Northwestern University Athletics
Underdog Mentality Fuels 'Cats in Statement Win at Penn State
10/12/2025 3:24:00 PM | Football
Five days before Northwestern sought its first win over Penn State in Beaver Stadium since 2014, Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun beamed with belief as he discussed an "any given Saturday" landscape of Big Ten football.
Since he took over the program in an interim capacity in 2023, Braun has seen various standout moments. He rallied his group back from a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Minnesota in overtime two seasons ago. His team took down Wisconsin in Camp Randall Stadium that year, which preceded Braun's full-time hiring and an eventual Las Vegas Bowl win.
But as the Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) defeated the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) on Saturday, 22-21, Braun crafted another remarkable chapter to an unlikely journey at Northwestern's helm.
"There's a lot of guys that have been working their butts off for years to have an opportunity like this at a place like Penn State, and get a win on the road," Braun said.
Forty-two days ago, the program opened its 2025 campaign with a 23-3 road loss at Tulane in Yulman Stadium.
"It's not the same football team," Braun said of the difference between Week 1 and his squad's current form. "These guys have made a commitment to just get to work and get better every single day. It's a reflection for all of us in the program. You aren't defined by one bad day."
On that humid, late August afternoon, graduate student quarterback Preston Stone experienced early growing pains in a new system. But Braun stuck by his signal-caller.
"The biggest thing is just being us," Stone said. "We've got a great understanding of who we are and how we're going to win football games. Going back to the first couple games of the season, I can confidently say there hasn't been a defense that's stopped us. When we get out of our own way, you can see the results."
Last year, Stone was in a similar spot.
He could only watch from the sidelines while the Nittany Lions eliminated SMU in a 38-10 College Football Playoff defeat on Dec. 21, 2024. Stone had been doubted long before his return trip to State College.
But on Saturday, Stone played turnover-free football and threw for 163 yards and a touchdown in his fourth victory as Northwestern's starting quarterback.
"I just couldn't be happier to go out there and get this win with the band of brothers we have on this team," Stone said. "We're going to keep this momentum rolling, and see how far we can take this thing."
Stone's go-to target, junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde, led the Wildcats with seven catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Wilde, an unheralded recruit out of high school who spent two seasons at the FCS level with South Dakota State, made a series of crucial catches against NFL-caliber competition.
"To come in here and spoil their homecoming is just something you dream of as a competitor and a football player," Wilde said.
The result didn't come without its share of adversity. When Northwestern's first drive ended in a blocked punt, or when a muffed punt return placed the Nittany Lions well within striking distance in the first half, pressure certainly mounted.
For Braun, the Wildcats' collective response told the tale of their upset effort.
"Our football team expected to win today," Braun said. "It showed up in adverse situations that showed up in the game — our response and resilience."
One such response came from graduate student cornerback Ore Adeyi, who battled all offseason just to return to the field after missing the entire 2024 season due to a lower-body injury.
Thrust into the limelight these past few weeks in Josh Fussell's stead, Adeyi carved out a significant role in the secondary — even with Fussell making his return from injury on Saturday. On the first Penn State drive, backed against the wall, Adeyi snagged his first career interception in the end zone on a tone-setting play for a dominant defensive effort.
With a statement win under the Wildcats belt, Braun and several players reiterated that they're nowhere near reaching their season's goals. The focus, after 24 hours of jubilation, shifts to a home test against Purdue.
"Comfort's the enemy; there's going to be a lot of people that want to pat us on the back after a great road win," Braun said. "It's not time to listen to any of that. It's time to get back to work."
Since he took over the program in an interim capacity in 2023, Braun has seen various standout moments. He rallied his group back from a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Minnesota in overtime two seasons ago. His team took down Wisconsin in Camp Randall Stadium that year, which preceded Braun's full-time hiring and an eventual Las Vegas Bowl win.
But as the Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) defeated the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) on Saturday, 22-21, Braun crafted another remarkable chapter to an unlikely journey at Northwestern's helm.
"There's a lot of guys that have been working their butts off for years to have an opportunity like this at a place like Penn State, and get a win on the road," Braun said.
Forty-two days ago, the program opened its 2025 campaign with a 23-3 road loss at Tulane in Yulman Stadium.
"It's not the same football team," Braun said of the difference between Week 1 and his squad's current form. "These guys have made a commitment to just get to work and get better every single day. It's a reflection for all of us in the program. You aren't defined by one bad day."
On that humid, late August afternoon, graduate student quarterback Preston Stone experienced early growing pains in a new system. But Braun stuck by his signal-caller.
"The biggest thing is just being us," Stone said. "We've got a great understanding of who we are and how we're going to win football games. Going back to the first couple games of the season, I can confidently say there hasn't been a defense that's stopped us. When we get out of our own way, you can see the results."
Last year, Stone was in a similar spot.
He could only watch from the sidelines while the Nittany Lions eliminated SMU in a 38-10 College Football Playoff defeat on Dec. 21, 2024. Stone had been doubted long before his return trip to State College.
But on Saturday, Stone played turnover-free football and threw for 163 yards and a touchdown in his fourth victory as Northwestern's starting quarterback.
"I just couldn't be happier to go out there and get this win with the band of brothers we have on this team," Stone said. "We're going to keep this momentum rolling, and see how far we can take this thing."
Stone's go-to target, junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde, led the Wildcats with seven catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Wilde, an unheralded recruit out of high school who spent two seasons at the FCS level with South Dakota State, made a series of crucial catches against NFL-caliber competition.
"To come in here and spoil their homecoming is just something you dream of as a competitor and a football player," Wilde said.
The result didn't come without its share of adversity. When Northwestern's first drive ended in a blocked punt, or when a muffed punt return placed the Nittany Lions well within striking distance in the first half, pressure certainly mounted.
For Braun, the Wildcats' collective response told the tale of their upset effort.
"Our football team expected to win today," Braun said. "It showed up in adverse situations that showed up in the game — our response and resilience."
One such response came from graduate student cornerback Ore Adeyi, who battled all offseason just to return to the field after missing the entire 2024 season due to a lower-body injury.
Thrust into the limelight these past few weeks in Josh Fussell's stead, Adeyi carved out a significant role in the secondary — even with Fussell making his return from injury on Saturday. On the first Penn State drive, backed against the wall, Adeyi snagged his first career interception in the end zone on a tone-setting play for a dominant defensive effort.
With a statement win under the Wildcats belt, Braun and several players reiterated that they're nowhere near reaching their season's goals. The focus, after 24 hours of jubilation, shifts to a home test against Purdue.
"Comfort's the enemy; there's going to be a lot of people that want to pat us on the back after a great road win," Braun said. "It's not time to listen to any of that. It's time to get back to work."
Players Mentioned
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