Rushing Attack Powers NU’s 34-13 Win Over Penn State in Ryan Field Opener

EVANSTON, Ill. — Behind a 413-yard rushing attack, Northwestern football opened the New Ryan Field with a commanding 34-13 victory over Penn State on Friday night.

“This is something that dreams are made of — a night like tonight,” Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. “What we saw with this community tonight is something that gets me emotional.”

The Wildcats (3-1, 1-1 Big Ten) never trailed in their second consecutive win over the Nittany Lions (2-2, 0-2 Big Ten). Northwestern amassed its most rushing yards in a game since logging 444 yards against Illinois on Nov. 22, 2003.

The Wildcats’ rushing total is the most by a Big Ten team against FBS competition this season.

“It’s a credit to the response of our entire program; it’s a credit to our offensive line and really talented running back room,” Braun said. “I just have to give Coach [Chip] Kelly and our entire offensive staff a ton of credit. Sometimes, you can get discouraged by results and then forget the process. Their game planning process was very objective.”

The backfield tandem of Caleb Komolafe and Joseph Himon II spearheaded the effort with a combined 350 rushing yards. They’re the first pair of Big Ten teammates to each exceed 100 rushing yards in the same game.

Himon took 10 rushing attempts for a career-high 162 yards (16.2 YPC) and two touchdowns. Himon is the first Wildcat to post these figures on fewer than 13 carries since at least 1995.

Aidan Chiles completed 10-of-14 passes for 93 yards. He rushed for 21 yards and a touchdown.

The Northwestern defense held Penn State to just 291 total yards — including the Nittany Lions’ season-low 48 rushing yards.

Kobie Mckinzie racked up a team-high 10 tackles. Braydon Brus recorded nine tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and an interception. Robert Fitzgerald added four tackles, a pass breakup and an interception.

With 10:09 left in the first quarter, Jackson Kleather nailed a 50-yard field goal to give Northwestern a 3-0 lead. Kleather’s kick marked the longest field goal conversion by a Wildcat since David Wasielewski made a 51-yarder in 2002 against Air Force.

After a 47-yard Himon rush vaulted the ’Cats into the redzone, Chiles recorded his fifth rushing touchdown of the season on a quarterback keeper, extending Northwestern’s advantage to 10-0 with 5:07 remaining in the first quarter.

Penn State scored its first points on an 8-yard Carson Hansen rush, cutting the Wildcat lead to 10-7 with just over 10 minutes to play in the first half.

Himon’s prolific performance in the ground game persisted on Northwestern’s ensuing drive. He first broke free for a 36-yard rush before finding an outside lane on a 38-yard score just two plays later. Himon’s fifth total touchdown in 2026 pushed the NU lead to 17-7.

Himon found the end zone a second time within the half’s final two minutes, giving the Wildcats a 24-7 edge.

Northwestern outgained Penn State 278 yards to 139 in the opening 30 minutes, including a 237-26 discrepancy in the ground game.

Late in the third quarter, Komolafe became the third Wildcat to post a rushing score, stretching the lead to 31-7. A Chase Sowell receiving touchdown ended a 30-plus-minute scoring drought for Penn State, trimming the NU lead to 31-13 with 7:53 left in the game.

Kleather’s second field goal make of the night and a Fitzgerald interception placed a final bow on an emphatic tone setter in the New Ryan Field era.

“We have the opportunity to dream bigger than we ever have before,” Braun said. “Why wouldn’t you when you get to call this place your home?”

Northwestern will take on Ball State in its homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 10. Kickoff from Ryan Field is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.