Northwestern came into State College and dominated Penn State from the opening whistle, picking up a huge and badly needed 29-6 win on Saturday. Trevor Siemian scored three touchdowns on quarterback sneaks, and the defense keep Penn State pinned in all day.
Northwestern vs. Penn State final score: 3 things we learned from the Wildcats’ 29-6 win
The Wildcats pick up a rare conference win, and Penn State is terrible.
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
The Nittany Lions, particularly on offense, were thoroughly abject. They managed to convert two third downs (TWO!) all afternoon on 16 chances, and rushed for a measly 43 yards. Christian Hackenberg was off the mark all afternoon, routinely firing balls behind receivers or into their ankles, and turned the ball over twice. The play calling could have used some improvement, but the execution was flat out terrible from start to finish.
It could have been much worse for the Nittany Lions, too. Northwestern missed a field goal and ran possibly the worst fake field goal in recorded history back in the first half which would have made it 21-0. They were pretty sloppy for long stretches, and allowed Penn State to stay within striking distance until the fourth quarter. From the first whistle to the last, this game was a shambling horror.
Oh, right, and Penn State blocked themselves:
GIF credit: BTN
Three things we learned
1. Penn State’s offense is a superfund site. The Nittany Lions have zero identity on offense. They managed only 266 yards of total offense, went 2-16 on third downs, and averaged 2.1 yards per carry. Their offensive line might be the worst in the Big Ten, they can’t run the ball with anything bordering consistency, and Christian Hackenberg has been erratic and inaccurate. They’ve been able to overcome sloppy performances with late heroics in tight spots, but unless things get considerably more crisp, execution-wise, this team is going to struggle mightily to score points.
2. Northwestern beat someone! This game represents Northwestern’s second win over an FBS program in almost a calendar year. Since their infamous meltdown against Ohio State while hosting College GameDay on October 5th, the Wildcats have picked up wins against Illinois and Western Illinois. That’s one FBS win in nearly a whole calendar year, so hearty handshakes to the Wildcats for picking up the win on the road in a hostile environment.
3. How long can Penn State’s defense carry the load? Penn State’s gotten away with terrible offensive performances until now, but if this is going to be the norm for the rest of the season, how much longer can the defense hold out? Without any sustained drives from the offense, they’ll be left out on the field to get gassed, and that effect willy only compound as the season rolls along.
See More:
