Northwestern runs freely over Penn State, which remains winless in Big Ten play

EVANSTON, Ill. — That’s one way to open an $875 million stadium.

Northwestern’s first game in its new Ryan Field couldn’t have gone much better, as it beat Penn State, 34-13, thanks to incredible performances from running backs Joseph Himon II and Caleb Komolafe.

The Nittany Lions’ run game recorded just 48 yards, and quarterback Rocco Becht struggled against another Big Ten opponent. The Wildcats have now beaten Penn State in back-to-back seasons.

“I want to give Northwestern a ton of credit because they played the game, the style of game, that obviously we would like to play,” coach Matt Campbell said. “They really beat us where it was really hard to find the rhythm on both sides of the football. They controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.”

After Penn State (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) found some momentum and got on the board — on an 8-yard touchdown run by Carson Hansen with 10 minutes, 39 seconds left in the second quarter to cut Penn State’s deficit to 10-7 — Northwestern’s first play on its next drive was a 36-yard rush. Two plays later, the Wildcats (3-1, 1-1) scored on a 38-yard rushing touchdown by Himon.

At one point, Himon was averaging 30.7 yards per carry, and, by the end, Northwestern averaged 7.5 yards per attempt.

Part of that rushing success was because of ineffective tackling by the Nittany Lions — notably linebacker Kooper Ebel, who had multiple missed tackles that allowed the Wildcats to get past the first-down marker.

“There were a lot of missed tackles [Friday night], and however that happened and why that happened, we’re going to have to evaluate and have a better answer as we come back next week,” Campbell said. “I think that the thing from my end of it is that part is frustrating because we tackled really well in the first four games of the season.”

Additionally, Northwestern had nine runs of 15-plus yards and finished with 413 rushing yards after recording just 32 against Indiana last weekend.

On top of all the yardage, all four of Northwestern’s touchdowns came on the ground. Quarterback Aidan Chiles had one, a 2-yard run in the first quarter, while Himon and Komolafe scored the other three in the second and third.

Komolafe had 188 rushing yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, while Himon finished with 10 carries for 162 yards and two scores.

Becht had his best start to a season during Penn State’s first three games. But like the Big Ten opener against Wisconsin, the Iowa State transfer looked like a shell of himself against Northwestern.

The senior had multiple throws behind the sticks on third downs and some questionable keepers en route to 224 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

In two Big Ten games this year, Becht has one passing touchdown after having nine in during the nonconference slate. He has had multiple passes get deflected or tipped in both those games, two of which have led to interceptions.

“He’s played Iowa for three years straight, so the Big Ten is not a problem,” wide receiver Chase Sowell said. “I know what he’s capable of, and I know how much he cares about us, and I know how much he cares about this place.”

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With his team down, 31-7 in the fourth quarter, Becht connected with Sowell on a 16-yard touchdown, but he also missed multiple big opportunities. That includes when he overthrew a likely touchdown to Zay Robinson and didn’t see a wide-open Sowell in the second quarter and later threw it over tight end Andrew Rappleyea’s head on a third down. Sowell was the Nittany Lions’ leading receiver with five catches for 68 yards.

Penn State returns home for its annual White Out game seeking its first conference win of the season. The Nittany Lions will face Southern Cal on Oct. 10 (7:30 p.m., NBC10).