Northwestern vs. Penn State

Every meeting on file, as played. Ranks are the AP poll’s going in.

1. Northwestern’s biggest win2014: Northwestern 29, Penn State 6by 23 points
2. Penn State’s biggest win2002: Penn State 49, Northwestern 0by 49 points
3. Upset2025: Northwestern 22, Penn State 21Northwestern had a 22% chance, by our ratings before kickoff
4. Upset2014: Northwestern 29, Penn State 6Northwestern had a 24% chance, by our ratings before kickoff
5. Upset2001: Penn State 38, Northwestern 35Penn State had a 29% chance, by our ratings before kickoff
6. Ranked showdown1995: Northwestern 21, Penn State 10No. 12 Penn State at No. 6 Northwestern
7. Ranked showdown1996: Penn State 34, Northwestern 9No. 11 Northwestern at No. 15 Penn State

Head-coach pairings with three or more meetings on file, the series read from Northwestern’s side (Barnett 1–⁠5 against Paterno). A season split between coaches goes to the one credited with the game.

Our Elo rating at the end of each season, a measure of how strong a team was, not a forecast; 1500 is an average FBS team.

Viewers: Nielsen, as compiled by nschultz7’s ratings tracker.

Every game is listed as played on the field.

• Northwestern vs. Illinois119 meetings, Northwestern 55–⁠59–⁠5
• Northwestern vs. Wisconsin103 meetings, Northwestern 37–⁠62–⁠4
• Northwestern vs. Minnesota99 meetings, Northwestern 38–⁠56–⁠5
• Northwestern vs. Purdue90 meetings, Northwestern 36–⁠53–⁠1
• Penn State vs. Pittsburgh99 meetings, Penn State 52–⁠43–⁠4
• Penn State vs. Syracuse71 meetings, Penn State 43–⁠23–⁠5
• Penn State vs. West Virginia61 meetings, Penn State 50–⁠9–⁠2
• Penn State vs. Maryland48 meetings, Penn State 44–⁠3–⁠1