The No. 22 Penn State Nittany Lions (3-2) and the Northwestern Wildcats (3-2) play on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium in a clash of Big Ten foes. Date: Oct. 11

Penn State returns to Beaver Stadium for a newly important game against Northwestern on Saturday. It marks Penn State’s first game as an unranked team in the AP Top 25 since Week 2 of the 2022 season. It’s also the first of seven elimination games for Penn State as it starts a long, tense journey toward the College Football Playoff.

Penn State fired coach James Franklin in the middle of his 12th season on Sunday, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel, cutting ties with the coach who helped bring stability and sustainable, high-level success back to the program after a scandal.

UNIVERSITY PARK – Penn State is in a dark place. The Nittany Lions were stunned by Northwestern, 22-21, Saturday at Beaver Stadium. The loss was their third straight after a 3-0 start. They sunk to 0-3 in the Big Ten and officially put an end to any College Football Playoff hopes.

STATE COLLEGE — “Disaster” is perhaps the only way to describe what has happened in Happy Valley. Northwestern marched into Beaver Stadium on Saturday for Homecoming, took advantage of every Penn State mistake and toppled the Nittany Lions, 22-21.

Find single game tickets to the Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Northwestern Wildcats college football Week 7 matchup on Saturday, October 11, 2025.

With Penn State leading 21-16, the Wildcats’ Caleb Komolafe and Joseph Himon II combined for 34 yards on five carries on a 75-yard scoring drive. Then they sealed the victory by picking up two first downs and 30 yards to run out the clock.

The Northwestern Wildcats travel to State College, Pennsylvania, to face the Penn State Nittany Lions in Beaver Stadium.

For the third straight week, Penn State has lost as a favorite, now at the hands of the Northwestern Wildcats by a final score of 22-21 after blowing a fourth quarter lead.