Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Defense Steps Up, Paving Way to Upset Victory over Penn State
10/12/2025 10:48:00 AM | Football
With 4:51 remaining and a 22-21 lead, the Northwestern defense came onto the Beaver Stadium field in a situation all too familiar: needing to thwart a potential game-winning drive — just as it did two weeks earlier against UCLA.
The Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) answered the call. On first down, redshirt junior defensive back Braden Turner recorded a tackle for loss to make it second-and-13 for the Nittany Lions. Penn State responded by gaining nine yards to set up third-and-4. Graduate student linebacker Mac Uihlein then tackled quarterback Drew Allar on a scramble attempt, setting up fourth-and-3.
NU got the stop and reclaimed the ball for its offense. Led by graduate student quarterback Preston Stone, the 'Cats held onto possession for the remainder of the game, clinching a 22-21 upset victory over the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten).
"That third down, fourth down stop – and the energy, the physicality, and our guys just laying their bodies on the line to go get a stop – that's our defense," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Coach David Braun said. "That's Northwestern defense — for decades. That's Tim McGarigle. That's his DNA all over it."
Riding the momentum of two dominant performances in which it allowed only 21 total points since the bye, Northwestern's defense entered Beaver Stadium ready for the challenge. The Nittany Lions' offense had averaged 38.6 points per game entering the contest, but for an NU defense that was trending upward at the right time, the Wildcats entered Happy Valley full of confidence.
For graduate student defensive lineman Aidan Hubbard, the key was simple: set the tone early.
"If we can just get after them early in the game and throw off their confidence, it'll help us a lot," Hubbard had said on Tuesday.
That's exactly what the Northwestern defense did, leading to its first victory in Happy Valley since 2014 while holding Penn State to its fewest points (21) and total yards (274) so far this season.
On the Nittany Lions' fifth offensive snap, Allar dropped back in the pocket. While targeting a pass-catcher in the endzone, he was picked off by graduate student defensive back Ore Adeyi, who registered Northwestern's first takeaway since week four.
"It's a huge play," Hubbard said. "If they score there, it's easy to get down there as a team. Ore's interception was a critical play in this game, and it definitely gave momentum to both sides of the ball."
Two drives later, the Wildcats came up with what Braun called "a huge stop by our defense," forcing a three-and-out midway through the second quarter. Redshirt sophomore defensive back Josh Fussell, who returned to action after missing the previous two games, made a crucial pass breakup on third down.
The defense's strong start affected Allar, who finished the first half with just 35 passing yards — the second-fewest in a first half in his career. Allar later left the contest with an injury on Penn State's final drive, ultimately finishing with 137 passing yards.
"That's the style we play with every game," Hubbard said. "We pride ourselves on playing with full effort and dominating the line of scrimmage."
Northwestern has limited its opponents to fewer than 200 passing yards in each of its first six games this season — one of just three teams nationally, along with Alabama and Indiana, to do so. The Wildcats have accomplished this feat despite missing key members of its secondary, including Fussell and redshirt sophomore defensive back Damon Walters.
After the clock hit zero and the Wildcats began to enter the locker room, Braun embraced Uihlein, who led the game with 10 tackles, outside the team's tunnel.
"There are a lot of guys that have put so much effort into coming off a 4-8 season, getting to work and re-establishing the standard and identifying who we need to be moving forward," Braun said. "Mac has been an absolute ringleader in all of that — his willingness to step outside his comfort zone and hold himself and others accountable. It was a moment for Mac and me to talk about, 'This is what we've worked for. This is what the program has worked for.'"
The two also acknowledged that the work isn't done yet, even after the Wildcats moved to 4-2 — their best start to a season since 2020.
For Braun, Saturday's outcome reflected the team's identity.
"You don't win football games like this unless you know who you are as a football program," Braun said. "For that reason, it makes today pretty special."
The Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) answered the call. On first down, redshirt junior defensive back Braden Turner recorded a tackle for loss to make it second-and-13 for the Nittany Lions. Penn State responded by gaining nine yards to set up third-and-4. Graduate student linebacker Mac Uihlein then tackled quarterback Drew Allar on a scramble attempt, setting up fourth-and-3.
NU got the stop and reclaimed the ball for its offense. Led by graduate student quarterback Preston Stone, the 'Cats held onto possession for the remainder of the game, clinching a 22-21 upset victory over the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten).
"That third down, fourth down stop – and the energy, the physicality, and our guys just laying their bodies on the line to go get a stop – that's our defense," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Coach David Braun said. "That's Northwestern defense — for decades. That's Tim McGarigle. That's his DNA all over it."
Riding the momentum of two dominant performances in which it allowed only 21 total points since the bye, Northwestern's defense entered Beaver Stadium ready for the challenge. The Nittany Lions' offense had averaged 38.6 points per game entering the contest, but for an NU defense that was trending upward at the right time, the Wildcats entered Happy Valley full of confidence.
For graduate student defensive lineman Aidan Hubbard, the key was simple: set the tone early.
"If we can just get after them early in the game and throw off their confidence, it'll help us a lot," Hubbard had said on Tuesday.
That's exactly what the Northwestern defense did, leading to its first victory in Happy Valley since 2014 while holding Penn State to its fewest points (21) and total yards (274) so far this season.
On the Nittany Lions' fifth offensive snap, Allar dropped back in the pocket. While targeting a pass-catcher in the endzone, he was picked off by graduate student defensive back Ore Adeyi, who registered Northwestern's first takeaway since week four.
"It's a huge play," Hubbard said. "If they score there, it's easy to get down there as a team. Ore's interception was a critical play in this game, and it definitely gave momentum to both sides of the ball."
First Career INT for @ore_adeyi ?? pic.twitter.com/rYV5vtPs7B
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) October 11, 2025
Two drives later, the Wildcats came up with what Braun called "a huge stop by our defense," forcing a three-and-out midway through the second quarter. Redshirt sophomore defensive back Josh Fussell, who returned to action after missing the previous two games, made a crucial pass breakup on third down.
The defense's strong start affected Allar, who finished the first half with just 35 passing yards — the second-fewest in a first half in his career. Allar later left the contest with an injury on Penn State's final drive, ultimately finishing with 137 passing yards.
"That's the style we play with every game," Hubbard said. "We pride ourselves on playing with full effort and dominating the line of scrimmage."
Northwestern has limited its opponents to fewer than 200 passing yards in each of its first six games this season — one of just three teams nationally, along with Alabama and Indiana, to do so. The Wildcats have accomplished this feat despite missing key members of its secondary, including Fussell and redshirt sophomore defensive back Damon Walters.
After the clock hit zero and the Wildcats began to enter the locker room, Braun embraced Uihlein, who led the game with 10 tackles, outside the team's tunnel.
"There are a lot of guys that have put so much effort into coming off a 4-8 season, getting to work and re-establishing the standard and identifying who we need to be moving forward," Braun said. "Mac has been an absolute ringleader in all of that — his willingness to step outside his comfort zone and hold himself and others accountable. It was a moment for Mac and me to talk about, 'This is what we've worked for. This is what the program has worked for.'"
The two also acknowledged that the work isn't done yet, even after the Wildcats moved to 4-2 — their best start to a season since 2020.
For Braun, Saturday's outcome reflected the team's identity.
"You don't win football games like this unless you know who you are as a football program," Braun said. "For that reason, it makes today pretty special."
Mission Accomplished ?? pic.twitter.com/Vo2rwwMxhi
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) October 12, 2025
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