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Northwestern at Penn State

Saturday, October 11, 2025

Northwestern beat Penn State 22–⁠21. It was their 22nd meeting; after it, Penn State led the series 16–⁠6.

AwayNorthwestern7–⁠6 in 2025
22
HomePenn State7–⁠6 in 2025
21

Final at Beaver Stadium, University ParkTV: FS1Attendance 108,121

At kickoff
64°F, wind 6 mph from the southWeather: NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network hourly; University Park, 4 km from the stadium, 23 minutes after kickoff
Official
Mark KluczynskiGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Northwestern3100922
Penn State0140721

How the win probability moved

Penn State favored

Win probability by play: Penn State 58% at kickoff, 0% at the end. Biggest swing: 31 points.

Northwestern favored

Win probability after every play, from CollegeFootballData.com’s model. The dot marks the biggest swing (31 points).

Standouts

  • RushingKaytron Allen16 carries, 90 yards, 1 TDPenn State
  • ReceivingDevonte Ross7 catches, 115 yardsPenn State
  • DefenseZane Durant8 tackles, 1 sack, 1 for lossPenn State

Player stats

Northwestern

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Preston Stone17/2616310
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Caleb Komolafe197219
Joseph Himon II1365017
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Griffin Wilde794129
Joseph Himon II438016
Caleb Komolafe1909
Drew Wagner2808
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Mac Uihlein10000
Braden Turner7100
Robert Fitzgerald5000
Michael Kilbane5100
Ore Adeyi2001

Penn State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Drew Allar13/2013701
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Kaytron Allen1690118
Drew Allar625110
Nicholas Singleton72017
Liam Clifford1202
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Devonte Ross7115067
Kyron Ware-Hudson110010
Nicholas Singleton2609
Trebor Pena2504
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Zakee Wheatley9000
Zane Durant8110
Dominic DeLuca7000
Keon Wylie6000
Zuriah Fisher3110

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

NorthwesternPenn State
292Total yards274
163Passing yards137
129Rushing yards137
6.3Yards per pass6.9
3.3Yards per rush4.4
23First downs13
5–⁠12Third downs6–⁠11
0–⁠0Fourth downs1–⁠2
1Turnovers2
2–⁠10Penalties6–⁠71
34:46Possession25:14
0Sacks (by defense)2

Efficiency

NorthwesternPenn State
47%Success rate42%
0.16EPA per play0.17
0.97Explosiveness1.24
0.09Rushing EPA0.08
0.26Passing EPA0.30
48%Passing-down success36%
0.01First-down EPA−0.20
0.30Second-down EPA0.23
0.23Third-down EPA0.88
10%Havoc by its defense7%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Penn State 78% to win. Northwestern won as Elo’s underdog.

The line

Penn State −20.5, over/under 46.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were Penn State 92%, Northwestern 8%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

Every drive

Penn State end zoneNorthwestern end zoneQ1 NorthwesternPunt, 6 playsQ1 Penn StateTouchdown, 12 playsQ1 Penn StateInterception, 5 playsQ1 NorthwesternField goal, 12 playsQ2 NorthwesternTouchdown, 8 playsQ2 Penn StatePunt, 3 playsQ2 Penn StateTouchdown, 9 playsQ2 NorthwesternField goal, 12 playsQ3 Penn StatePunt, 6 playsQ3 NorthwesternField goal, 4 playsQ3 NorthwesternPunt, 5 playsQ3 Penn StatePunt, 6 playsQ3 NorthwesternPunt, 8 playsQ4 Penn StateTouchdown, 6 playsQ4 NorthwesternTouchdown, 12 playsQ4 Penn StateTurnover on downs, 4 playsQ4 NorthwesternResult not recorded, 8 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Penn State drives left to right, Northwestern right to left.
  1. Q1 NorthwesternPunt, 6 plays, 15 yards
  2. Q1 Penn StateTouchdown, 12 plays, 84 yards
  3. Q1 Penn StateInterception, 5 plays, 21 yards
  4. Q1 NorthwesternField goal, 12 plays, 58 yards
  5. Q2 NorthwesternTouchdown, 8 plays, 72 yards
  6. Q2 Penn StatePunt, 3 plays, 3 yards
  7. Q2 Penn StateTouchdown, 9 plays, 23 yards
  8. Q2 NorthwesternField goal, 12 plays, 59 yards
  9. Q3 Penn StatePunt, 6 plays, 14 yards
  10. Q3 NorthwesternField goal, 4 plays, −14 yards
  11. Q3 NorthwesternPunt, 5 plays, 19 yards
  12. Q3 Penn StatePunt, 6 plays, 25 yards
  13. Q3 NorthwesternPunt, 8 plays, 29 yards
  14. Q4 Penn StateTouchdown, 6 plays, 88 yards
  15. Q4 NorthwesternTouchdown, 12 plays, 72 yards
  16. Q4 Penn StateTurnover on downs, 4 plays, 7 yards
  17. Q4 NorthwesternResult not recorded, 8 plays, 22 yards

Play by play

1st quarter5 drives, then Northwestern 3, Penn State 0
Northwestern Punt, 6 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Gabriel Nwosu kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
15:001st & 10 at own 25Caleb Komolafe run for 1 yd to the NU 26
15:002nd & 9 at own 26Caleb Komolafe run for 5 yds to the NU 31
15:003rd & 4 at own 31Preston Stone run for no gain to the NU 31 for a 1ST down Penn State Penalty, off-side (Dani Dennis-Sutton) to the NU 36 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at own 36Preston Stone pass complete to Hayden Eligon II for 4 yds to the NU 40
15:002nd & 6 at own 40Preston Stone pass incomplete to Drew Wagner
15:003rd & 6 at own 40Preston Stone pass incomplete to Drew Wagner
Penn State Touchdown, 12 plays
15:003rd & 5 at own 34Drew Allar pass complete to Devonte Ross for 20 yds to the NU 46 for a 1ST down
12:314th & 6 at own 40punt for no gain
Penn State Interception, 5 plays
12:311st & 10 at opp 31Kaytron Allen run for 3 yds to the NU 28
12:312nd & 7 at opp 28Drew Allar pass complete to Devonte Ross for 6 yds to the NU 22
12:313rd & 1 at opp 22Kaytron Allen run for 4 yds to the NU 18 for a 1ST down
12:311st & 10 at opp 18Kaytron Allen run for 8 yds to the NU 10
10:142nd & 2 at opp 10Ore Adeyi return for no gain to the NU 33
Northwestern Field goal, 12 plays
10:141st & 10 at own 33Joseph Himon II run for 1 yd to the NU 34
10:142nd & 9 at own 34Joseph Himon II run for 8 yds to the NU 42
10:143rd & 1 at own 42Joseph Himon II run for 6 yds to the NU 48 for a 1ST down
10:141st & 10 at own 48Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 13 yds to the PSU 39 for a 1ST down
10:141st & 10 at opp 39Preston Stone pass complete to Alex Lines for 7 yds to the PSU 32
10:142nd & 3 at opp 32Preston Stone pass complete to Joseph Himon II for 10 yds to the PSU 22 for a 1ST down
10:141st & 10 at opp 22Joseph Himon II run for 1 yd to the PSU 21
10:142nd & 9 at opp 21Joseph Himon II run for 3 yds to the PSU 18 for a 1ST down Penn State Penalty, face mask (9 yards) (Alonzo Ford Jr.) to the PSU 9 for a 1ST down
10:141st & goal at opp 9Preston Stone sacked by Zane Durant for a loss of 4 yards to the PSU 13
4:222nd & goal at opp 13Dashun Reeder run for no gain to the PSU 13
4:223rd & goal at opp 13Caleb Komolafe run for 4 yds to the PSU 9
2:514th & goal at opp 9Jack Olsen 27 yd FG GOODNorthwestern 3, Penn State 0
Penn State Touchdown, 12 plays
2:511st & 10 at own 35Luke Akers kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback Penn State Penalty, unsportsmanlike conduct (Andrew Rappleyea)
2:511st & 10 at own 13Drew Allar pass complete to Devonte Ross for 6 yds to the PSU 19
2:512nd & 4 at own 19Kaytron Allen run for 10 yds to the PSU 29 for a 1ST down
2:511st & 10 at own 29Kaytron Allen run for 4 yds to the PSU 33
2:512nd & 6 at own 33Drew Allar pass complete to Trebor Pena for 1 yd to the PSU 34
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 46Kaytron Allen run for 5 yds to the NU 41
Q2 15:002nd & 5 at opp 41Liam Clifford run for 2 yds to the NU 39
Q2 15:003rd & 3 at opp 39Drew Allar pass complete to Trebor Pena for 4 yds to the NU 35 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 35Kaytron Allen run for 5 yds to the NU 30
Q2 15:002nd & 5 at opp 30Drew Allar run for 10 yds to the NU 20 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 20Kaytron Allen run for 9 yds to the NU 11
Q2 11:402nd & 1 at opp 11Kaytron Allen run for 11 yds for a TD (Ryan Barker KICK)Penn State 7, Northwestern 3
2nd quarter4 drives, then Penn State 14, Northwestern 13
Northwestern Touchdown, 8 plays
11:401st & 10 at own 35Gabriel Nwosu kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
11:401st & 10 at own 25Caleb Komolafe run for 6 yds to the NU 31
11:402nd & 4 at own 31Caleb Komolafe run for 6 yds to the NU 37 for a 1ST down
11:401st & 10 at own 37Preston Stone run for 3 yds to the NU 40
9:472nd & 7 at own 40Preston Stone pass complete to Hayden Eligon II for 3 yds to the PSU 43 for a 1ST down Penn State Penalty, personal foul (Dejuan Lane) to the PSU 42 for a 1ST down
9:471st & 10 at opp 42Joseph Himon II run for 1 yd to the PSU 41
9:472nd & 9 at opp 41Joseph Himon II run for 2 yds to the PSU 39
9:473rd & 7 at opp 39Preston Stone pass complete to Joseph Himon II for 10 yds to the PSU 29 for a 1ST down
7:141st & 10 at opp 29Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 29 yds for a TD (Jack Olsen KICK) (Jack Olsen KICK)Northwestern 10, Penn State 7
Penn State Punt, 3 plays
7:081st & 10 at own 35Luke Akers kickoff for 61 yds , Corey Smith return for 34 yds to the PSU 38
7:081st & 10 at own 38Drew Allar pass complete to Devonte Ross for a loss of 2 yards to the PSU 36
7:082nd & 12 at own 36Nicholas Singleton run for 5 yds to the PSU 41
7:083rd & 7 at own 41Drew Allar pass incomplete to Kyron Hudson, broken up by Josh Fussell
5:394th & 7 at own 41Gabriel Nwosu punt for 35 yds , Drew Wagner returns for 2 yds to the NU 26, fumbles, recovered by Penn State at the NU 26
Penn State Touchdown, 9 plays
5:391st & 10 at opp 26Drew Allar run for 4 yds to the NU 22
5:392nd & 6 at opp 22Nicholas Singleton run for 7 yds to the NU 15 for a 1ST down
5:391st & 10 at opp 15Nicholas Singleton run for 1 yd to the NU 14
5:392nd & 9 at opp 14Nicholas Singleton run for 3 yds to the NU 11
5:393rd & 6 at opp 11Drew Allar run for 7 yds to the NU 4 for a 1ST down
5:391st & goal at opp 4Drew Allar pass incomplete to Nicholas Singleton
5:392nd & goal at opp 4Nicholas Singleton run for 2 yds to the NU 2
2:003rd & goal at opp 2Nicholas Singleton run for no gain to the NU 2
1:194th & goal at opp 2Nicholas Singleton run for 2 yds for a TD (Ryan Barker KICK)Penn State 14, Northwestern 10
Northwestern Field goal, 12 plays
1:191st & 10 at own 35Gabriel Nwosu kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
1:191st & 10 at own 25Caleb Komolafe run for 2 yds to the NU 27
1:152nd & 8 at own 27Caleb Komolafe run for no gain to the NU 27 for a 1ST down Penn State Penalty, face mask (15 yards) (Zuriah Fisher) to the NU 42 for a 1ST down
1:151st & 10 at own 42Preston Stone pass complete to Caleb Komolafe for 9 yds to the PSU 49
1:152nd & 1 at opp 49Caleb Komolafe run for 1 yd to the PSU 48 for a 1ST down
1:151st & 10 at opp 48Preston Stone pass incomplete
1:152nd & 10 at opp 48Preston Stone pass complete to Joseph Himon II for 16 yds to the PSU 32 for a 1ST down
1:151st & 10 at opp 32Preston Stone pass incomplete to Hunter Welcing
1:152nd & 10 at opp 32Preston Stone pass incomplete to Drew Wagner for a 1ST down Penn State Penalty, roughing passer (Zuriah Fisher) to the PSU 17 for a 1ST down
1:151st & 10 at opp 17Preston Stone pass incomplete to Hunter Welcing
1:152nd & 10 at opp 17Preston Stone pass incomplete to Hayden Eligon II, broken up by Elliot Washington II
1:153rd & 10 at opp 17Preston Stone run for 1 yd to the PSU 16
0:034th & 9 at opp 16J. Olsen 34 yd FG GOODPenn State 14, Northwestern 13
3rd quarter5 drives, then Penn State 14, Northwestern 13
Penn State Punt, 6 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Luke Akers kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback Northwestern Penalty, illegal formation (Garner Wallace)
15:001st & 10 at own 30Kaytron Allen run for 3 yds to the PSU 33
15:002nd & 7 at own 33Kaytron Allen run for 2 yds to the PSU 35
15:003rd & 5 at own 35Drew Allar pass complete to Devonte Ross for 7 yds to the PSU 42 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at own 42Drew Allar pass incomplete to Kyron Hudson
15:002nd & 10 at own 42Kaytron Allen run for 2 yds to the PSU 44
15:003rd & 8 at own 44Drew Allar pass incomplete to Trebor Pena
Northwestern Field goal, 4 plays
15:001st & goal at opp 9Caleb Komolafe run for 1 yd to the PSU 8
12:154th & 8 at own 44Gabriel Nwosu punt for 54 yds
Northwestern Punt, 5 plays
12:151st & 10 at own 2Caleb Komolafe run for 4 yds to the NU 6
12:152nd & 6 at own 6Caleb Komolafe run for 8 yds to the NU 14 for a 1ST down
12:151st & 10 at own 14Caleb Komolafe run for no gain to the NU 14
12:152nd & 10 at own 14Preston Stone run for 7 yds to the NU 21
12:153rd & 3 at own 21Preston Stone pass incomplete to Hunter Welcing
9:134th & 3 at own 21Luke Akers punt for 49 yds
Penn State Punt, 6 plays
9:131st & 10 at own 30Drew Allar pass complete to Devonte Ross for 11 yds to the PSU 41 for a 1ST down
9:131st & 10 at own 41Kaytron Allen run for 2 yds to the PSU 43
9:132nd & 8 at own 43Drew Allar pass complete to Kyron Hudson for 10 yds to the NU 47 for a 1ST down
9:131st & 10 at opp 47Drew Allar pass incomplete to Kaytron Allen
9:132nd & 10 at opp 47Drew Allar pass incomplete to Luke Reynolds
9:133rd & 10 at opp 47Drew Allar run for 2 yds to the NU 45
6:194th & 8 at opp 45Gabriel Nwosu punt for 35 yds
Northwestern Punt, 8 plays
6:191st & 10 at own 10Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 1 yd to the NU 11
6:192nd & 9 at own 11Caleb Komolafe run for 1 yd to the NU 12
6:193rd & 8 at own 12Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 12 yds to the NU 24 for a 1ST down
6:191st & 10 at own 24Preston Stone pass complete to Drew Wagner for 8 yds to the NU 32
6:192nd & 2 at own 32Joseph Himon II run for 5 yds to the NU 37 for a 1ST down
6:191st & 10 at own 37Preston Stone pass complete to Drew Wagner for no gain to the NU 37
6:192nd & 10 at own 37Joseph Himon II run for 7 yds to the NU 44
6:193rd & 3 at own 44Joseph Himon II run for no gain to the NU 44
6:194th & 3 at own 44Northwestern Penalty, delay of game (Luke Akers) to the NU 39
0:304th & 8 at own 39Luke Akers punt for 49 yds , Devonte Ross returns for no gain to the PSU 9
4th quarter5 drives, then Northwestern 22, Penn State 21
Northwestern Field goal, 4 plays
15:002nd & goal at opp 8Preston Stone pass incomplete to Hayden Eligon II
15:003rd & goal at opp 8Preston Stone sacked by Zuriah Fisher for a loss of 15 yards to the PSU 23
14:084th & goal at opp 23Jack Olsen 41 yd FG GOODNorthwestern 16, Penn State 14
Penn State Touchdown, 6 plays
14:041st & 10 at own 35Luke Akers kickoff for 65 yds , Tyler Holzworth return for 9 yds to the PSU 9
14:041st & 10 at own 9Drew Allar pass complete to Kaytron Allen for 1 yd to the PSU 10
14:042nd & 9 at own 10Kaytron Allen run for 4 yds to the PSU 14
14:043rd & 5 at own 14Drew Allar pass complete to Devonte Ross for 67 yds to the NU 19 for a 1ST down
14:041st & 10 at opp 19Kaytron Allen run for 18 yds to the NU 1 for a 1ST down
14:041st & goal at opp 1Kaytron Allen run for no gain to the NU 1
10:502nd & goal at opp 1Drew Allar run for 1 yd for a TD (Ryan Barker KICK)Penn State 21, Northwestern 16
Northwestern Touchdown, 12 plays
10:451st & 10 at own 35Gabriel Nwosu kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
10:451st & 10 at own 25Preston Stone pass incomplete to Griffin Wilde, broken up by Dominic DeLuca
10:452nd & 10 at own 25Preston Stone pass complete to Joseph Himon II for 2 yds to the NU 27
10:453rd & 8 at own 27Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 16 yds to the NU 43 for a 1ST down
10:451st & 10 at own 43Joseph Himon II run for 9 yds to the PSU 48
10:452nd & 1 at opp 48Joseph Himon II run for 5 yds to the PSU 43 for a 1ST down
10:451st & 10 at opp 43Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 12 yds to the PSU 31 for a 1ST down
10:451st & 10 at opp 31Dashun Reeder run for no gain to the PSU 31
10:452nd & 10 at opp 31Preston Stone pass complete to Griffin Wilde for 11 yds to the PSU 20 for a 1ST down
10:451st & 10 at opp 20Caleb Komolafe run for 9 yds to the PSU 11
10:452nd & 1 at opp 11Caleb Komolafe run for 2 yds to the PSU 9 for a 1ST down
4:511st & goal at opp 9Caleb Komolafe 9 Yd Run (Two-Point Run Conversion Failed)Northwestern 22, Penn State 21
4:511st & goal at opp 3Caleb Komolafe run for no gain to the NU 35
Penn State Turnover on downs, 4 plays
4:511st & 10 at own 35Luke Akers kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
4:511st & 10 at own 25Drew Allar pass complete to Nicholas Singleton for a loss of 3 yards to the PSU 22
4:512nd & 13 at own 22Drew Allar pass complete to Nicholas Singleton for 9 yds to the PSU 31
4:513rd & 4 at own 31Drew Allar run for 1 yd to the PSU 32
3:004th & 3 at own 32Ethan Grunkemeyer run for no gain to the PSU 32
Northwestern Result not recorded, 8 plays
3:001st & 10 at opp 32Caleb Komolafe run for 4 yds to the PSU 28
3:002nd & 6 at opp 28Caleb Komolafe run for 3 yds to the PSU 25
2:003rd & 3 at opp 25Caleb Komolafe run for 5 yds to the PSU 20 for a 1ST down
2:001st & 10 at opp 20Caleb Komolafe run for 1 yd to the PSU 19
1:192nd & 9 at opp 19Joseph Himon II run for 17 yds to the PSU 2 for a 1ST down
1:131st & goal at opp 2Preston Stone run for a loss of 6 yards to the PSU 8
1:102nd & goal at opp 8Preston Stone run for a loss of 2 yards to the PSU 10
1:103rd & goal at opp 10Preston Stone run for a loss of 2 yards to the PSU 10

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every Northwestern–Penn State game

Penn State leads 16–⁠7 in 23 meetings, counting the one since this game.

Recent meetings
2026Northwestern 34, Penn State 13
2025Northwestern 22, Penn State 21
2023Penn State 41, Northwestern 13
2022Penn State 17, Northwestern 7
2017Penn State 31, Northwestern 7
2015Northwestern 23, Penn State 21

Around this game

Northwestern

Penn State

Ranked games that day

Every game of Week 7