STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Caleb Komolafe rushed for 72 yards and a crucial late touchdown as Northwestern stunned Penn State 22-21 on Saturday, sealing its first win at Beaver Stadium in over a decade.
Quarterback Preston Stone threw for 163 yards and a touchdown to Griffin Wilde, while kicker Jack Olsen drilled three field goals to help the Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) earn their third straight victory — and one of their most impressive under coach David Braun.
“I truly believe our team expected to win today,” Braun said. “This group has faced adversity, but they never questioned who they were. They stayed composed and earned this one.”
Northwestern’s Breakthrough
Northwestern took control late in the fourth quarter with a 75-yard drive capped by Komolafe’s bruising touchdown run through the heart of Penn State’s defense. That score gave the Wildcats a one-point lead with 4:51 remaining.
Penn State (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) had one last chance to rally, but disaster struck when starting quarterback Drew Allar suffered a leg injury on a third-down scramble. Backup Ethan Grunkemeyer replaced him but was stuffed on a fourth-down run, allowing Northwestern to run out the clock.
After the game, Nittany Lions coach James Franklin confirmed that Allar would miss the rest of the season with an unspecified lower-leg injury.
“I take full responsibility,” Franklin said. “We’re not executing, and that’s on me — from the coaches I hired to the players I recruited. We have to be better.”
Sloppy Start Costs Penn State
Penn State’s problems began early. Allar threw an interception in the end zone on the opening drive — directly into the hands of Northwestern’s Ore Adeyi, who returned it 33 yards to set up Olsen’s first field goal.
Despite early miscues and six first-half penalties, Penn State took a 14-13 halftime lead behind rushing touchdowns from Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. But the Wildcats’ steady, mistake-free play kept the pressure on.
Olsen’s 34-yard field goal just before halftime cut the deficit to one, and Northwestern carried that momentum into the second half. Stone’s 28-yard touchdown strike to Wilde gave the Wildcats the lead again, and Komolafe’s late run sealed it.
Northwestern Stays Poised
Northwestern’s balanced attack — 163 passing yards, 183 rushing — kept Penn State’s defense on its heels. The Wildcats dominated time of possession and made key third-down conversions to control the tempo.
The victory marked a major step for a program that went winless in Big Ten play just two years ago.
Penn State in Trouble
The Nittany Lions have now lost three straight for the fifth time under Franklin. Once ranked in the Top 25, Penn State has looked out of sync on both sides of the ball, particularly on offense.
The Beaver Stadium crowd made its frustration clear, with “Fire James Franklin!” chants echoing early in the second quarter.
Up Next:
Northwestern: Hosts Purdue next Saturday in Evanston.
Penn State: Travels to Iowa for a tough road matchup at Kinnick Stadium.
Northwestern’s discipline and composure proved the difference — a stark contrast to Penn State’s sloppy execution and costly mistakes. For the Wildcats, it was a statement win; for the Nittany Lions, another step in a season slipping away.
