Penn State at Northwestern - 2023 Matchup Preview

(#3)Penn State Nittany Lions at Northwestern Wildcats

Saturday, September 30th 2023 (12:00 PM EDT)
Penn State -27 (48.0) (0) Open: 0.0
Penn State 41 - Northwestern: 13 (Big Ten)

Nittany Lions (10 - 3) (9 - 4 - 0)
Coach James Franklin (81 - 36)
Avg Score : 36 - 14 (34 - 15 on Road)
Record Prediction: 10.3 - 2.7 (#10)
Wins: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)
Losses: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)
Future: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

NW 2nd straight Home Game
NW is playing their 5th straight game
PSU is playing their 5th straight game
Our Line: Penn State -21.5 (SP+ PSU -27.5)
Projected Score: PSU: 35 - NW: 14 (49)
PSU Win prob: 98% | Cover: 56%
PSU Travel: 517 miles, 1 hrs ahead

Wildcats (8 - 5) (9 - 4 - 0)
Coach David Braun (1 - 2)
Avg Score : 22 - 23 (28 - 24 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 6.1 - 6.9 (#73)
Wins: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)
Losses: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)
Future: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Matchup
Schedules
PSU Players
NW Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Penn State's 2023 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 9/2	Penn State vs West Virginia	-21.0	48.0	W 38 - 15	O	Y
Sat 9/9	Penn State vs Delaware	-44.0	55.0	W 63 - 7	O	Y
Sat 9/16	Penn State at Illinois	-14.0	47.5	W 30 - 13	U	Y
Sat 9/23	Penn State vs Iowa	-14.0	38.5	W 31 - 0	U	Y
Sat 9/30	Penn State at Northwestern	-27.0	48.0	W 41 - 13	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/14	Penn State vs Massachusetts	-42.0	55.0	W 63 - 0	O	Y
Sat 10/21	Penn State at Ohio State	+4.0	47.0	L 12 - 20	U	N
Sat 10/28	Penn State vs Indiana	-31.0	45.0	W 33 - 24	O	N
Sat 11/4	Penn State at Maryland	-8.5	50.5	W 51 - 15	O	Y
Sat 11/11	Penn State vs Michigan	+4.0	44.5	L 15 - 24	U	N
Sat 11/18	Penn State vs Rutgers	-19.5	39.5	W 27 - 6	U	Y
Fri 11/24	Penn State vs Michigan State	-20.0	42.0	W 42 - 0	U	Y
Sat 12/30	Penn State vs Ole Miss	-5.5	53.0	L 25 - 38	O	N

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Penn State's Schedule

Northwestern's 2023 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sun 9/3	Northwestern at Rutgers	+5.0	39.0	L 7 - 24	U	N
Sat 9/9	Northwestern vs UTEP	-1.0	40.0	W 38 - 7	O	Y
Sat 9/16	Northwestern at Duke	+17.0	48.0	L 14 - 38	O	N
Sat 9/23	Northwestern vs Minnesota	+11.5	39.5	W 37 - 34	O	Y
Sat 9/30	Northwestern vs Penn State	+27.0	48.0	L 13 - 41	O	N
Sat 10/7	Northwestern vs Howard	-23.0	51.0	W 23 - 20	U	N
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/21	Northwestern at Nebraska	+10.5	40.0	L 9 - 17	U	Y
Sat 10/28	Northwestern vs Maryland	+14.0	48.5	W 33 - 27	O	Y
Sat 11/4	Northwestern vs Iowa	+4.5	30.5	L 7 - 10	U	Y
Sat 11/11	Northwestern at Wisconsin	+9.5	43.5	W 24 - 10	U	Y
Sat 11/18	Northwestern vs Purdue	-2.5	47.5	W 23 - 15	U	Y
Sat 11/25	Northwestern at Illinois	+5.0	46.5	W 45 - 43	O	Y
Sat 12/23	Northwestern vs Utah	+6.5	44.5	W 14 - 7	U	Y

Important Stats (2023)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
PSU	#40 (.25)	46% (25)	36.2	49% (17)	3.38 (14)	185	43% (53)	215	4.96 (5)	#8 (.04)	33% (3)	13.5	31% (3)	36% (10)	3.09 (15)	43.3	0.6	1.8
NW	#113 (.1)	38% (110)	22.1	39% (109)	2.63 (129)	102	38% (102)	202	4.11 (48)	#33 (.14)	43% (83)	22.5	43% (73)	44% (94)	3.65 (56)	42.6	0.7	1.8

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
PSU	#11 (.32)	51% (4)		52% (9)	3.42 (10)	176	51% (4)	209	4.69 (9)	#9 (.05)	38% (21)		39% (27)	37% (25)	3.22 (18)	41.4	0.8	1.3
NW	#129 (.02)	37% (123)		39% (113)	2.63 (124)	99	36% (116)	186	3.02 (127)	#57 (.15)	45% (106)		44% (80)	46% (117)	3.74 (64)	38.8	1.5	1.3

Overall Stats 2023

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
PSU Offense	13	36.2	33.5	46.3%	4.96	0.6	23	400	185	215	4.7	50%	49%	49%	43%	11%	.25
NW Defense	13	22.5	24	43.1%	3.65	1.8	-	-	-	-	-	54%	45%	43%	44%	14%	.14

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
PSU Defense	13	13.5	15.3	33.1%	3.09	1.8	-	-	-	-	-	49%	50%	31%	36%	23%	.04
NW Offense	13	22.1	27.8	38.3%	4.11	0.7	17	304	102	202	2.9	49%	51%	39%	38%	16%	.1

Additional Stats 2023

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Penn State	13	32:30	22.5	41%	77%	5	43.3	0.6	1.8	7.8	3.8	3	33.8
Northwestern	13	28:34	16.8	40%	21%	5.3	42.6	0.7	1.8	4.2	1.9	0	29.7

Run Game Stats (2023)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
PSU Offense	13	50% (65)	49% (17)	39.6	184.8	4.7	26 (30)	.19 (46)	3.38 (14)	73% (77)	7% (8)	0.85 (123)
NW Defense	13	54% (115)	43% (73)	-	-	-	-	.09 (36)	3.12 (73)	69% (43)	9% (105)	0.92 (31)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
PSU Defense	13	49% (52)	31% (3)	-	-	-	-	-.04 (7)	2.23 (2)	76% (89)	18% (1)	0.96 (46)
NW Offense	13	49% (79)	39% (109)	35.2	101.9	2.9	13 (108)	.05 (120)	2.63 (129)	70% (97)	11% (88)	0.83 (128)

Pass Game Stats (2023)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
PSU Offense	13	49% (63)	43% (53)	18.9	31.7	215	6.8	11.4	30 (16)	2 (1)	.3 (62)	1.5 (115)	27% (9)	35% (23)	.38 (50)	4% (7)	1.7 (129)
NW Defense	13	45% (20)	44% (94)	-	-	-	-	-	-	13 (26)	.22 (39)	1.4 (9)	29% (123)	32% (102)	.31 (68)	5% (101)	1.8 (9)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
PSU Defense	13	50% (77)	36% (10)	-	-	-	-	-	-	12 (37)	.2 (25)	1.7 (94)	39% (2)	26% (19)	.21 (21)	6% (86)	2.1 (74)
NW Offense	13	51% (51)	38% (102)	18.5	29.9	202	6.8	10.9	20 (70)	8 (30)	.18 (100)	1.6 (62)	35% (116)	29% (84)	.36 (59)	5% (23)	2.2 (25)

Penn State's Power Ratings
Penn State's Power Rating: 20.44 #5
Penn State's Offense Rating: 21.10 #31
Penn State's Defense Rating: -3.87 #2
2023 Talent Rating: 482.00 #1
Blue Chip Ratio: 57% #13
Penn State's 2023 Expected Record: 10.30 - 2.70
Penn State's 2023 Overall SP+ Rating: 26.0 #4
Penn State's Offense SP+ Rating: 34.1 #26
Penn State's Defense SP+ Rating: 9.5 #4

Average Talent
Average Big Ten Talent Rating is 482
Average Power Five Talent: 482
Average FBS Talent: 482

Power Ratings Matchup
Penn State: 20.44 Northwestern: 1.52

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Penn State: 26.0 Northwestern: -1.4

Northwestern's Power Ratings
Northwestern's Power Rating: 1.52 #66
Northwestern's Offense Rating: 15.21 #79
Northwestern's Defense Rating: 9.49 #66
2023 Talent Rating: 482.00 #1
Blue Chip Ratio: 10 #49
Northwestern's 2023 Expected Record: 6.10 - 6.90
Northwestern's 2023 Overall SP+ Rating: -1.4 #71
Northwestern's Offense SP+ Rating: 20.0 #104
Northwestern's Defense SP+ Rating: 20.9 #30

Average Talent
Average Big Ten Talent Rating is 482
Average Power Five Talent: 482
Average FBS Talent: 482

Penn State Scoring
Offense: 36.2 PPG
Offense on Road: 33.5
Defense: 13.5 PPG
Defense on Road: 15.3

Penn State's 2023 Record
Record: 10 - 3
Record vs Spread: 9 - 4 - 0
Over/Under Record: 7 - 6
Record on Road: 4 - 1
Record vs Spread on Road: 3 - 1 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 8 - 2 - 0
Record as Road Fav vs Spread: 3 - 0 - 0

Projected Score
Penn State 35
Northwestern 14

Total Points: 49

Based on Last 4 Games
Penn State 27
Northwestern 23

Total Points: 50

Based on Entire Season
Penn State 29
Northwestern 20

Total Points: 49

Northwestern Scoring
Offense: 22.1 PPG
Offense at Home: 27.8
Defense: 22.5 PPG
Defense at Home: 24

Northwestern's 2023 Record
Record: 8 - 5
Record vs Spread: 9 - 4 - 0
Over/Under Record: 6 - 7
Record at home: 5 - 1
Record vs Spread at home: 4 - 2 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 7 - 3 - 0
Record as Home Dog vs Spread: 2 - 1 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2025	10/11	Penn State	21	Northwestern	22	Penn State -20.5	Northwestern	46.5	Under
2023	09/30	Northwestern	13	Penn State	41	Penn State -27	Penn State	48.0	Over
2022	10/01	Penn State	17	Northwestern	7	Penn State -25.5	Northwestern	50.0	Under
2017	10/07	Northwestern	7	Penn State	31	Penn State -14.5	Penn State	51.5	Under
2015	11/07	Northwestern	23	Penn State	21	Northwestern -2	Push	41.0	Over
2014	09/27	Penn State	6	Northwestern	29	Penn State -9	Northwestern	0
2012	10/06	Penn State	39	Northwestern	28
2011	10/22	Northwestern	24	Penn State	34
2010	11/06	Penn State	35	Northwestern	21
2009	10/31	Northwestern	13	Penn State	34
2006	09/30	Penn State	33	Northwestern	7
2005	09/24	Northwestern	29	Penn State	34
2004	11/06	Penn State	7	Northwestern	14
2003	11/08	Northwestern	17	Penn State	7
2002	10/19	Penn State	49	Northwestern	0
2001	10/20	Northwestern	35	Penn State	38

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Northwestern	5	3	2 Overs
Penn State	11	2	3 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	7 - 9	0 - 5	0 - 3	0 - 2
Road Teams	9 - 7	5 - 0	2 - 0	3 - 0

(#5) PSU at (#66) NW

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	PSU	NW
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	#5	#66
SP+SP+	#4	#71
Perf GradeGrade	#6	#82
OffenseOff	#27	#109
DefenseDef	#4	#34
Spec TeamsST	#8	#71
TalentTal	#1	#1
Blue ChipsBC%	#13	#49

Penn State Injury Report

Northwestern Injury Report

Penn State on Offense


CategoryCat	PSU Off	NW Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#27	#34
SuccessSuc	#25	#83
ExplosiveExp	#124	#6
PPAPPA	#40	#33
PowerPwr	#31	#66
SP+SP+	#26	#30
Pts POPPO	#5	#56
HavocHav	#4	#115

Penn State Run Game


CategoryCat	PSU Off	NW Def
Run GameRun	#27	#32
Run SuccessRSuc	#17	#73
Run ExplRExp	#123	#31
PPAExp	#46	#36
Run BlockR Blk	#14	-
OL YdsOLY	#14	#73
Stuff RateStuff	#2	#84
TackleTak	-	#40

Penn State Pass Game


CategoryCat	PSU Off	NW Def
Pass GamePass	#34	#31
Pass SuccessPSuc	#53	#94
Pass ExplPExl	#115	#9
PPAExp	#62	#39
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	#60	#122
F7 HavocF7	#8	#105
DB HavocDB	#7	#101

Northwestern on Offense


CategoryCat	NW Off	PSU Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#109	#4
SuccessSuc	#110	#3
ExplosiveExp	#108	#101
PPAPPA	#113	#8
PowerPwr	#79	#2
SP+SP+	#104	#4
Pts POPPO	#48	#15
HavocHav	#67	#2

Northwestern Run Game


CategoryCat	NW Off	PSU Def
Run GameRun	#126	#6
Run SuccessRSuc	#109	#3
Run ExplRExp	#128	#46
PPAExp	#120	#7
Run BlockR Blk	#92	-
OL YdsOLY	#129	#2
Stuff RateStuff	#129	#3
TackleTak	-	#34

Northwestern Pass Game


CategoryCat	NW Off	PSU Def
Pass GamePass	#86	#19
Pass SuccessPSuc	#102	#10
Pass ExplPExl	#62	#94
PPAExp	#100	#25
Pass Block/RushP Blk	#101	#1
F7 HavocF7	#88	#1
DB HavocDB	#23	#86

Program Comparison
NW 5 Year Profile: Improving Average G5
'23 Profile: Up to Top G5

PSU 5 Year Profile: Consistent Title Contenders
'23 Profile: Up to CFB Elites

Weather Forecast
Playing in Ryan Field
Conditions: Clear
Temp: 76° - Wind: 9 mph

Rematch from Week 5
Penn State 27.0 (48.0)
Penn State won at Northwestern this year (41-13)

Previous Matchups
Penn State beat Northwestern in 2023 (41-13)
Penn State beat Northwestern in 2022 (17-7)

PSU's OC Mike Yurcich (been OC for 3 years)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Drew Allar	233	388	60%	2631	25	2	6.8
Beau Pribula	11	21	52%	149	4	0	7.1

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Kaytron Allen	172	902	6	5.2	50
Nicholas Singleton	171	752	8	4.4	24
Beau Pribula	56	329	6	5.9	39
Drew Allar	74	210	4	2.8	24

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Keandre Lambert	53	673	4	12.7	72
Tyler Warren	34	422	7	12.4	75
Theo Johnson	34	341	7	10.0	34
Nicholas Singleton	26	308	2	11.8	53

View Penn State's Full Roster

PSU's DC Manny Diaz (in his second season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Kevin Winston Jr.	60	3	0	0	5
Kobe King	59	6	2	1	0
Curtis Jacobs	50	9	3	5	0
Abdul Carter	49	6	5	5	5

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Adisa Isaac	37	16	8	4	0
Abdul Carter	49	6	5	5	5
John Dixon	26	6	5	0	3
Demeioun Robinson	15	8	4	5	1

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Daequan Hardy	22	3	1	0	7
Kevin Winston Jr.	60	3	0	0	5
Abdul Carter	49	6	5	5	5

NW's OC Mike Bajakian (been OC for 3 years)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Ben Bryant	173	277	63%	1807	13	6	6.5
Brendan Sullivan	63	99	64%	714	6	2	7.2

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Cam Porter	166	651	4	3.9	34
Anthony Tyus III	50	238	1	4.8	39
Brendan Sullivan	75	160	2	2.1	35
Joseph Himon II	35	136	0	3.9	32

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Cam Johnson (Tr)	54	715	6	13.2	52
Bryce Kirtz	49	701	5	14.3	80
A.J. Henning (Tr)	45	418	4	9.3	41
Joseph Himon II	18	219	1	12.2	85

View Northwestern's Full Roster

NW's DC Vacant (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PD
Bryce Gallagher	113	4	1	2
Xander Mueller	103	10	5	2
Rod Heard	82	4	1	4
Devin Turner	75	1	0	4

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Aidan Hubbard	26	9	6	2	1
Anto Saka	13	6	6	1	0
Xander Mueller	103	10	5	0	2
Jaylen Pate	22	3	3	0	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Theran Johnson	35	2	0	0	5
Sean McLaughlin	18	2	1	3	5
Rod Heard	82	4	1	0	4