Northwestern Wildcats vs. Penn State: 3 Things to Expect

Northwestern Wildcats vs. Penn State: 3 Things to Expect

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Northwestern Wildcats vs. Penn State: 3 Things to Expect

Northwestern will officially begin a new era Friday night when it welcomes Penn State for the first game at New Ryan Field.

The Wildcats enter the matchup 2-1 after nearly pulling off an upset against No. 5 Indiana, while Penn State comes to Evanston at 3-1 after suffering its first loss of the season against Wisconsin. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on FOX in front of a sold-out crowd. 

With Northwestern looking to open its new home with a victory and Penn State trying to bounce back from a disappointing loss, there should be plenty to watch Friday night.

Here are three things to expect.

1. Expect Chip Kelly and Aidan Chiles to Keep the Offense Firing

Northwestern’s offense has continued to show improvement through the first three games, and there is little reason to expect Chip Kelly to slow things down Friday night.

Aidan Chiles is coming off arguably his most impressive performance of the season. Against Indiana, Chiles completed 22-of-29 passes for 293 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns. He was especially impressive after halftime, completing 17-of-21 passes for 237 yards with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score. 

The Wildcats scored 23 second-half points against a talented Indiana defense and nearly completed the comeback after trailing 12-0 at halftime.

Expect Kelly to continue putting the ball in Chiles’ hands against Penn State.

Chiles has shown an ability to spread the ball around, with Luke Dehnicke, Griffin Wilde and several other weapons becoming involved in the passing game. Northwestern has also shown it can create explosive plays on the ground.

If the Wildcats want to open New Ryan Field with a victory, the offense will likely need another productive night. Expect Kelly and Chiles to stay aggressive and look for opportunities to put points on the board.

Sep 5, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats offensive coordinator Chip Kelly looks on before a game against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Sep 5, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats offensive coordinator Chip Kelly looks on before a game against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

2. Expect New Ryan Field to Be Loud

Friday night will be much bigger than a normal home game.

It will be the first football game ever played at New Ryan Field, and Northwestern has officially announced that the 35,000-capacity stadium is sold out.  That should create an atmosphere Northwestern has not experienced at home in a long time.

The excitement surrounding the new stadium has been building for years, and now fans will finally get their first opportunity to experience it on a Friday night against Penn State.

Northwestern linebacker Kobie McKinzie said this week that he expects the stadium to be “loud and unbelievable,” pointing to how close fans and the new standing student section will be to the field. 

Expect plenty of noise, emotion and chaos from the opening kickoff. The Wildcats will want to feed off that energy, but they will also have to make sure the emotions surrounding the historic night do not become a distraction.

3. Expect a Desperate Penn State Team

Northwestern should not expect Penn State to come into Evanston quietly.

The Nittany Lions are coming off a difficult 24-20 loss to Wisconsin in which they allowed a 17-0 advantage to slip away. Penn State finished with only 248 yards of offense and was held to three second-half points. 

Now, Penn State has to respond.

At 3-1, the Nittany Lions will be looking to avoid consecutive Big Ten losses and spoil Northwestern’s celebration in the process. That makes this a dangerous matchup for the Wildcats.

Northwestern will have all the excitement surrounding the first game at New Ryan Field, but Penn State has plenty to play for as well. Expect the Nittany Lions to come out motivated and determined to put last week’s collapse behind them.

Northwestern showed against Indiana that it can compete against talented Big Ten opponents. Friday night gives the Wildcats another opportunity to prove it.

The Bottom Line

There will be plenty at stake when Northwestern and Penn State take the field Friday night.

The Wildcats will be looking to build off their strong performance against Indiana and begin the New Ryan Field era with a win. Penn State will be looking to recover from its first loss and get back on track in Big Ten play.

Add in a sold-out crowd, a national FOX audience and the excitement surrounding the first game in a brand-new stadium, and Friday night has all the ingredients for one of Northwestern’s biggest games of the season.

Now, the Wildcats have an opportunity to make the first game at New Ryan Field one to remember.

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