The Penn State Nittany Lions (3-1) visit the Northwestern Wildcats (2-1) on Friday, October 2, 2026 at Ryan Field, Evanston, IL. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET, and the game airs on FOX. DraftKings lists the spread at PSU -2.5 with a total of 45.5; moneylines are Penn State -135 · Northwestern +114. Below is our Penn State vs Northwestern preview with the latest odds, point spread, moneyline, over/under, kickoff time, TV channel and where to watch, plus a look at each team’s season so far, head coach and key players. Lines may move before kickoff.
Penn State vs Northwestern Odds, Spread, Kickoff Time & TV
| Matchup detail | Line / info |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Penn State at Northwestern |
| Records | Penn State 3-1 · Northwestern 2-1 |
| Spread | PSU -2.5 |
| Moneyline | Penn State -135 · Northwestern +114 |
| Total | 45.5 |
| Venue | Ryan Field, Evanston, IL |
| Date/Time | Friday, October 2, 2026 · 8:00 PM ET |
| TV / How to Watch | FOX |
| Head Coaches | Penn State: HC Matt Campbell, OC Taylor Mouser · Northwestern: HC David Braun, OC Chip Kelly |
Penn State Preview: Season So Far, Coach & Key Players
Season so far: The Penn State Nittany Lions are 3-1 overall, 0-1 in Big Ten play. Results to date: Sep 5 — W 45-0 vs Marshall; Sep 12 — W 27-9 at Temple; Sep 19 — W 55-13 vs Buffalo; Sep 26 — L 24-20 vs Wisconsin. Most recently, Penn State lost to Wisconsin 24-20 at home. Through 4 games, Penn State is averaging 36.8 points scored and 11.5 points allowed per game.
Head coach: Matt Campbell (first season in charge). Offensive coordinator: Taylor Mouser. Defensive coordinator: D'Anton Lynn.
Key players (2026 season stats):
- Passing leader: Rocco Becht (QB) — 57/93, 865 yards, 9 TD, 1 INT
- Rushing leader: James Peoples (RB) — 37 carries, 199 yards, 2 TD
- Receiving leader: Koby Howard (WR) — 12 receptions, 344 yards, 2 TD
- Sacks leader: Tony Rojas (LB) — 2 sacks
- Tackles leader: Tony Rojas (LB) — 22 total tackles
Strengths: An offense scoring 36.8 points per game; a defense allowing only 11.5 points per game. Questions: The response to a 24-20 loss to Wisconsin.
Northwestern Preview: Season So Far, Coach & Key Players
Season so far: The Northwestern Wildcats are 2-1 overall, 0-1 in Big Ten play. Results to date: Sep 5 — W 34-18 vs South Dakota State; Sep 19 — W 41-7 vs Colorado; Sep 25 — L 29-23 at Indiana. Most recently, Northwestern lost to Indiana 29-23 on the road. Through 3 games, Northwestern is averaging 32.7 points scored and 18.0 points allowed per game.
Head coach: David Braun (head coach since 2023). Offensive coordinator: Chip Kelly. Defensive coordinator: Tim McGarigle.
Key players (2026 season stats):
- Passing leader: Aidan Chiles (QB) — 53/75, 807 yards, 6 TD
- Rushing leader: Gavin Sawchuk (RB) — 25 carries, 143 yards
- Receiving leader: Griffin Wilde (WR) — 14 receptions, 245 yards, 2 TD
- Sacks leader: Braydon Brus (LB) — 2 sacks
- Tackles leader: Robert Fitzgerald (DB) — 38 total tackles
Strengths: An offense averaging 32.7 points per game; a defense holding opponents to 18.0 points per game; Aidan Chiles’s passing volume (807 yards). Questions: The response to a 29-23 loss at Indiana.
How to Watch Penn State vs Northwestern
- Date: Friday, October 2, 2026
- Kickoff: 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
- TV / Streaming: FOX
Odds: DraftKings lines reported via ESPN on September 28, 2026. Lines may move before kickoff. Records, results and season stats via ESPN; coaching staffs per 2026 staff listings. This page is an informational matchup preview only.