EVANSTON, Ill. — Penn State will be making a determination prior to kickoff if starting cornerback Daryus Dixson will be a go against Northwestern. The Nittany Lions will be without wide receiver Koby Howard and 11 other players when it looks to rebound from its first loss of the season.
The Nittany Lions enter the Big Ten matchup 3-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play after surrendering a 17-point lead in last week’s 24-20 loss to Wisconsin.
Friday will also be a historic night in Evanston. Penn State and Northwestern will play the first game at the new Ryan Field, which replaces the Wildcats’ former stadium on the same site. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on FOX. Northwestern last played at the old Ryan Field on Nov. 18, 2023, making Friday’s game its first contest at the site in 1,049 days.
Penn State will once again be without Howard, who remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury.
Howard emerged as one of quarterback Rocco Becht’s top targets early this season, recording a pair of 100-yard receiving performances over Penn State’s first three games before the injury.
The Nittany Lions’ availability report also continues to show significant losses along the defensive front.
Defensive ends LaVar Arrington II, Max Granville, Mason Robinson and Dayshaun Burnett are all listed as out. Granville is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Penn State will also be without cornerbacks Joshua Johnson, Christian Askew and Tyler Armstead, linebacker Cam Smith, offensive lineman Will Tompkins, tight end Cooper Alexander and kicker Cristiano Rosa.
The most significant new name to watch is Dixson, who is listed as a game-time decision.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Dixson suffered an injury against Wisconsin, creating another potential concern for a Penn State secondary preparing to face Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles. Chiles enters Friday with 800-plus passing yards, six passing touchdowns and no interceptions through Northwestern’s first three games.
Penn State’s defense will be looking for a response after Wisconsin scored 24 unanswered points to erase a 17-0 Nittany Lions advantage last week.
Entering at 2-1 after nearly upsetting No. 5 Indiana in a 29-23 loss Northwestern will be without two key players.
Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, tight end Luke Dehnicke (undisclosed) and DB Braden Turner (lower body) will not be in action for the Wildcats tonight.
Here is Penn State’s availability report for Friday night’s game:
Out
WR #6 Koby Howard
DE #11 LaVar Arrington II
CB #15 Joshua Johnson
DE #18 Max Granville
LB #26 Cam Smith
CB #30 Christian Askew
CB #35 Tyler Armstead
DE #42 Mason Robinson
DE #43 Dayshaun Burnett
OL #66 Will Tompkins
TE #80 Cooper Alexander
K #95 Cristiano Rosa
Questionable
CB #5 Daryus Dixson
