Postgame Notes: Penn State vs. NorthwesternPostgame Notes: Penn State vs. Northwestern

Postgame Notes: Penn State vs. Northwestern

TEAM

  • Penn State is now 16-7 all-time against Northwestern and 7-4 in road matchups.
  • The Nittany Lions are 44-45-6 in non-Saturday games and 17-9-1 in Friday games.
  • DE Alexander McPherson made his first career start. He is one of three Nittany Lions to make their first career start this season.

 

STREAKS

  • Penn State has not allowed a special teams touchdown in 94-straight games, dating back to the start of the 2019 season.

 

OFFENSE

Team

  • Penn State had one completion of 20+ yards bringing its season total to 21 plays of 20+ yards (18 passing, three rushing).
  • The Nittany Lions threw for 243 yards. Since 2014, Penn State has thrown for 200+ yards on 103 occasions. PSU is 78-25 in those games.

 

Rocco Becht

  • QB Rocco Becht completed 26 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown.
  • He connected on a 16-yard touchdown pass to Chase Sowell in the fourth quarter. It was Becht’s 74th rushing touchdown.
  • Eight of his 10 touchdown passes this season are 15+ yards.
  • Becht earned his 33rd career game with 200+ passing yards.

 

Carson Hansen

  • RB Carson Hansen scored on an eight-yard touchdown in the second quarter. It was Hansen’s 21st career rushing touchdown.

 

Chase Sowell

  • WR Chase Sowell hauled in a 16-yard touchdown grab. It was his eighth career touchdown catch.
  • Sowell added a 26-yard catch and led the team with 68 receiving yards.

 

Benjamin Brahmer

 

Andrew Rappleyea

  • TE Andrew Rappleyea tied a career high with five receptions. He also had five against Clemson in the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl.

 

DEFENSE

 

Team

  • CB Josiah Zayas recovered a fumble in the second quarter.
  • Penn State has forced nine takeaways this season (four fumbles, five interceptions).
  • Since 2022, Penn State has forced 98 takeaways (57 interceptions, 41 fumbles).
  • The Nittany Lions earned a fourth-down stop at its own 16 in the third quarter. It was Penn State’s second fourth-down stop this season.
  • Penn State limited Northwestern to 93 passing yards. Since 2014, PSU has held opponents under 200 passing yards 94 times and under 100 passing yards 27 times.

 

Daryus Dixson

  • CB Daryus Dixson assisted on a tackle for loss in the third quarter. He now owns 2.5 career tackles for loss.

 

Kooper Ebel

  • LB Kooper Ebel tallied six tackles in the first half and finished the game with a career-high-tying 11 stops. He also had 11 at TCU in 2025 (while playing at Iowa State).
  • Ebel assisted on a tackle for loss in the first quarter and now has 16 career tackles for loss.

 

Tony Rojas

  • LB Tony Rojas secured five tackles in the first half and finished the contest with a career-best 12 tackles. His previous high was 10 tackles against FIU in 2025.
  • He added a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack. His previous high was two tackles for loss on four occasions, last against Wisconsin.
  • Rojas recorded a solo sack in the first quarter.
  • He added a solo tackle for loss and an assisted tackle for loss on back-to-back plays in the third quarter.
  • Rojas had another solo tackle for loss in the fourth quarter.
  • The redshirt junior picked up his second career game with 10+ tackles and fifth career game with multiple tackles for loss.
  • He now has 21.5 career tackles for loss and six career sacks.

 

Alex Tatsch

  • LB Alex Tatsch assisted on a tackle for loss in the first quarter. He owns 2.5 career tackles for loss.

 

Dallas Vakalahi

  • DT Dallas Vakalahi registered a solo tackle for loss in the first quarter. He has 3.5 career tackles for loss.

 

Keanu Williams

  • DT Keanu Williams notched a career-high seven tackles. His previous high was six against New Mexico in 2025 (while playing for UCLA).

 

Josiah Zayas

  • CB Josiah Zayas recovered a fumble in the second quarter. It was his first career fumble recovery.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

 

Ryan Barker

  • K Ryan Barker made his only extra point attempt. He is now 110-of-112 for his career and moved into solo possession of eighth all-time at Penn State in extra points made. On the night, he broke a tie with Sam Ficken (109; 2011-14).

 

Nathan Tiyce

  • P Nathan Tiyce averaged 41.1 yards on seven punts.
  • He booted a punt to the Northwestern 12 and another to the Northwestern 19 in the first quarter.
  • Tiyce blasted a 60-yard punt in the third quarter.
  • He hit a punt to the Northwestern 6 in the third quarter.
  • Tiyce now has 15 career punts inside the 20, nine inside the 10, and five career 50+ yard punts.