Penn State falls to Northwestern as Drew Allar struggles, and then is hurt late: Recap
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State lost its second game in as many Saturdays as Northwestern (4-2) came into Beaver Stadium and beat the Lions (3-3) 22-21 at Beaver Stadium. The Lions were 21-point favorites before the game at BetMGM. Drew Allar was hurt on the penultimate drive of the contest. It looked like an ankle issue. The offense struggled with him and Ethan Grunkemeyer took a sack on 4th and 3 before the Wildcats iced the game.
This is your home for live updates, the latest score, stats, notes, and more before kickoff and during the game. Note: This page does not update automatically. So, please refresh your browser often for the latest information.
Northwesten runs out the clock and beats Penn State
10/11/2025 05:44:46 PMFinal score: Northwestern 22, Penn State 21.
Northwestern gets two first downs
10/11/2025 05:42:29 PMThe Wildcats now have first and goal at the PSU 2.
Penn State turns it over on downs
10/11/2025 05:35:29 PMEthan Grunkemeyer rushes and is crushed on fourth down well short of the line to gain. Northwestern takes over leading 22-21 with three minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
Drew Allar is hurt
10/11/2025 05:32:31 PMHe was crushed on a 3rd and 4 scramble that ended up short of the sticks and is now down on the field. He walked off favoring his left ankle.
Penn State takes over
10/11/2025 05:30:04 PMPenn State will start at its own 25, trailing Northwestern 22-21 with 4:51 to play.
Touchdown, Northwestern
10/11/2025 05:25:42 PMTouchdown, Northwestern: Komolate runs it in from nine yards out to retake the lead. The Wildcats will go for two. They do not get it. Northwestern 22, Penn State 21 with 4:51 to play in the fourth quarter.
Touchdown Penn State
10/11/2025 05:10:27 PMTouchdown, Penn State: Kaytron Allen bursts out of the backfield and races toward the end zone and then carries a Northwestern would-be tackler into it for six. The Lions are back on top, though the score will be reviewed. He is ruled short. Two plays later, Drew Allar sneaks in from a yard out. Penn State retakes the lead from Northwestern again, this time 21-16, with 10:45 to play.
Northwestern retakes the lead
10/11/2025 05:02:38 PMPreston Stone does Penn State a tremendous favor by sacking himself with Zuriah Fisher in pursuit. A potential Northwestern chip shot for the lead is now a 41-yard kick after a loss of 15. The kick is good anyway. Wildcats 16, Penn State 14 with 14:08 to play.
The third quarter is over
10/11/2025 04:53:57 PMEnd of three: Penn State 14, Northwestern 13. The Wildcats have 2nd and goal at the Lions’ 9-yard line to start the fourth quarter. The visitors have a 202-176 yards edge after 45 minutes of play.
Northwestern will punt, but gets it back
10/11/2025 04:51:57 PMNorthwestern tries to run up the middle on 3rd and 3 and Penn State stacks it up. The Wildcats will punt it back to the Lions late in the third quarter. The drive started at the NW 10 and ended at its 44, although a delay of game penalty made the punt happen five yards deeper. Devone Ross muffs the NW punt. Penn State had Trebor Pena out, then sent Ross out after a delay of game on the Wildcats, who take over now at the PSU 9 with :30 left in the third quarter.
Penn State punts again
10/11/2025 04:41:41 PMThe boo birds are back as Drew Allar runs up the middle on 3rd and 10 following two straight incompletions. Penn State’s latest drive stalls out and the Lions will punt it back to Northwestern midway through the third quarter. The Wildcats take over at their own 10 with 6:19 left in the third quarter.
Penn State gets the ball back
10/11/2025 04:34:21 PMPenn State gets a stop as Preston Stone’s third down pass falls incomplete following a QB hurry for Zuriah Fisher. The Lions, leading 14-13, take over at 32 with 9:13 to go in the thrid quarter.
Penn State punts to open the second half
10/11/2025 04:27:04 PMDrew Allar is pressured and throws it to no one on third and 8. Penn State will open the second half with a punt after picking up just a single first down.
The second half is getting ready to start
10/11/2025 04:21:28 PMPenn State will receive the kickoff. It leads Northwestern 14-13 at Beaver Stadium.
First half stats
10/11/2025 04:05:58 PMFirst half stats for Penn State-Northwestern below. The Lions get the ball to start the second half, leading 14-13.
HALFTIME: Penn State 14, Northwestern 13
10/11/2025 04:02:03 PMHALFTIME: Penn State 14, Northwestern 13. The Lions are being outgained 148-137. And they have six penalties for 60 yards so far.
“We’re battling,” James Franklin told The Penn State Sports Network after a long chat with the head referee, Mark Kluczynski. “The turnover early hurt us. We’re running the ball well. Defensively we can’t give them first downs with penalties.
“The [special teams] are working really hard. Stig’s doing a heck of a job. And we’re making plays. We have to do the same thing on offense and defense.”
Northwestern adds a field goal
10/11/2025 04:00:37 PMNorthwestern’s field goal is good. Penn State 14, Northwestern 13 with :03 left in the first half. Two personal foul penalties on the Lions equaled 30 of the Wildcats’ 59 yards on that scoring drive.
Touchdown, Penn State
10/11/2025 03:47:15 PMTouchdown, Penn State: Nick Singleton races around the outside and into the end zone for a two-yard score. The Lions turn a Northwestern muffed punt into six and lead 14-10 with 1:19 left in the first half.
Two minute timeout time
10/11/2025 03:41:52 PMTwo minute timeout time: Northwestern 10, Penn State 7. The Lions have 3rd and goal at the Wildcats’ 2 coming out of the break.
Penn State punts, gets the ball back
10/11/2025 03:37:02 PMPenn State goes three and out as Kyron Hudson can’t haul in a third-down pass that would have moved the chains. But the Lions get a major break, as Northwestern muffs the punt and the Lions fall on it. Audavion Collins recovers. PSU takes over at the NW 26.
Touchdown, Northwestern
10/11/2025 03:30:17 PMTouchdown, Northwestern: Stone floats one to Wilde who got behind AJ Harris for an easy six from 29 yards out. The Wildcats are back on top 10-7 with 7:14 left in the first half.
Touchdown, Penn State
10/11/2025 03:16:01 PMTouchdown, Penn State: Kaytron Allen walks into the end zone from 11 yards out. He has the team’s only RB carries so far, taking 9 for 59 (6.6 yards per) and that score. The Lions lead Northwestern 7-3 with 11:40 to go in the first half.
The first quarter is over
10/11/2025 03:08:18 PMEnd of one: Northwestern 3, Penn State 0. The Lions will have 1st and 10 at the Wildcats’ 46 to start the second quarter after Drew Allar hit Devonte Ross for 20 on 3rd and 5.
Penn State takes over at its own 13
10/11/2025 03:04:37 PMWith 2:51 to go in the first quarter. The Wildcats booted a touchback but Andrew Rappleyea got a personal foul penalty. Northwestern leads the Lions 3-0.
The Wildcats score first
10/11/2025 02:59:37 PMNorthwestern’s 27-yard field goal is good. The Wildcats got to the Lions’ nine but no closer after Drew Allar’s interception. NW 3, PSU 0 with 2:51 to go in the first quarter.
Northwestern is driving
10/11/2025 02:54:56 PMFollowing Preston Stone losing four on first and goal, the Wildcarts call a timeout. Northwestern will have 2nd and goal at the Penn State 13 when play resumes at the 4:22 mark of the first quarter in a game currently tied at zero.
Drew Allar throws an interception
10/11/2025 02:45:12 PMThe boo birds are out as Drew Allar’s 2nd and 2 pass at the Northwestern 10 is intercepted in the end zone. The Wildcats got a return to the PSU 33 out of it, as well. Another red zone trip w/o a TD, which is a trend this year.
Penn State gets its first stop of the day
10/11/2025 02:41:00 PMPreston Stone floats a third down pass long and the Nittany Lions get their first stop of the day. Then Dani Dennis-Sutton blocks Northwestern’s punt, his second in as many weeks. Penn State takes over at the Northwestern 31.
The game is underway
10/11/2025 02:35:36 PMGabe Nwosu’s kickoff is a touchback. Northwestern starts at its own 25.
Penn State wins the toss
10/11/2025 02:33:54 PMAnd defers its choice to the second half. Lions will kick off toward the south end zone (the student section one) to start today’s game with Northwestern.
Both teams have taken the field
10/11/2025 02:32:59 PMThe coin toss is next. Penn State captains: Dom, Duznaky, Fisher, and Durant.
We’re less than 10 minutes from kickoff
10/11/2025 02:28:36 PMIt is set for 3:35 p.m. ET on FS1.
Boos for Allar, Franklin during warmups
10/11/2025 02:08:39 PMBoth were boo’d, the head coach louder than his starting quarterback, during the part of pregame warmups when the starters and Franklin are announced.
Anthony Donkoh is warming up
10/11/2025 02:01:53 PMHe did last week though, too. So, we’ll see how that works out.
A note on Cooper Cousins
10/11/2025 12:55:30 PMPenn State offensive lineman Cooper Cousins, who is OUT for today’s game with Northwestern, is out on the field jogging and throwing a football around with a sizable brace on his left leg.
Lions could be without two starters
10/11/2025 12:38:47 PMPenn State offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh and cornerback Zion Tracy are questionable for today’s game. So, too, is potential third-string running back Cam Wallace and reserve offensive lineman Jven Williams. Sophomore offensive lineman Cooper Cousins is also OUT for the first time this season.
The full availability report is below:
Here’s who is OUT:
#7 Kaden Saunders
#13 Tony Rojas
#16 Bekkem Kritza
#18 Max Granville
#19 Josiah Brown
#27 Lamont Payne Jr.
#30 Kari Jackson
#42 Mason Robinson
#50 Cooper Cousins
#58 Kaleb Artis
#59 Brady O’Hara
#61 Liam Horan
#81 Donte Nastasi
#84 Peter Gonzalez
#95 Jordan Mayer
Here’s who is QUESTIONABLE:
#7 Zion Tracy
#26 Cam Wallace
#68 Anthony Donkoh
#74 J’ven Williams
Penn State has arrived at Beaver Stadium
10/11/2025 12:38:12 PMThe Nittany Lions rolled off the Blue Buses at 1:30 p.m. ET. Head coach James Franklin then took his customary lap around the field.