Venue & Game Details
Stadium: West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium (Capacity: 106,572)
Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
Kickoff Time: 3:30 PM ET
Broadcast: FS1 (Connor Onion & Mark Helfrich on the call)
Theme: Penn State Homecoming & “Stripe Out” game
Weather Forecast (State College, PA)
Conditions: Partly cloudy, progressively cloudier during the game
High: 64°F (18°C)
Wind: Gusts up to 12 mph
Impact: Mild fall weather, slight wind could affect deep passing and kicking accuracy.
Injury Report
Penn State Nittany Lions
LB Tony Rojas – OUT (undisclosed, major loss at linebacker)
WR Kaden Saunders, Peter Gonzalez, Josiah Brown, Lyrick Samuel – OUT
OL Anthony Donkoh, J’Ven Williams, Brady O’Hara, Liam Horan – Questionable
QB Jaxon Smolik, Bekkem Kritza – Questionable (depth)
CB Donte Natasi, DE Jordan Mayer, DT Kaleb Artis, LB Kari Jackson – Questionable
Northwestern Wildcats
RB Cam Porter – OUT (leg injury, season-ending)
DL Dylan Roberts – OUT
DBs Josh Fussell, Jalen Lewis, Tito Williams Jr. – Questionable
DL Migo Jackson, Braxton Strong – Questionable
WRs Braden Blueitt, Tate Crane – Questionable
OL Matt Keeler – Questionable
(Both teams are banged up, but Penn State’s WR depth and LB injuries are particularly concerning.)
Key Player Matchups
QB Drew Allar (PSU) vs. Northwestern Secondary
Allar: 963 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs, 64.7% completion.
Northwestern pass defense: #20 nationally (165 YPG allowed).
RB Kaytron Allen (PSU) vs. LB Mack Uihlein (NW)
Allen: 377 yards, 6 TDs, 7.0 YPC.
Uihlein: 38 tackles, defensive anchor.
QB Preston Stone (NW) vs. Penn State Pass Rush
Stone: 918 yards, 7 TDs, 6 INTs, 61.5% completion.
PSU Defense: 16th nationally in pass defense (156.8 YPG allowed).
WR Griffin Wilde (NW) vs. CB Kalen King (PSU)
Wilde: 375 yards, 2 TDs, explosive deep threat.
King: NFL-caliber corner, key to limiting chunk plays.
Recent Team Form
Northwestern Wildcats
Last game: Defeated Louisiana-Monroe 42-7.
Notable win: 17-14 over UCLA.
Offense: 381 YPG (#74 FBS), 23.6 PPG (#95).
Defense: 311.8 YPG allowed (#31), 17.0 PPG allowed (#26).
Penn State Nittany Lions
Last game: Lost 42-37 to UCLA.
Also lost to Oregon in double OT.
Offense: 389 YPG (#70), 38.6 PPG (#20).
Defense: 306.2 YPG allowed (#29), 17.8 PPG allowed (#30).
On a 2-game losing streak, desperate for first Big Ten win.
Series History
All-Time Record: Penn State leads 16-5 [Winsipedia; Northwestern Athletics]
At Beaver Stadium: PSU leads 9-2.
Last Meeting: 2023 – Penn State 41, Northwestern 13.
Current Streak: Penn State has won 3 straight.
Notable Upset: Northwestern last beat PSU in 2015 (23-21).
Betting Trends
Penn State:
0-5 ATS this season.
4 of 5 games have gone Over.
9-2 SU at home vs. Northwestern all-time.
Northwestern:
3-2 ATS this season.
1-0 ATS as 21+ point underdog.
2 of 5 games have gone Over.
Totals:
PSU’s defense has been strong, but recent games have trended high-scoring.
Northwestern’s ball-control style leans Under, but turnovers could swing totals.
Historical Betting Results
2023: PSU -27, covered vs. Northwestern (41-13).
2017: PSU -14, covered (31-7).
2015: Northwestern +2.5, upset win (23-21).
2014: Northwestern +10, upset win (29-6 at Beaver Stadium).
Projected Score: Penn State 34, Northwestern 17
Game Odds
Northwestern Wildcats 46.5
Penn State Nittany Lions – 20.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, October 10, 2025
