Opponent Preview: What should Penn State fans expect from Northwestern?

Penn State is just two weeks out from the start of the 2023 season. Expectations are as high as they’ve ever been under head coach James Franklin, as the Nittany Lions will start the year at No. 7 overall in both major polls. Between the excitement surrounding Drew Allar and a host of future NFL players, there’s no shortage of storylines to follow.

Before shifting our focus to Northwestern, Penn State fans can recap our previous opponent previews below.

West Virginia
Illinois
Iowa

Quick Facts

All-Time Series: Penn State leads 15-5
Last Meeting: Despite turning the ball over 5 times on a rainy afternoon in Beaver Stadium, Penn State held off Northwestern 17-7 on Oct. 1, 2022
Head Coach: David Braun (interim)
2022 Record: 1-11, 1-8 Big Ten
Returning Starters: 8 (2 offense, 5 defense, 1 specialist)

Returning Leaders

Rushing: RB Cam Porter (286 yards, 2 TD)
Passing: QB Ryan Hilinski (1,644 yards, 6 TD)
Receiving: WR Bryce Kirtz (212 yards, 0 TD)
Tackles: LB Bryce Gallagher (100)
Sacks: LB Xander Mueller (2.5)
Interceptions: LB Xander Mueller (2)

What Could Go Right

Brendan Sullivan could take another step forward at quarterback, giving the Wildcats more balance on offense than they’ve had in recent years.

What Could Go Wrong

It’s impossible to know what the morale is like within the program right now, but it’s not hard to imagine this team struggling to regroup after such a swift and unexpected change in leadership.

Recruiting: Penn State commit and multiple PA prospects make 2026 Watch List

Summary

One of the more durable coaching regimes in recent college football history imploded with breathtaking speed when Northwestern fired Pat Fitzgerald on July 10.

Fitzgerald had been in charge of the Wildcats football program for 17 seasons and had won 110 games. His coaching tenure was going to be tied for the fourth-longest in the FBS in 2023, but he was suspended on July 7 following an investigation of alleged hazing within the program. A subsequent story in the school’s student newspaper added more specificity to the allegations and prompted the Northwestern administration to dismiss Fitzgerald just two days later.

Where the program goes from here is anyone’s guess.

The day after Fitzgerald’s ouster, the Wildcats named defensive coordinator David Braun their interim head coach. It’s going to be a tough job no matter what, because in addition to the leadership vacuum that Fitzgerald left behind, the team has been trying to break out of a boom-or-bust cycle in which it has been trapped the past few years. Northwestern has reached the Big Ten Championship Game twice since 2018, but it has also finished 1-8 in conference play three times during that same span, including last year.

Fitz: Contributors on the rise in Penn State preseason camp

Quarterback development has been at the root of Northwestern’s competitive difficulties. Last year, Ryan Hilinski completed 55.8 percent of his attempts for 1,644 yards, with just six touchdown passes and seven interceptions. He’s returning this fall for his junior season but is expected to back up sophomore Brendan Sullivan.

Last season, Sullivan showed dual-threat potential after taking over the position following an injury to Hilinski in Week 6 against Wisconsin. He ended up starting four games and completed 74 percent of his attempts (71 of 96) for 589 yards, with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Sullivan also added 97 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

One priority on offense will be to cut down on turnovers. Five quarterbacks saw action for Northwestern last season, and each of them threw at least one interception. Cole Freeman threw five picks in 45 passing attempts. As a team, the Wildcats tied for the league lead with 17 interceptions while managing only 10 touchdown passes. Those numbers go a long way toward explaining how they won only one game.

If they can rein in the turnovers this year, the offense will have a chance to be better. Cam Porter, Anthony Tyus III and Joseph Himon II comprise a solid backfield, and the receiving corps should benefit from the addition of Arizona State transfer Cam Johnson.

The defense is under new management, with Braun arriving from North Dakota State to coordinate a unit that surrendered 191.3 rushing yards per game, the worst in the league a year ago.