After a dominant win over Louisiana-Monroe, the ’Cats will travel to Happy Valley to face the Nittany Lions in one of the toughest environments in college football. Northwestern will face a favored Penn
State squad that will be motivated and looking to bounce back after its loss to winless UCLA.
A win could completely reshape Northwestern’s bowl hopes. Here are three keys to how the ’Cats can pull off the upset.
Continue to rely on the run
Northwestern’s ground game has been rolling over the past month. The ’Cats rushed for 281 yards and a touchdown against Western Illinois, 178 yards and two scores against Oregon, 199 yards and one touchdown against UCLA and 246 yards with two more touchdowns against ULM. The Warhawks entered last week with one of the nation’s better run defenses ranked 16th, but NU’s dominant blocking up front dropped them all the way to 41st.
Penn State has struggled to stop the run. The Nittany Lions rank 87th nationally allowing 168.8 rushing yards per game. UCLA exposed that weakness last weekend, piling up 280 yards on the ground while quarterback Nico Iamaleava rushed for 128 yards and three touchdowns including a 52-yard score.
Caleb Komolafe and Joseph Himon II have formed a reliable duo for the ’Cats and redshirt first-year Dashun Reeder has quickly emerged as a valuable third option. Reeder carried 11 times for 79 yards against ULM and now has 171 rushing yards on the season, averaging an impressive 11.4 yards per carry. I expect him to remain a key part of the rotation. Komolafe has been steady as the lead back since Cam Porter’s injury and Himon should see a few more touches after logging just two carries for 13 yards last week.
Quarterback Preston Stone’s mobility was also a bright spot against ULM. He ran five times for 49 yards including a 30-yard burst and could use his legs again to exploit Penn State’s defensive tendencies. While Stone isn’t as dynamic a runner as Iamaleava, designed or improvised runs could help keep the Nittany Lions off balance.
Ultimately, Northwestern’s ability to run efficiently will be critical. Sustaining drives, controlling the tempo and keeping Penn State’s offense off the field have been consistent ingredients in NU’s success this season. If the ’Cats can establish the ground game early, they’ll have a real chance to stay competitive deep into the game.
Take care of the ball
Penn State is a much different opponent than ULM and will present a far tougher challenge for Preston Stone. Still, the transfer quarterback looked the best he has in a Northwestern uniform last week. He was turnover free, throwing for 262 yards and three touchdowns on 31 attempts. Most importantly he avoided forcing throws into tight coverage, which had been an issue earlier in the season.
Even in the Western Illinois game where he threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, Stone still put a few passes in dangerous spots. Over the past few weeks though, he has shown clear improvement in decision-making and ball security. His efficiency last week was reflected in his season-high QBR of 89.
Turnovers have not typically been a problem for Stone. During his 2023 season at SMU he threw 28 touchdowns to just six interceptions, which made his early struggles this year more surprising. While that production came against slightly weaker competition, it still showed his ability to protect the football. It now seems that the coaching staff has emphasized that he doesn’t need to play hero ball. With Northwestern’s run game thriving, Stone’s job is to manage the offense efficiently and keep the team ahead of the sticks, and so far he has done that well.
Stay composed in a tough environment
It may not be as raucous as Penn State’s last home game against Oregon, but this weekend will still present a very different atmosphere than anything Northwestern has faced this season. The ’Cats have played four of their first five games at home in a 12,000-seat temporary stadium, so crowd noise has not been much of a factor. The largest venue they’ve played in so far was Tulane’s 30,000-seat stadium, which is a far cry from Beaver Stadium’s capacity of 106,572. The noise level and energy in Happy Valley will be unlike anything this team has experienced in 2025.
Staying composed will be crucial because Penn State has the ability to score quickly and build momentum. NU cannot afford to let one big play snowball into a full-blown run. The Nittany Lions rely heavily on their ground game, with 171 carries compared to only 98 pass attempts through their first five contests. Some of that balance comes from early-season blowout wins, but it’s clear that the running game drives their offense.
Nicholas Singleton leads the backfield with 63 carries, averaging 3.8 yards per rush. The more efficient back so far has been Kaytron Allen, who has 54 carries for 377 yards and is averaging seven yards per attempt. Penn State is deliberate in its approach, controlling tempo and wearing teams down on the ground, but they still have the potential to strike with big plays. When that happens, Northwestern must remain poised and disciplined.
Penn State has stumbled in recent weeks and, while still a heavy favorite, is not unbeatable. If Northwestern stays composed, limits mistakes and continues to control the pace, it has a chance, however slim, to hand the Nittany Lions their third straight loss and put itself in good position to make a run at a bowl game.
