Penn State returned to State College, Pennsylvania, aiming to recover from last week’s surprising defeat against the UCLA Bruins. However, the Northwestern Wildcats had different outcomes in mind this past Saturday.
Wildcats running back Caleb Komorav zipped 72 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, leading Northwestern to a close 22-21 win at Beaver Stadium. This victory marked Northwestern’s third consecutive win, while Penn State faced its third straight loss.
“I really think our football team expected to win today,” Northwestern coach David Brown stated. “Ultimately, the message is that there are not only teams up against challenges but also teams that are unsure of their identity.”
The Wildcats’ victory ended an 11-year losing streak at Beaver Stadium.
Following Komorav’s touchdown, Penn State got the ball back with just under five minutes left. Unfortunately, quarterback Drew Allard appeared to injure his foot during a crucial third-down play.
After the matchup, Penn State coach James Franklin confirmed that Aller would be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to an unspecified injury. Backup Ethan Grankmeier stepped in but was halted on a fourth-down attempt, allowing the Wildcats to run down the clock.
Aller had completed 13 of 20 passes for 137 yards, with an additional 25 yards rushing and a touchdown. He returned for his senior year with the hope of redeeming himself after an interception in last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal against Notre Dame.
Penn State also struggled with discipline, accumulating six penalties in the first half that cost them 71 yards.
Franklin took full accountability for the current state of the team, saying, “I take complete responsibility. I’ve selected all the staff and players, and I believe in them. But we haven’t been able to deliver at this point.”
Next week, Iowa State will host Penn State, and Grankmeier is anticipated to start at quarterback for the Nittany Lions.
