Penn State coach James Franklin really doesn’t like to play Northwestern. Last year, Franklin’s Nittany Lions got punched in the mouth by the Wildcats, to the tune of a 29-6 loss in Happy Valley, in which NU first exposed the major offensive problems of his team. In 2012, Franklin’s breakout Vanderbilt team lost to Northwestern in Evanston, and in 2013, Franklin outright cancelled his team’s matchup against Northwestern with a form letter. He can’t get out of this game.
How to watch Penn State vs. Northwestern on TV or online, plus 3 things to know
This is a big game for bowl positioning, if nothing else.
The good news for Franklin is that his team played its best game of the season against Illinois last week, and Penn State better hope that continues with a brutal stretch to end the season. The Nittany Lions already have seven wins, but arguably three of their four toughest Big Ten games come at the end of the season, at Northwestern, vs. Michigan and at Michigan State.
Northwestern isn’t on the national radar anymore after blowout losses to Michigan and Iowa, but the Wildcats are 6-2, with wins over Stanford and Duke, plus a shutout of Minnesota, and they have one of the best defenses in the country. That has to be scary for Penn State, which has a weak offensive line, but Northwestern’s putrid offense also needs to be scared of a mean Penn State defensive front.
Penn State once lost a game 6-4. Might we see that again?
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: Noon ET, ESPNU
Radio: Northwestern, Penn State
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: Northwestern is favored by 3 points.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at Inside NU for Northwestern fans and Black Shoe Diaries for Penn State fans.
Three big things to know
1. Can the Penn State offense keep it up after improving last week? We’re often too quick to anoint one-week improvements as the new normal. With such a tough schedule to end the season, the Nittany Lions need that to be the new normal.
2. Northwestern’s offense got some big runs from quarterback Clayton Thorson against Nebraska, but it needs to do more than that -- and catch the dang ball -- against Penn State.
3. Which offensive line can hold up the best against a dominant defensive front? That might decide the game.
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