Penn State and Northwestern battle in a Big Ten clash Friday night. Main line odds, touchdown scorer odds, and a preview for the game are below.
Game | Penn State vs. Northwestern |
Date | Friday, October 2, 2026 |
Kickoff Time | 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT |
Stadium | Ryan Field |
Location | Evanston, Illinois |
TV Channel | FOX |
Penn State vs. Northwestern Betting Odds
Spread | Total (O/U) | Money | |
Penn State | -3.0 +100 | O 45.5 -110 | -150 |
Northwestern | +3.0 -120 | U 45.5 -110 | +125 |
Odds were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.
Penn State vs. Northwestern Touchdown Scorer Odds
First TD | Anytime TD | |
James Peoples (PSU) | +700 | +110 |
Aidan Chiles (NW) | +700 | +115 |
Griffin Wilde (NW) | +800 | +130 |
Caleb Komolafe (NW) | +850 | +140 |
Carson Hansen (PSU) | +900 | +145 |
Cam Wallace (PSU) | +1100 | +170 |
Gavin Sawchuk (NW) | +1100 | +175 |
Koby Howard (PSU) | +1200 | +190 |
Quinton Martin Jr. (PSU) | +1200 | +190 |
Rocco Becht (PSU) | +1300 | +210 |
Benjamin Brahmer (PSU) | +1400 | +220 |
Chase Sowell (PSU) | +1500 | +235 |
Joseph Himon II (NW) | +1800 | +290 |
Touchdown odds not available in all states. More touchdown selections available on the sportsbook.
Penn State vs. Northwestern Preview
Both teams are in need of a win after they each suffered one-possession losses last week. The Nittany Lions certainly had the more devastating loss: at home against an unranked Wisconsin team.
Penn State went up 17-0 early and looked to be coasting their way to a 4-0 start to the season and potentially entering the AP Top 10, but Wisco scored two touchdowns in the final 3:31 of the game to put a dagger through the hearts of the fans in Happy Valley.
While it was looking like they were dominating the game, Matt Campbell's glorified Iowa State team struggled to move the ball throughout. A 51-yard pick-six and an 11-yard TD drive after another interception from Badgers' QB Colton Joseph made it seem more lopsided than it actually was early in the game. All in all, Wisconsin outgained Penn State 355-233, and State's longest drive was just 56 yards for a field goal.
It won't get any easier for Rocco Becht and the rest of the Penn State offense - they'll face a Northwestern defense did a good job limiting Indiana's scoring in Bloomington last week.
Safety Ryan Fitzgerald is the Wildcats' leader on defense, filling holes in the run game and blowing up screens near the line of scrimmage. He's the enforcer on defense, while running back Caleb Komolafe is the tone-setter on offense. The back only had seven rushing yards against Indiana, but he finished with nearly 1,000 yards and averaged 5.0 yards per carry last year.
Quarterback Aidan Chiles is off to spectacular start in his senior year and first at Northwestern. He completed 22 of 29 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns against Indiana - for the season he's completed over 70% of passes for 807 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions. He's been decisive, accurate, and creative behind the line of scrimmage to extend plays.
It should be a thrilling one in the Big Ten at Ryan Field's biggest game yet.
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