Penn State vs. Northwestern: Painful 24-20 loss sets stage
Penn State vs. Northwestern kicks off Friday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, and the Big Ten matchup doubles as the opening night of Northwestern’s new Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. The Nittany Lions (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) are looking to bounce back from their first loss, while the Wildcats (2-1, 0-1) try to build on a near-upset at Indiana.
Penn State blew a 17-0 first-half lead in a 24-20 home loss to Wisconsin on Sept. 26, according to Wisconsin Athletics. The Nittany Lions were No. 13 entering that game and fell out of the latest AP Top 25, though they still received votes. Northwestern lost 29-23 at then-No. 5 Indiana a night earlier after rallying from a 12-point halftime deficit.
Penn State vs. Northwestern game information
- Date: Friday, Oct. 2
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Venue: Ryan Field, Evanston, Illinois
- TV: FOX
- Line: Penn State by 3, per ESPN
Friday’s Penn State vs. Northwestern game is the first at Northwestern’s new $862 million stadium, according to Front Office Sports. Construction and approval delays pushed the opening back, so the Wildcats played their first two home games of 2026 at temporary Martin Stadium on the lakefront.
Penn State outlook
Penn State’s defense has carried Matt Campbell’s first team. It ranks eighth nationally in yards allowed per play, according to CBS Sports, and it intercepted Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph three times last week. The problem was the offense, which stalled after building its early lead while Wisconsin rallied for the go-ahead 72-yard touchdown with 1:13 left.
Quarterback Rocco Becht has completed 57 of 93 passes for 865 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception, according to ESPN. James Peoples leads the ground game with 199 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries.
Receiver Koby Howard still leads the team with 12 catches for 344 yards and two receiving scores, but he has been out since getting hurt against Buffalo on Sept. 19. Campbell said Howard would miss “an extended period of time,” CBS Sports reported. Without him, CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer noted the Penn State offense lacks explosive playmakers, so expect Becht to lean on Peoples and the run game.
Northwestern outlook
Northwestern opened with wins over South Dakota State (34-18) and Colorado (41-7) before the loss at Indiana. Quarterback Aidan Chiles has thrown for 807 yards and six touchdowns on 53-of-75 passing, according to ESPN.
Chiles kept the Indiana game close with his legs and his connection with Griffin Wilde, who caught two touchdown passes in the comeback attempt, The Daily Northwestern reported. Wilde leads the team with 14 catches for 245 yards and two scores, while Gavin Sawchuk has 143 rushing yards on 25 carries.
Key matchup in Penn State vs. Northwestern
Penn State’s defensive front against Northwestern’s offensive line could decide this game. Hummer picked Northwestern to win 24-23, citing the Wildcats’ line, while CBS Sports colleague Brad Crawford took Penn State 23-20.
If the Nittany Lions generate the kind of pressure that produced three interceptions against Wisconsin, they can force Chiles into mistakes. If Northwestern’s front holds up, Chiles has shown he can make plays late, as he did at Indiana.
What to watch
Penn State needs answers at receiver with Howard sidelined, and how Becht spreads the ball early will be worth tracking. Northwestern’s first game in its new stadium should bring an energized home crowd.
Both teams are 0-1 in conference play, so the Penn State vs. Northwestern result will shape how each is viewed heading into the heart of the Big Ten schedule. For more around the league, see our Ohio State vs. Iowa preview and the latest on College Football Playoff expansion, or visit our college football page.
Reporting from ESPN, CBS Sports, Front Office Sports and The Daily Northwestern contributed to this story.