A promising, if uncertain, start to the Matt Campbell era with three straight wins over inferior competition went south quickly as the Nittany Lions blew a 17-0 lead to Wisconsin in Week 4, falling to 3-1 and plummeting from No. 13 in the country to outside the AP Top 25 entirely. Now, Penn State doesn’t necessarily get the soft landing it would hope for, facing Northwestern on the road Friday night.
There are a number of compounding factors in the Wildcats' favor, a team that beat Penn State in Beaver Stadium last year and abruptly ended the James Franklin era: First, there’s the rest advantage, as Northwestern lost its first game of the year last Friday night to Indiana in Bloomington. Then, there’s home-field advantage, which will be amplified as Northwestern is opening its newly rebuilt Ryan Field and finally moving off a practice field situated on Lake Michigan. Lastly, there’s the fact that Northwestern just might be good.
Chip Kelly, after a failed attempt to return to the NFL last year, rebounded and wound up on David Braun’s staff in Evanston. In hindsight, the man who once revolutionized offense in college football and just a few years ago helped lead Ohio State to a national championship probably should have been a hotter commodity.
Kelly has revitalized the career of former blue-chip QB recruit Aidan Chiles, who is now with his third program after following now-former Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith from Oregon State to East Lansing.
It’s a complicated offense that will be a tough prep for Penn State defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn on a short week and could have the Nittany Lions on upset alert again, this time as a much smaller favorite after losing at home to Wisconsin as a 10-point favorite while winning the turnover battle and scoring a defensive touchdown.
That loss was about as bad as it gets, so Campbell and Penn State need to bounce back. Here’s what you need to know for Friday night.
How to watch Penn State vs. Northwestern in Week 5
- Date: Friday, October 2
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Beaver Stadium
- How to Watch (TV): FOX
- Streaming: FuboTV
- Penn State record: 3-1
- Northwestern record: 3-1
Announcers for Penn State vs. Northwestern
- Play-by-play: Conor Onion
- Analyst: Robert Griffin III
- Sideline: Alexa Landestoy
Penn State vs. Northwestern odds, spread and total
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook
Moneyline
- Penn State -140
- Northwestern +116
Spread
- Penn State -2.5 (-115)
- Northwestern +2.5 (-105)
Total
- 45.5 (over -108/under -112)
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Penn State injury report
- LaVar Arrington II, DE: OUT (knee)
- Max Granville, DE: OUT
- Koby Howard, WR: OUT
- Joshua Johnson, CB: OUT
- Tyler Armsterad, CB: OUT
- Mason Robinson, DE: OUT
- Dayshaun Burnett, DE: OUT
- Will Tompkins, OL: OUT
- Cooper Alexander, TE: OUT
- Andrew Rappleyea, TE: Questionable
- Daryus Dixson, CB: Questionable
- Cam Smith, LB: Questionable
- Christian Askew, CB: Questionable
- Cristiano Rosa, K: Questionable
Northwestern injury report
- Seth Valeri, DB: OUT
- Max Mohring, LB: OUT
- Jason Reynolds, LB: OUT
- Callen Campbell, DL: OUT
- Qayvier Johnson, LB: OUT
- David Anchondo, OL: OUT
- Ezomo Oratokhai, OL: OUT
- Jacob Miller, OL: OUT
- Chris Petrucci, TE: OUT
- Tom McGlinchey, TE: OUT
- Migo Jackson, DL: OUT
- Glory Stephen-Wangboje, DL: OUT
- Josh Fussell, DB: Doubtful
- Nigel Golver, LB: Doubtful
- Jaden McDuffie, WR: Doubtful
- Hayden Eligon II, WR: Questionable
- Braden Turner, DB: Questionable
- Chase Farrell, WR: Questionable
- Damon Walters, DB: Questionable
- Luke Dehnicke, TE: Questionable
- Troy Regovich, DL: Questionable
Weather forecast in Evanston
Conditions at the newly rebuilt Ryan Field in Evanston look favorable for Friday night with partly cloudy skies, a low of 51 degrees after a daytime high of 63 degrees, and limited wind. Now that Northwestern is back in a stadium and no longer playing on a practice field on Lake Michigan, weather should have considerably less of an impact on games.
Penn State and Northwestern series history
- All-time meetings: 22
- PSU all-time record vs. Northwestern: 16-6
- Last meeting: 10/11/2025 - 22-21 Northwestern W (Beaver Stadium)
- Last Penn State win: 09/30/2023 - 41-13
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