DraftKings · as of July 8, 2026
Northwestern defeated Penn State 22–21 in a nail-biter. Northwestern covered by 21.5; Game went Under by 3.5. The market closed at Penn State -20.5 and the Blue Chip model made it Penn State -12.7 - a gap of 7.8 points toward Northwestern, of which 7.1 points were beyond the model's measured factors. That was an information gap - the market pricing something the model does not carry - rather than a measured edge. Blue Chip Analytics had rated Penn State 10.6 points stronger on a neutral field.
Starting QB Drew Allar suffered a season-ending leg injury late in the fourth quarter, forcing backup Ethan Grunkemeyer into action. Grunkemeyer was stopped on a crucial fourth-down run, ending Penn State's comeback hopes. This loss leaves the Nittany Lions without their senior leader for the remainder of the season.
Penn State lost its third consecutive game, marking the fifth time under coach James Franklin that the team has dropped at least three in a row. The offense struggled with six first-half penalties and an early interception, while the defense allowed a late 75-yard drive that sealed the defeat. The team has yet to play a complete game this season.
The Nittany Lions travel to Kinnick Stadium to face Iowa next week, a notoriously difficult venue. With remaining games against No. 7 Indiana and No. 1 Ohio State, Penn State faces a daunting schedule. The team must quickly find answers to salvage the season, especially with a backup quarterback now leading the offense.
At kickoff, conditions at Beaver Stadium were Partly cloudy, 53°F with winds of 4 mph. Weather is not expected to be a meaningful factor in this game. Historical weather data for this game is preserved in the panel alongside. Weather data is sourced from WeatherAPI.com.
Partly cloudy
53°F
| Measure | NorthwesternAway | Penn StateHome |
|---|---|---|
| This week | 517 miles | 0 miles |
| Last week | Home game | 4,484 miles |
| Season total | 2,209 miles | 4,484 miles |
| Body clock | 14:30 | 15:30 |
| Rest | 7 days | 7 days |
.png)
