UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 6/7 Penn State travels to Northwestern on Saturday for a Big Ten contest. Kickoff is set for noon on Big Ten Network.
SERIES HISTORY: Penn State meets Northwestern for the 21st time in program history. The Nittany Lions hold a 15-5 advantage and have won eight of the last 10 matchups. In 2022, Penn State earned a 17-7 win in rainy conditions. Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton combined for 173 rushing yards and Singleton scored on a 2-yard run, while Brenton Strange caught a 20-yard touchdown. Penn State limited the Wildcats to 241 total yards and 31 rushing yards.
NATION'S BEST: Through four games, including three against Power Five opponents, Penn State paces the country in total defense (219.5 ypg), pass defense (138.0), first downs allowed (46), turnover margin (+11) and time of possession (37:06). The Nittany Lions also sit Top-Five in the country in takeaways (11; 2nd), fumble recoveries (6; 3rd), scoring defense (8.8 ppg; 4th), sacks allowed per game (0.5; 4th), third down defense (24.5%; 5th) and first downs gained (109; 5th).
SUFFOCATING DEFENSE: Against Iowa, the Penn State defense not only recorded a shutout but completely shut down the Hawkeyes' offense. Penn State limited Iowa to 76 total yards, its fewest ever allowed in a Big Ten game and nation's fewest allowed against a Power Five opponent this season. Penn State held Iowa to just four first downs, including just two after the opening possession. The Hawkeyes ran just five plays in Penn State territory. The Nittany Lions held Iowa to just one third down conversion (1-of-9) and just 2.3 yards per play. Penn State forced four takeaways, all fumbles, to tally nine takeaways over the last two weeks.
THE OPPOSITION: Northwestern improved to 2-2 on the season with a 37-34 overtime win against Minnesota on Saturday. The Wildcats trailed 31-10 entering the fourth quarter, but rallied back and tied the game on an 11-yard touchdown grab by A.J. Henning with two seconds left in regulation. In overtime, Northwestern forced a field goal and then won on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Ben Bryant to Charlie Mangieri.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 9 x 14: Penn State has won nine-straight games, all by at least a 14-point margin of victory. Over the last two seasons, no other FBS team has won by a 14-point margin for longer than six-straight games.
- 11: With 31 points against Iowa, Penn State has scored at least 30 points in 11-straight games, the nation's longest active streak.
- 28: Penn State has scored in 28-straight quarters, the longest active streak in the nation, dating back to the Rutgers game in 2022.
- 18: The Nittany Lions have not allowed a first-drive touchdown in its last 18 games, dating back to the Michigan State game in 2021.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
- Northwestern is led by interim head coach David Braun.
- Braun was named interim head coach on July 14, 2023.
- Braun is the 10th-youngest head coach in the FBS and the second-youngest in the Big Ten.
- Northwestern is 2-2 this season with wins over UTEP (38-7) and Minnesota (37-34, OT).
- In the win over Minnesota last Saturday, the Wildcats rallied from two different 21-point deficits, including down 31-10 entering the fourth quarter. Northwestern tied the game with two seconds left in regulation and won with a touchdown in overtime.
- Against Minnesota, the Wildcats totaled 492 yards, including 400 passing as Ben Bryant threw for 396 yards and four touchdowns.
- WR Bryce Kirtz hauled in 10 receptions for 215 yards and two scores.
- On offense, Northwestern ranks seventh in the Big Ten in scoring (24.0 ppg), 11th in total offense (337.8 ypg), sixth in passing offense (239.8) and 14th in rushing offense (98.0).
- Bryant has completed 59.6 percent of his passes for 804 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions.
- Kirtz leads the Big Ten and ranks 25th in the nation averaging 91.3 receiving yards per game, while tallying 17 receptions, 274 yards and two touchdowns.
- On defense, the Wildcats sit 12th in the Big Ten in scoring (25.8 ppg), 11th in total defense (372.0), sixth in passing defense (187.5) and 14th in rushing defense (184.5).
- LB Bryce Gallagher ranks seventh in the country, and second in the Big Ten, averaging 11.0 tackles per game. He has 44 total stops.
- LB Xander Mueller leads Northwestern with four tackles for loss to go with 1.5 sacks and an interception.
IOWA NOTES
- The Nittany Lions are 9-6 in full-stadium Penn State White Out games.
- Since 2014, Penn State is 42-1 when leading by 10+ points at halftime.
- Penn State recorded a shutout against an AP Top 25 team for the first time since the 1999 Alamo Bowl against No. 18 Texas A&M (24-0).
- Penn State held the ball for 45:27 to Iowa's time of possession of 14:33. In the second half, Penn State held the ball for 24:14 to Iowa's 5:46 (13:26 to 1:34 in the third quarter).
- Penn State had 97 offensive plays to 33 for Iowa. According to TruMediaSports, in the past five seasons, no other FBS team has out-snapped its opponent by 60+ plays.
- Penn State scored on drives of 17, 10 15 and 12 plays. The last time Penn State had four scoring drives of 10+ plays was against Ohio State in 2021.
- Penn State held Iowa to four first downs, the fewest allowed by the Nittany Lions since giving up just two to Eastern Illinois in 2009 and the fewest ever allowed by Penn State in a Big Ten game.
- The Nittany Lions limited the Hawkeyes to just five plays in Penn State territory.
- After allowing Iowa to get one first down on each of its first two possessions in the first quarter, Penn State held Iowa without a first down for the next seven drives.
- Penn State held Iowa to 76 yards of offense, the fewest ever allowed by Penn State in a Big Ten game.
- Penn State held Iowa to 20 yards rushing, the fourth-lowest since 2014, and 56 passing yards, the seventh-lowest total allowed under James Franklin.
- Penn State held Iowa to just one third-down conversion on nine attempts, the fewest third-down conversions allowed by the Nittany Lions since holding Idaho to a 1-15 mark in 2019.
- LB Curtis Jacobs recovered a fumble in the first quarter and recovered a muffed punt in the second quarter.
- Jacobs is the first Penn State player to recover two fumbles in a game since Mark D'Onofrio against Temple on October 5, 1991.
STREAKING
- Penn State has won nine-straight games, each by a 14-point margin of victory. Over the last two seasons, no other FBS team has won by a 14-point margin in more than six-straight games.
- The nine-straight wins are tied for the fifth-longest active streak in the FBS.
- Penn State has recorded at least 30 points in 11-straight games, which is the longest active streak in the nation.
- Dating back to the Rutgers game in 2022, Penn State has scored in 28-straight quarters, the longest active streak in the nation.
- Penn State has not allowed a first-drive touchdown in the last 18 games, dating back to the Michigan State game in 2021.
- Penn State has not allowed a special teams touchdown in 52-straight games, dating back to the start of the 2019 season.