2026 PSU #22 at Northwestern

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General Pre-Game Information

LINK TO PSU-NORTHWESTERN GAME STATS

• Game Five of 2026 season—This is the first Big Ten road game of the 2026 season, the first primetime game of the season, and the first non-Saturday regular season game since 2023 Michigan State. This is the second night game ever for PSU-Northwestern and first since 2011 at “Old” Ryan Field (7pm ET/6pm CT kick). Penn State (3-1, 0-1) is coming off its Big Ten Opener loss vs. unranked Wisconsin at home. The Nittany Lions and the Wildcats are meeting for the second consecutive season and the fourth time this decade. The Northwestern Wildcats (2-1, 0-1) are coming off their Big Ten season opening loss at #5 Indiana on Friday, Sept. 25 (IU narrowly won 29-23). This is the first game ever at the newly re-built Ryan Field. Two earlier 2026 home games (both NW wins) were scheduled at Northwestern’s temporary lakefront Martin Stadium which has been used during the 2024-26 construction phase of “New” Ryan Field. The Oct. 2 game date vs. Penn State coincides, to the day, with the 100th anniversary of the 1926 opening of the Wildcats’ previous stadium (originally known as Northwestern Stadium, later Dyche Stadium, and since a 1997 renovation, Ryan Field).

• Last PSU Game played (Sat., Sept. 26): Penn State 20 Wisconsin 24 at Beaver Stadium (Matt Campbell becomes first non-interim PSU head coach to lose his Big Ten career opener)

• Current Week’s Rankings: AP Poll (released Sept. 27)-PSU is now ‘unranked’ after 4 straight weeks in poll—fell from #13 to the 28th spot (Texas remains #1/USC is only 2026 PSU opponent currently ranked in poll at #18/Northwestern received a single vote for 40th) / US LBM Coaches Poll (released Sept. 27)-PSU is ranked #22 after falling 8 spots from #14 (Texas remains #1/USC is #18 and Michigan #24 among PSU opponents/Northwestern received 12 votes for 41st)—PSU has been ranked 5 consecutive weeks in this poll—Note: the current AP & Coaches rankings are identical to those for PSU vs. Northwestern in 2025 (Franklin’s final game)

• Northwestern 2025 Record: 7-6 overall, 4-5 in Big Ten (5-2 overall at home)—Head Coach: David Braun (4th season)—Braun is 1-1 vs. PSU since taking over the Wildcats ahead the 2023 season—The win over PSU came in 2025 and was his lone road victory last season—The loss to PSU came in 2023 while Braun was still the Interim Head Coach after replacing Pat Fitzgerald (now at Michigan State) who had just been fired by the Cats. Note: Northwestern’s QB Coach is Jerry Neuheisel who is best remembered as the interim Offensive Coordinator at UCLA in 2025 and was one of the architects of the Bruins 42-37 upset victory over #7 PSU that triggered the downward spin on James Franklin’s tenure.

• 23rd meeting with Northwestern all-time (12th on road): PSU is 16-6 overall vs. the Wildcats (8-3 in Evanston, IL/1-0 at night) in a series that began in 1993 with a 43-21 Penn State road victory. That first ever PSU-Northwestern game is best remembered for Bobby Engram’s acrobatic TD catch at the goal line on a 16-yard pass from Kerry Collins with 23 seconds to go in the first half, and to a much lesser extent, for the brief appearance of kicker Craig Fayak (3 of 4 on FGs) as the QB for the final 4 offensive snaps of the game (made necessary by the red-shirting of Wally Richardson & the mid-season departure of John Sacca from the team). All of the games in this series have been played as members of the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions have won 3 of their last 4 games over Northwestern dating to a 2015 loss on the road (the 3 victories were in 2017 away, 2022 home, and 2023 away). PSU won the lone prior night game in this series, 34-24, at Northwestern in 2011 (Joe Paterno’s final road game as head coach & career win #408).

• Matt Campbell becomes the third straight PSU head coach to face Northwestern in his second Big Ten contest at the helm (and the first to do it on the road)—In 2014, James Franklin lost 29-6 to Northwestern in his 2nd all-time conference game at Beaver Stadium—In 2012, Bill O’Brien beat Northwestern, 39-28 in game 2 of his first Big Ten campaign at Beaver Stadium—Joe Paterno did not face Northwestern in 1993 until game 7 of that Big Ten season (PSU won 43-21 at then-Dyche Stadium in Evanston).

• Last PSU Game vs. Northwestern (2025 at Beaver Stadium): The 22nd ranked (Coaches Poll-only) Nittany Lions hosted Northwestern in a combination Homecoming/Stripe Out/Generations of Greatness Game that ended in a 22-21 nightmare which would cost head coach James Franklin his job the following day. The Franklin-era ended at the mid-point of season 12 after a stunning 0-3 start to the Big Ten campaign that featured back-to-back losses to teams who were 20+ point underdogs. Adding to the disaster, Drew Allar suffered a season-ending (and college career-ending) left ankle injury in the 4th quarter with 3:26 to go in the game when he was hit high and low on a QB keeper by 2 defenders (one appeared to dive with his forearm into Drew’s lower left leg). Allar had connected with Devonte Ross WR 7-times for 115 yards receiving, and Drew also rushed for a TD in the loss. Allar underwent successful surgery for a broken ankle on Oct. 15, 2025. PSU dropped out of the polls completely for the first time since week 2 of the 2022 season. CHECK LINKS BELOW FOR MORE.

  LINK TO 2025 PSU-NORTHWESTERN GAME STATS

  LINK TO 2025 PSU-NORTHWESTERN GAME SUMMARY

• Last PSU Game at Northwestern (2023 at “Old” Ryan Field—demolished in Feb. 2024): PSU won 41-13 in front of the smallest crowd to see the Lions play in the last 20 years (25,064). Penn State got off to a sluggish start and the game was tied 10-10 at the half. But the Nittany Lions went on a 24-0 run in the second half. Nick Singleton matched a career best with 21 carries for 80 yards and 1 rushing TD to go with a TD reception from Drew Allar. The defense delivered 7 sacks and an INT by Daequan Hardy which set the table for a Beau Pribula 30-yard TD pass to Trey Potts. The game also saw Zion Tracy blowup a fake punt on 4th and 4 at the Northwestern 34-yard line.

• Memorable (& Critical) PSU-Northwestern moment from the 2012 victory vs. the Wildcats at Beaver Stadium: This is the game that secured Penn State’s winning record after the 0-2 start under new coach Bill O’Brien (and it may have saved the entire season). PSU was 3-2 coming into this game vs. the 24th ranked Wildcats. If a winning season was possible in the shade of the first year of the sanctions, this is where it had to happen. The Nittany Lions played much better in this game than the score indicated, winning everywhere but on the scoreboard. However, they trail 28-25 with 2:43 to go in the 4th quarter. It’s 3rd and goal at the Northwestern 6. Sure, a field goal ties it, but PSU needs to win it right now. Penn State QB Matt McGloin is in the gun with Zach Zwinak RB to his left. Alex Kenney WR motions left. On the snap, McGloin rolls right looking for Kyle Carter TE in the endzone. Zwinak stays in the backfield to block the blindside. McGloin feels the pressure. He pump-fakes and makes an unexpected dash for the corner of the endzone. Matt extends the ball through the plane as he dives in for 6. The Lions take the lead by 4 and go on to win, 39-28. PSU improved to 4-2 and would win 4 of its remaining 6 games to finish 8-4, 6-2 in the Big Ten, to finish a stunning second in the Leaders Division.

• 1st 8pm ET kick for PSU in 2026 season. Last scheduled 8pm ET kick was the 2024 Big Ten Championship Game vs. Oregon. This is the second game scheduled in “evening hours” in 2026 with the Wisconsin game that was scheduled at 5pm EDT.

• 1st Friday night regular season game for PSU since 2023 vs. Michigan State (at Ford Field, Detroit) on the Friday after Thanksgiving which was televised by NBC-TV. Penn State is 3-0 on Friday nights since the Big Ten began flexing some games away from Saturdays in 2018 (Wins came at Illinois 2018, at Maryland 2019, & at Michigan State 2023). This is the third time a Friday Big Ten game will result in a “short” practice week for PSU (Maryland 2019 followed a Bye Week). PSU’s ‘official’ data says that the Nittany Lions are 17-8-1 all-time in games played on Fridays (44-44-6 all-time in regular season games not played on a Saturday). Penn State’s first ever Friday night game was vs. NYU at the Polo Grounds on Halloween 1941 (PS won 42-0, highlighted by a 34-yard TD pass from Bill Smaltz to Len Krouse). PSU is 6-2 all-time on Friday nights in the regular season (the last loss came on the Friday after Thanksgiving in 1976 vs. #1 Pitt at Three Rivers Stadium, 24-7, on ABC-TV (9pm EST kick)—Tony Dorsett rushed 38 times for 224 yards, 2 TDs).

  TV/Radio Information

• FOX-TV Game Announcers: Connor Onion (Play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (Analyst) with Alexa Landestoy (Sidelines). Interestingly, Connor Onion’s last PSU game was the 2025 Northwestern game on FS1 with his former partner, Mark Helfrich (Onion also did the 2025 Villanova game for FS1). Griffin was the Heisman Trophy-winning QB at Baylor in 2011 and was previously paired with Jason Benetti at FOX Sports in 2025. (This game is also available on Fox One App for streaming)

• First game televised on FOX since 2025 when Penn State hosted Indiana (FOX televised only 2 PSU games in 2025: at #1 Ohio State & vs. #2 Indiana). This is the first ever appearance by PSU on FOX “College Football Friday” which debuted in the 2024 season. The last time that Penn State appeared on FOX for a regular season non-Saturday primetime game was in 2022 for the Thursday night season opener at Purdue. Penn State’s only previous night game against Northwestern in 2011 was televised by BTN.

• This is the 1st game this season to be televised on a traditional TV Network—Last traditional TV Network telecast was the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl win vs. Clemson on ABC-TV

• Penn State Radio Network Announcers: Steve Jones (PBP), Jack Ham (Analyst), & Brian Tripp (Sidelines). Jones & Ham are in their 27th season in the booth together. Ham, a member of both the CHOF (1990) and Pro Football Hall of Fame (1988), played linebacker at Penn State (1968-70). Jones (Class of 1980) & Tripp (Class of 2011) are also Penn State grads. Sirius XM: 84, 257, XM App