Penn State needs to get a win today against Northwestern.
That’s not too much different than the way things were in the first four games, but the difference is that Penn State is one loss away— and it doesn’t matter who that loss is to— of missing the College Football Playoff.
It’s now a seven-game season, and Penn State has no wiggle room.
Had Penn State beaten Oregon and UCLA, it could have afforded two losses in the last seven games and still had wiggle room to make the Playoff.
Had it won just one of those games, it might be able to survive another loss.
But after two straight losses, Penn State has no other options.
A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Head Coach James Franklin at Penn State Football’s 2025 Photo Day.
The good news for Penn State is that it’s playing Northwestern. Northwestern has the same 3-2 record as Penn State, but lost by 20 to Tulane at home Week 1. That’s why Penn State is favored by three touchdowns. With that said, Penn State was favored by four scores against UCLA and ended up suffering maybe the most embarrassing loss in program history.
As hard as it was to imagine Penn State losing to UCLA, it will be that much harder to imagine it losing to two straight vastly embarrassing opponents.
HOW TO WATCH
Beaver Stadium — David Hague
For those won’t be at Beaver Stadium today, here’s how to watch and listen to the game.
Time: 3:30
TV: FS1
TV announcers: Connor Onion (PXP), Mark Helfrich (color)
Radio: Penn State Football Radio Affiliates
Radio announcers: Steve Jones (PXP), Jack Ham (color), Brian Tripp (sideline)
SiriusXM: Ch. 85
