Penn State’s trip through last week left plenty of ugly on the table, and that’s where the conversation starts. The offense was rough enough to raise alarms, especially with Koby Howard unavailable, though that absence alone shouldn’t have swung things so dramatically.
The bigger issue was how the big moments were handled, with the playcalling drawing the kind of criticism that makes this feel like more than a one-off hiccup. Even with a soft non-conference slate behind it, Penn State sitting 10th in the Big Ten in offense is not the kind of number anyone wants to stare at for long.
If what we saw is the real Rocco Becht, then the Lions have a problem.
Northwestern, meanwhile, has at least shown some punch through the air. The Wildcats became just the fifth team in the last two years to get to 20 points against defending national champion Indiana, and Aidan Chiles was right in the middle of it.
He needs 77 yards to reach 5,000 for his career after throwing for 293 against Indiana, and he’s third in the conference in passer rating. The run game has been a different story.
Northwestern has had a hard time getting traction on the ground and sits 13th in the league in rushing yards per game.
That gives Northwestern the edge on offense.
The picture flips on defense. Penn State still hasn’t found a consistent pass rush, but the unit did enough last week to help deliver the win, including what amounted to 14 points directly from the defense.
Tony Rojas has been central to that effort. It’s a little surprising to see Penn State’s leading tackler sitting only 31st among Big Ten players, but Rojas has also chipped in two of the team’s six sacks and two interceptions.
That’s a pretty good résumé.
Northwestern’s defense has had a harder time holding up. Only Purdue has allowed more yards per game than the Wildcats’ 417.3, and Indiana found room to run at times.
Northwestern is giving up nearly 200 rushing yards per game, and while safety Robert Fitzgerald is tied for the Big Ten tackle lead with 38, the rest of the front has not consistently made life difficult for opposing quarterbacks. The Wildcats have only five sacks in three games.
Penn State gets the nod on defense.
Special teams also lean toward the Nittany Lions. Ryan Barker is tied for second in the league with seven field goals, and over the last two seasons he’s 25-of-27, including a perfect 7-of-7 from 40 to 49 yards.
Punter Nathan Ticye sits 14th in the Big Ten in net average, which hasn’t exactly helped the defense. But Penn State does have a boost in the return game, where Zay Robinson ranks fifth in the league in punt return average at 12.5 yards.
Northwestern has its own weapons here. Joseph Himon II has been a threat as a returner, averaging 21.4 yards per return, good for fifth in the Big Ten.
Jackson Kleather has been perfect on field goals so far, going 5-for-5, and he’s 11-for-11 on extra points. Like Barker, he has missed just two field goal attempts over the last two seasons, with the only miss in his last try.
That includes a 56-yarder last fall. The concern comes on the other side of the punting game, where Nickola Dugandzic ranks last in the Big Ten in net average at 34.3.
The coaching side of this matchup comes with its own contrasts. Penn State’s Matt Campbell took heat for last week’s performance, and it was his first real test as the program’s coach.
But this is not the time to spin off the rails over one game. The schedule may have looked inviting, but expecting this team to make a playoff push this season was probably a stretch.
Still, what happened last week can’t keep happening.
On the other side, David Braun has already shown he can lift Northwestern. He revived a dormant program in 2023 and was named Big Ten Coach of the Year after leading the Wildcats to eight wins in his first season, the most by a Northwestern debuting coach since 1903. Last year’s win at Penn State sparked another bowl run, and the Wildcats looked dangerous again against Indiana.
Prediction record: 3-1
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 🡒]