No. 6 Penn State looks to remain undefeated as it travels to Northwestern

No. 6 Penn State looks to head into its bye week undefeated, but the Nittany Lions have a road test against their third Big Ten opponent in a row before they take a much-needed break.

The blue and white fly over to Evanston, Ill. to face Northwestern for the 21st meeting between the two programs. While the Nittany Lions own a 15-5 series lead and have won eight of the last 10 matchups, the Wildcats gave Penn State a run for its money in the last outing.

In 2022, a downpour of rain swept through State College and left Penn State to grind it out on the ground against Northwestern. Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton combined for 173 yards and a touchdown to walk away with a close 17-7 victory in Beaver Stadium.

Since then, Penn State has adapted that grind-it-out mentality to the start of its 2023 campaign to go 4-0. Head coach James Franklin has even stated that the team has won more games by “grinding it out” rather than winning through explosive plays.

Even though Penn State’s faithful would love to see 99-yard gains every play, the team has thrived in its game plan to start the year.

Franklin has emphasized throughout the week that while Penn State’s plan to play gritty football can get exhausting, it has worked to near perfection. The Nittany Lions lead the nation in total defense, first downs allowed, turnover margin and time of possession.

Penn State’s 31-0 White Out victory over No. 24 is its best example of the lights-out defensive play and balanced offense that it plays.

The Nittany Lions will now have to face a Wildcat squad that has had its off-the-field troubles but has locked in after a 37-34 comeback overtime victory over Minnesota.

Down by 21, quarterback Ben Bryant defended his home turf by throwing for 396 yards and four scores. Wide receiver Bryce Kirtz played a huge role in that stat line after he brought in 10 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

On the other side of the depth chart, Northwestern is deep in the linebacking core. Bryce Gallagher ranks seventh in the country with 11.0 tackles per game, while Xander Mueller has racked up four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception.

The purple and white will need to figure out its run defense, as it has given up the most amount of rushing yards in the Big Ten and will be up against the second-best run game in the conference.

Northwestern’s turnover margin will also be another point of emphasis, as Penn State has seemingly been able to pull away and control the game after it forces a few turnovers. The Wildcats will look to limit their mistakes and make national headlines by taking down a top-10 team in the country.

Gametime is set for a Big Ten noon kick-off between Penn State and Northwestern from Ryan Field, Ill.

Micheal Bolger is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mpb6233@psu.edu.