Despite some difficulties on offense, Penn State seemingly had things working against UCLA behind accurate throws from Drew Allar. However, the running game still is a work in progress after it being the expected dominant part of the unit.
The Nittany Lions will face a Northwestern defense that statistically holds some good numbers. If the blue and white want to get back in the win column, the offense will have to step up to get the victory in Beaver Stadium.
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Stats and rankings are from CFBStats.com.
Passing yards per game
Oct 4, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) warms up before the game against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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Penn State offense: 213.6 ypg (83rd in the nation)
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Northwestern defense: 165 ypg (20th)
Northwestern’s defense holds offenses to just 165 yards per game. Defensive backs Fred Davis II and Josh Fussell lead the team in passes defended with five and four, respectively. However, the Penn State receivers showed they can get separation. Kyron Hudson caught four passes for 52 yards against UCLA, but could see additional targets if the team wants to push the ball down the field. In its last game, Penn State played minimal offensive snaps as UCLA kept the ball away from the Nittany Lions offense.
Passing yards per attempt
Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Devonte Ross (5) runs in for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
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Penn State offense: 7.1 ypa (81st)
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Northwestern defense: 6.1 ypa (31st)
A yard difference is all that separates Penn State’s offense from Northwestern’s defense. The Wildcats’ defensive unit is strong in the passing game, a part of the game that the Nittany Lions have been inconsistent in. Deep ball threat, Devonte Ross could quickly extend the yards per attempt if Andy Kotelnicki decides to push the ball down the field.
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Rushing yards per game
Oct 4, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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Penn State offense: 175.4 ypg (52nd)
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Northwestern defense: 146.6 ypg (72nd)
The running game is where Northwestern struggles more. The Wildcats rank 72nd in the country, allowing 146 yards per game. In a game where Penn State couldn’t run as much because of playing from behind, the Nittany Lions could make up for it with a big day from the running back room. Kaytron Allen is expected to see an influx of rushing attempts while the team still attempts to get Nick Singleton going. A defensive unit like Northwestern opens up the opportunity for Singleton to get going while still giving Allen significant handoffs.
Rushing yards per attempt
Sep 13, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Villanova Wildcats at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
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Penn State offense: 5.13 ypa (34th)
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Northwestern offense: 4.76 ypa (111th)
Backing up the numbers per game, Northwestern struggles per rushing attempt, too. Allen has thrived in rushing yards per attempt and could be in for a big day against the interior line of the Wildcats. The push of the offensive line will be a big factor in the running game as the team attempts to get back into the win column. Against Oregon, Northwestern allowed 176 yards and 5.9 yards per attempt against a team that also found success against Penn State’s defense. The high production that Northwestern has allowed could set up the Nittany Lions for a major day on the ground.
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Points per game
Penn State wide receiver Kyron Hudson (1) in the first half of an NCAA football game against Nevada, Saturday, August 30, 2025, in State College, Pa.
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Penn State offense: 38.6 ppg (20th)
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Northwestern defense: 17 ppg (26th)
Despite allowing big runs and having a weaker rush defense, Northwestern limits scoring against its opponents. The Wildcats have allowed just 17 points per game so far this season. A defense that limits scoring could bode well against a Penn State offense that has been fairly inconsistent. Despite falling two weeks in a row, the Nittany Lions put up a high number of points. This time, the blue and white don’t want the game to be close and early scoring could play a major factor into the numbers the teams put up on Saturday.
Penn State’s offense inconsistency against a one-sided Northwestern defense sets up an interesting matchup on Saturday, especially with the Nittany Lions struggling in the past two weeks.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Tale of the Tape: Penn State offense vs. Northwestern defense
