackles since 2016 and the first defensive back in program history to go past 110.
That makes Fitzgerald the biggest threat to a Penn State passing game that struggled against Wisconsin last week.
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