Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, October 11
University Park, Pa.
2:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
22
at
21
Penn State
Photo by: Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Stuns Penn State on the Road, 22-21
10/11/2025 6:35:00 PM | Football
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Northwestern charged into one of the Big Ten's toughest venues in Beaver Stadium on Saturday and pulled off a stunning 22-21 upset of Penn State.
The Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) secured their third consecutive victory behind a dominant defensive performance and a turnover-free outing from graduate student quarterback Preston Stone. With his 167 passing yards and one touchdown, Stone delivered the program's first win over the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) since the 2015 campaign.
"We knew it was a four-quarter battle," redshirt junior running back Joseph Himon II said. "All week long, we prepared for this. It's about finishing. It's not about how you start — it's about how you finish the game. We just kept plugging."
"Really proud of our guys, but the process continues," Braun said. "Nowhere in our list of goals as a program does it say 'Beat Penn State.' Our guys have an opportunity for 24 hours to soak this in and acknowledge what got them to this position. I truly believe our football team expected to win today."
In a banner day for the defense, the Penn State passing attack was held to just 137 yards. Led by defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle, the Wildcats limited the Nittany Lions to their lowest total yardage (274) this season.
After receiving the opening kickoff, Northwestern looked to set the tone on the ground, rushing on its first three plays from scrimmage. The Wildcats' first drive ultimately stalled out, and Penn State blocked Luke Akers' ensuing punt to set up the Nittany Lion offense deep in plus territory.
While Penn State advanced to the opposing 10-yard line, graduate student cornerback Ore Adeyi picked off Drew Allar in the end zone and advanced the ball to the NU 33. The play marked Adeyi's first-career interception as the Mansfield, Texas, native became the first Northwestern defensive back to record an interception this season.
A 32-yard field goal from Jack Olsen gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead with 2:51 remaining in the first quarter. Northwestern has now scored the opening points in consecutive conference games for the first time since doing so against Purdue and Ohio State last November.
The Nittany Lions took a 7-3 lead following a physical, 12-play, 87-yard drive that culminated in an 11-yard Kaytron Allen rushing score.
The Wildcat offense recaptured the lead on a methodical 75-yard drive during its ensuing possession. A crisp corner route gave Griffin Wilde sufficient separation to haul in a 29-yard receiving score and give Northwestern a 10-7 edge midway through the second quarter.
Penn State responded on a two-yard pitch to Nicholas Singleton before a last-minute Olsen field goal to settle a 14-13 halftime margin.
Beaver Stadium hosted the end of Stone's SMU career in last season's College Football Playoff, but in his return, the 'Cat found a groove. The sign-caller completed 9-of-15 first-half passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.
The Northwestern defense forced a pair of punts to kick off the second half, with the game shifting into an old-school field position battle. In a punt-heavy third quarter, an impact player who has flashed his potential on offense in recent weeks delivered a statement special teams moment.
With 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter, redshirt first-year Dashun Reeder recovered a muffed punt return on the Penn State 9-yard line. Trailing by one, the Wildcats began the fourth quarter with a second-and-goal opportunity.
Although the visitors could not punch the ball in the endzone, Olsen then nailed his third field goal of the day, a 41-yarder, to put Northwestern back in front 16-14 with 14:08 to play.
In a matchup of punch-counterpunch, the Nittany Lions pulled back ahead, 21-16, on an Allar quarterback dive. Then, the Wildcats capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a nine-yard rushing score from Caleb Komolafe. After a failed two-point conversion, Northwestern held a 22-21 lead with less than five minutes left.
After a crucial defensive stop, the Wildcat offense killed the clock and solidified a scintillating upset — the program's first win at Beaver Stadium since 2014.
"Like we said last week, comfort is the enemy," Braun said. "There's going to be a lot of people that want to pat us on the back after a great road win. It's not time to listen to any of that. It's time to get back to work and position ourselves for a great week of practice."
The Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) secured their third consecutive victory behind a dominant defensive performance and a turnover-free outing from graduate student quarterback Preston Stone. With his 167 passing yards and one touchdown, Stone delivered the program's first win over the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) since the 2015 campaign.
HOW 'BOUT THEM 'CATS pic.twitter.com/mskLB1b7r9
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) October 11, 2025
"We knew it was a four-quarter battle," redshirt junior running back Joseph Himon II said. "All week long, we prepared for this. It's about finishing. It's not about how you start — it's about how you finish the game. We just kept plugging."
"Really proud of our guys, but the process continues," Braun said. "Nowhere in our list of goals as a program does it say 'Beat Penn State.' Our guys have an opportunity for 24 hours to soak this in and acknowledge what got them to this position. I truly believe our football team expected to win today."
In a banner day for the defense, the Penn State passing attack was held to just 137 yards. Led by defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle, the Wildcats limited the Nittany Lions to their lowest total yardage (274) this season.
ROAD DAWGS. pic.twitter.com/fdZJlKmN6m
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) October 11, 2025
After receiving the opening kickoff, Northwestern looked to set the tone on the ground, rushing on its first three plays from scrimmage. The Wildcats' first drive ultimately stalled out, and Penn State blocked Luke Akers' ensuing punt to set up the Nittany Lion offense deep in plus territory.
While Penn State advanced to the opposing 10-yard line, graduate student cornerback Ore Adeyi picked off Drew Allar in the end zone and advanced the ball to the NU 33. The play marked Adeyi's first-career interception as the Mansfield, Texas, native became the first Northwestern defensive back to record an interception this season.
A 32-yard field goal from Jack Olsen gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead with 2:51 remaining in the first quarter. Northwestern has now scored the opening points in consecutive conference games for the first time since doing so against Purdue and Ohio State last November.
The Nittany Lions took a 7-3 lead following a physical, 12-play, 87-yard drive that culminated in an 11-yard Kaytron Allen rushing score.
The Wildcat offense recaptured the lead on a methodical 75-yard drive during its ensuing possession. A crisp corner route gave Griffin Wilde sufficient separation to haul in a 29-yard receiving score and give Northwestern a 10-7 edge midway through the second quarter.
Penn State responded on a two-yard pitch to Nicholas Singleton before a last-minute Olsen field goal to settle a 14-13 halftime margin.
Beaver Stadium hosted the end of Stone's SMU career in last season's College Football Playoff, but in his return, the 'Cat found a groove. The sign-caller completed 9-of-15 first-half passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.
The Northwestern defense forced a pair of punts to kick off the second half, with the game shifting into an old-school field position battle. In a punt-heavy third quarter, an impact player who has flashed his potential on offense in recent weeks delivered a statement special teams moment.
With 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter, redshirt first-year Dashun Reeder recovered a muffed punt return on the Penn State 9-yard line. Trailing by one, the Wildcats began the fourth quarter with a second-and-goal opportunity.
Although the visitors could not punch the ball in the endzone, Olsen then nailed his third field goal of the day, a 41-yarder, to put Northwestern back in front 16-14 with 14:08 to play.
In a matchup of punch-counterpunch, the Nittany Lions pulled back ahead, 21-16, on an Allar quarterback dive. Then, the Wildcats capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a nine-yard rushing score from Caleb Komolafe. After a failed two-point conversion, Northwestern held a 22-21 lead with less than five minutes left.
CALEB KOMOLAFE. THE BEAST. pic.twitter.com/eIDWJbFeVH
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) October 11, 2025
After a crucial defensive stop, the Wildcat offense killed the clock and solidified a scintillating upset — the program's first win at Beaver Stadium since 2014.
"Like we said last week, comfort is the enemy," Braun said. "There's going to be a lot of people that want to pat us on the back after a great road win. It's not time to listen to any of that. It's time to get back to work and position ourselves for a great week of practice."
Players Mentioned
P
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballFootball - Nebraska Game Week Press Conference (10/20/25)
Monday, October 20
Football - Purdue Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, October 19
Football - 'Cats Shut Out Purdue, 19-0 (10/18/25)
Saturday, October 18
Football - David Braun Joins B1G Today (10/17/25)
Friday, October 17
