Northwestern's Win vs. Penn State Flips Its Season Outlook on Its Head

Ryan Cole

Oct 13, 2025, 22:50

Ryan Cole

Oct 13, 2025, 22:50

Updated at: Oct 13, 2025, 22:50

Exactly a month ago, Northwestern lost to No. 4 Oregon, 34-14. It was the expected outcome, but it still felt like the sky was falling. The opening week trouncing at the hands of Tulane loomed large. A blowout win over an FCS team didn't provide much comfort. The outlook for the rest of the season was bleak.

Now, Evanston has a bowl game chase on its hands after the 'Cats improved to 4-2 with a shocking 22-21 victory on the road at Penn State. What a difference a month can make.

Consecutive wins over UCLA and UL Monroe were encouraging, but this was a season defining win in Happy Valley. The entire outlook on the rest of the season has shifted as a result.

For one, transfer quarterback Preston Stone has fully arrived, and it's starting to look like he's the real deal after all. Statistically, Stone went from throwing four picks against Tulane to passing for 163 yards and a touchdown against the Nittany Lions.

Those numbers aren't overly impressive on the surface, but they came against Penn State. He's also shown progression over the past few weeks, throwing for 262 yards and three touchdowns against Louisiana-Monroe and rewriting the script turnover-wise. Stone threw six picks in the first three games. He's still thrown six picks on the season.

There are some intangibles at play here, too. Stone just looks far more comfortable in the pocket making reads. He's gripping it and ripping it, and the eye test says he's a completely different quarterback. His confidence should only keep growing after a win like the one he helped orchestrate Saturday.

So, Stone is one big reason why the outlook has shifted. Defense might win championships, but good quarterbacks win football games. Stone had to take accountability and get better as this season progressed. So far, so good. He's steadily improving like fans hoped a veteran quarterback might.

Oct 11, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Preston Stone (8) throws a pass during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Then, there's also the reality of the Big Ten schedule. It's hard to consistently win games in this conference. Without the Penn State victory, getting to six wins was going to be a challenge, even with an improved Stone. Now, it's most definitely possible, dare I say probable.

Northwestern needs two more wins in its next six games. It plays Purdue, at No. 25 Nebraska, at No. 20 USC, Michigan, Minnesota and at Illinois.

Let's assume for a second that the 'Cats don't have another stunner in them, and they don't beat either of the ranked teams. It's also hard to imagine a Michigan win (though it was hard to imagine beating PSU, too).

That leaves three games for two wins: Purdue, Minnesota and Illinois. The Illini are the toughest matchup of the bunch, and that game is on the road. But rivalry games are weird, and Northwestern will surely get up for it chasing after "the hat" trophy.

Purdue and Minnesota are certainly beatable for this version of the Wildcats, and that's all they have to do to make a bowl. Even if they blow it in one of those games, there's plenty of opportunities to play up to their competition and bring home a win.

This season once had a 2024 feel with fears it would wind up like 2022. But it seems the 'Cats may have a 2023 brewing. Stay tuned.

Northwestern's Win vs. Penn State Flips Its Season Outlook on Its Head