Nittany Lions Look to Reverse Course on Homecoming (Game Preview)
- bryanportney01
- Oct 9
- 4 min read
Northwestern (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) at Penn State (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten)
Date: Saturday, October 11
Time (EST): 3:30 PM
Location: West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium (University Park, PA)
Average Home Attendance (2025): 107,816.00
Highest Home Attendance (2025): 111,015 (September 27, vs. No. 6 Oregon)
Capacity: 106,572
Game Promotions
Theme: Stripe Out
Homecoming
AG Day
Penn State Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day
First Responders Appreciation Day
Coverage
TV: FS1 (Connor Onion & Mark Helfrich)
Radio (Broadcasters)
Neutral: CommRadio (Michael Siroty & Owen Cameros)
Northwestern: ESPN 1000 AM (Dave Eanet & Ted Albrecht)
On-Campus: The Lion 90.7 FM (Jacob Zacharia & AJ Piazza)
Penn State: Penn State Sports Network (Steve Jones & Jack Ham)
Live Stats: ESPN GameCast (fan-focused) & StatBroadcast (enhanced)
Storylines
Tale of the Tape: Staying on the Path
Two losses in a row are never good, especially for a team such as Penn State that holds itself to a high standard. Focusing on the controllables and having a balanced offense should help the Nittany Lions against a hungry Wildcats team.
Wagner Earns Slot Receiver Role
Sophomore wide receiver Drew Wagner has put in the extra work this year to step into a new role on offense: the slot receiver. Wagner was a starting punt returner last season, but now the coaches see him for bigger and better things. (Source: Northwestern Athletics)
Nittany Lions Return to College Football Bottom 10
Penn State finds themselves back in the Coveted Fifth Spot of the college football Bottom 10 following their 42-37 loss to UCLA. The weekly rankings are often satirical and poke fun at the joke-worthy performances of the big and small schools. (Source: ESPN)
The Head-to-Head History of Northwestern-Penn State (Source: Winsipedia)
Penn State is 16-5 against Northwestern all-time. Their last meeting was on September 30, 2023, when Penn State beat Northwestern 41-13 on the road.
Penn State is 8-2 against Northwestern at home all-time. Their last home meeting was on October 1, 2022, when Penn State beat Northwestern 17-7. Penn State was most recently beaten by Northwestern at home on September 27, 2014 in a 29-6 loss.
Penn State has won the last three head-to-head meetings dating back to 2017. Northwestern last beat Penn State on November 7, 2015, when the Wildcats won, 23-21 at home.
Northwestern at Penn State: By The Numbers
*Turnovers include failed 4th-down conversion attempts.
Northwestern | Offense | Penn State |
23.6 | Points Per Game | 38.6 |
185.0 | Pass Yards Per Game | 213.6 |
196.0 | Rush Yards Per Game | 175.4 |
47.83% | 3rd Down % | 40.00% |
12 (2.40) | Turnovers (per game) | 8 (1.60) |
*Takeaways include opponents’ failed 4th-down conversion attempts.
Northwestern | Defense | Penn State |
17.0 | Points Allowed PG | 17.8 |
165.0 | Pass Yards Allowed PG | 156.8 |
146.8 | Rush Yards Allowed PG | 149.4 |
40.32% | Opponent 3rd Down % | 40.00% |
6 (1.20) | Takeaways (per game) | 14 (2.80) |
Players To Watch on Offense
Northwestern (Spread Offense)
QB Preston Stone, Gr.
No. 5 dual-threat QB in Class of 2021 (247Sports composite rankings)
2021-24: SMU
Overall (5 games)
Passing: 83-for-135, 918 yds, 7 TD, 6 INT
Rushing: 23 car, 14 yds, 0 TD
Conference (2 games)
Passing: 23-for-39, 250 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: 11 car, (-2) yds, 0 TD
Away (1 game)
Passing: 19-for-36, 161 yds, 0 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: 4 car, (-42) yds, 0 TD
RB Caleb Komolafe, R-So.
Overall (5 games): 76 car, 344 yds, 4 TD
Conference (2 games): 43 car, 172 yds, 2 TD
Away (1 game): 9 car, 34 yds, 0 TD
WR Griffin Wilde, Jr.
2023-24: South Dakota State (FCS)
Overall (5 games): 25 rec, 375 yds, 2 TD
Conference (2 games): 11 rec, 153 yds, 1 TD
Away (1 game): 6 rec, 64 yds, 0 TD
Penn State (Spread Offense)
QB Drew Allar, Sr.
Overall (5 games)
Passing: 90-for-139, 963 yds, 8 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: 30 car, 147 yds, 0 TD
Conference (2 games)
Passing: 33-for-51, 337 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: 20 car, 120 yds, 0 TD
Home (4 games)
Passing: 71-for-113, 763 yds, 6 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: 19 car, 69 yds, 0 TD
RB Kaytron Allen, Sr.
Has scored a touchdown in each game this season
Most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (5) in his collegiate career
Yards needed to pass certain players for all-time Penn State rushing yards:
3 to pass Curtis Enis (6th)
48 to pass Blair Thomas (5th)
67 to pass Tony Hunt (4th)
145 to pass Curt Warner (3rd)
Overall (5 games): 54 car, 377 yds, 6 TD
Conference (2 games): 20 car, 104 yds, 3 TD
Home (4 games): 46 car, 327 yds, 4 TD
WR Kyron Hudson, R-Sr.
2021-24: USC
Overall (5 games): 18 rec, 208 yds, 2 TD
Conference (2 games): 4 rec, 52 yds, 1 TD
Home (4 games): 14 rec, 156 yds, 1 TD
Players To Watch on Defense
Northwestern (Multiple 4-3 Defense)
DE Aidan Hubbard, Gr.
Overall (5 games): 13 tot, 3.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks
Conference (2 games): 8 tot, 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks
Away (1 game): 3 tot, 1 TFL, 1 sack
LB Mac Uihlein, Gr.
Overall (5 games): 35 tot, 3 TFL, 2 INT
Conference (2 games): 15 tot, 0 TFL, 1 INT
Away (1 game): 9 tot, 2 TFL, 0 INT
CB Fred Davis II, Gr.
2020-22: Clemson
2023: UCF
2024: Jacksonville State
Overall (5 games): 19 tot, 0 INT, 5 PD
Conference (2 games): 8 tot, 0 INT, 0 PD
Away (1 game): 7 tot, 0 INT, 0 PD
Penn State (4-2-5 Defense)
DE Dani Denis-Sutton, Sr.
Overall (5 games): 19 tot, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks
Conference (2 games): 10 tot, 1 TFL, 0 sacks
Home (4 games): 16 tot, 4.5 TFL, 0 sacks
LB Amare Campbell, Jr.
2023-24: North Carolina
Overall (5 games): 47 tot, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks
Conference (2 games): 25 tot, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack
Home (4 games): 37 tot, 3 TFL, 1 sack
FS Zakee Wheatley, R-Sr.
Overall (5 games): 30 tot, 0 INT, 1 PD
Conference (2 games): 22 tot, 0 INT, 0 PD
Career vs Top 10 Teams (8 games): 18 tot, 0 INT, 1 PD
Quick Picks: Expert Analysis
Bryan: This game could go either way unless Penn State feeds Kaytron Allen. It won’t be pretty, but the Nittany Lions pull through on homecoming with more effort on the field. Penn State 23, Northwestern 17.
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