Penn State vs. Northwestern: Injuries, Preview & Prediction
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Penn State suffered its first loss of the 2026 season and its first under first-year head coach Matt Campbell last week to Wisconsin. The Nittany Lions allowed a 17-point comeback in the 24-20 home loss.
This week is a new week. Penn State must defeat Northwestern in Evanston to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive. A loss almost certainly kills any chance of making the postseason tournament.
The players held a meeting on Monday to make sure that “everyone’s on he same page” after the loss. Friday will determine the impact of that meeting.
- Game: Penn State Nittany Lions (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) @ Northwestern Wildcats (2-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
- History: 16-6, Penn State
- Last Meeting: 22-21, Northwestern (2025)
- Time: Friday, 8 p.m. (EST)
- Location: Ryan Field | Evanston, Ill.
- TV: FOX
- Radio: 99.5 FM | 103.7 FM | 1450 AM | SiriusXM 84, 257, XM App
- Odds: Penn State -2.5 | O/U: 45.5
Penn State vs. Northwestern Preview
Injuries, Preview & Prediction
This will be the 23rd meeting between Penn State and Northwestern. The Wildcats took a 22-21 win over the Nittany Lions in Beaver Stadium last season in what was James Franklin’s final game at Penn State.
The Nittany Lions are 7-3 all-time at Ryan Field, but Friday night will be the opening of the brand-new Ryan Field, an $870 million 35,000-seat stadium.
Daryus Dixson Listed as Questionable
Starting cornerback Daryus Dixson was listed as questionable on the initial and Wednesday availability reports. Dixson has started all four games and has allowed only three catches for 28 yards in coverage.
Matt Campbell said Wednesday that Dixson was “dinged up” before halftime last week against Wisconsin, but he did practice on Wednesday.
Penn State’s Wednesday availability report:
PSU
– Daryus Dixson remains listed as questionable
– LB Cam Smith downgraded to outNW
– Starting TE Luke Dehnicke has been downgraded to doubtful pic.twitter.com/K7NI7OO5dQ— Mitch Corcoran (@MitchCorc18) October 1, 2026
Not much has changed besides Dixson’s status. Penn State is still waiting for Koby Howard and LaVar Arrington II to return from their injuries. Backup kicker Cristiano Rosa is a new addition to the availability report and is listed as out.
Scouting the Wildcats
On the other side of the availability report, Northwestern’s starting tight end Luke Dehnicke has been downgraded from questionable to doubtful. He is the Wildcats’ second-leading receiver with 11 catches for 208 yards. Northwestern also has starting corner Braden Turner and starting safety Damon Walters listed as questionable. Starting corner Josh Fussell is listed as doubtful.
Northwestern took No. 5 Indiana to the brink on the road last Friday night. The Hoosiers escaped with a 29-23 victory. Wildcats transfer quarterback Aidan Chiles had perhaps his best game of the young season, passing for 293 yards and scoring three total touchdowns. His favorite target, however, was Dehnicke, who had seven catches for 140 yards. Northwestern’s leading receiver, Griffin Wilde, had both receiving touchdowns.
That’s a big hit to Northwestern’s passing attack if Dehnicke can’t go. Last week against Wisconsin, Penn State struggled to cover Badgers tight end Jacob Harris, who had five catches for 105 yards, including the 72-yard score to seal the game.
Dehnicke has played roughly half of his snaps from the slot this season and would likely be matched against one of Penn State’s safeties, Jeremiah Cooper or Marcus Neal Jr. Neal really has struggled this year. He allowed both of Wisconsin’s fourth-quarter touchdowns and has given up the most receptions and yards of anybody in Penn State’s secondary.
Northwestern has not done well establishing the run this year. The Wildcats rank 95th in the nation in rushing yards per game, and had only 32 yards and a touchdown by Chiles against Indiana.
On defense, the numbers are less impressive for Northwestern. The Wildcats’ run defense has struggled, ranking 128th in the nation. The Hoosiers rushed for 271 yards and two touchdowns without leading rusher Turbo Richard for most of last week’s game. Backup Lee Beebe Jr. had 24 carries for 203 yards and a score.
Northwestern’s pass defense isn’t stellar either, ranking 80th in the country. This could be a big game for Penn State’s receivers Brett Eskildsen, Chase Sowell and Zay Robinson. Sowell was the only wideout to record a catch in last week’s loss. Eskildsen was able to break loose deep a few times, but Rocco Becht was off his game most of the night and missed multiple throws.
While Northwestern’s passing attack is very solid, it’ll be difficult to throw against Penn State’s No. 4-ranked pass defense, especially if Dixson is healthy. Running likely won’t be much easier, but Penn State has struggled to contain scrambling quarterbacks like Chiles so far.
This also could be a breakout game for Penn State’s run game, and the same for the passing attack if the Wildcats are down three starting defensive backs. If Penn State’s offense can get back on track against a weaker defense than Wisconsin’s, then the first game at new Ryan Field will likely go to the visitors.
Prediction
Penn State 30, Northwestern 17
Main Image: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
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