Northwestern RB Named Shriners Bowl National Offensive Player of the Week

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Caleb Komolafe’s breakout performance against Penn State is continuing to earn national recognition.

The Northwestern running back was named the Shriners Bowl National Offensive Player of the Week following his dominant performance in the Wildcats’ 34-13 victory over Penn State at New Ryan Field.

And after what Komolafe did Friday night, the recognition is well deserved.

Komolafe finished with a career-high 188 rushing yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, averaging 7.5 yards per attempt. He also added a 14-yard reception to finish with 202 total yards from scrimmage.

It was the type of performance Northwestern had been waiting to see from its returning star running back.

Komolafe broke out in 2025 with 941 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention while becoming Northwestern’s first 900-yard rusher since Evan Hull in 2021.

The beginning of 2026 had been much quieter.

Komolafe entered the Penn State matchup with 102 rushing yards through Northwestern’s first three games. He had continued contributing within a deep running back room, but had yet to produce the type of dominant performance he regularly showed last season.

That changed against Penn State.

Komolafe looked much more like the player Northwestern relied on throughout 2025. He ran with patience, physicality and explosiveness while consistently finding openings created by the offensive line.

His 188 rushing yards were not only a career high, but also the most by a Northwestern player in a Big Ten game since Justin Jackson in 2016.

Komolafe eventually found the end zone late in the third quarter, scoring on a 4-yard run to extend Northwestern’s lead to 31-7.

It was the finishing touch on the breakout performance he had been waiting for.

Komolafe was not alone in Northwestern’s historic rushing night. Joseph Himon II added 162 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries as the Wildcats finished with 413 rushing yards, their most in a game since 2003.

Together, Komolafe and Himon became the first Northwestern duo to each rush for more than 150 yards in the same game since 2012.

But Friday felt particularly important for Komolafe.

After rushing for only seven yards against Indiana the previous week, he responded with the best rushing performance of his Northwestern career on one of the biggest stages of the season.

It also showed just how dangerous Northwestern’s offense can become when Komolafe gets going.

Chip Kelly already has several options in the backfield with Himon and Gavin Sawchuk, while quarterback Aidan Chiles has shown he can make plays both through the air and with his legs.

Adding the version of Komolafe Northwestern saw throughout last season makes that offense even more difficult to prepare for.

One performance does not define an entire season, but Friday certainly looked like a turning point.

Komolafe finally delivered his first huge rushing performance of 2026, helped Northwestern dominate Penn State and is now receiving national recognition for it.

The challenge will be carrying that momentum forward.

Northwestern hosts Ball State on Saturday for Homecoming, giving Komolafe another opportunity to build on a performance that looked much more like the running back Wildcats fans became accustomed to watching last season.

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