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09/27 14:42 CDT Northwestern hosts Penn State in Big Ten matchup Northwestern hosts Penn State in Big Ten matchup By The Associated Press Penn State (3-1) at Northwestern (2-1), Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. EDT. Opening Line: Penn State by 3. Against the spread: Penn State 2-2, Northwestern 3-0. How to watch: FOX Key stats Penn State Offense Overall: 427.3 yards per game (49th in FBS) Passing: 243.8 yards per game (58th) Rushing: 183.5 yards per game (44th) Scoring: 36.8 points per game (36th) Penn State Defense Overall: 239.5 yards per game (9th in FBS) Passing: 126.3 yards per game (4th) Rushing: 113.3 yards per game (43rd) Scoring: 11.5 points per game (8th) Northwestern Offense Overall: 420 yards per game (59th in FBS) Passing: 269 yards per game (37th) Rushing: 151 yards per game (87th) Scoring: 32.7 points per game (59th) Northwestern Defense Overall: 417.3 yards per game (120th in FBS) Passing: 218 yards per game (80th) Rushing: 199.3 yards per game (127th) Scoring: 18 points per game (36th) Northwestern is 82nd in third down percentage, converting 38.9% of the time. Penn State ranks 1st on defense, allowing its opponents at convert at 18.5%. Both teams have strong turnover margins. Penn State ranks 5th in the FBS at +7, and Northwestern ranks 21st at +4. Northwestern ranks 79th in the FBS averaging 59.3 penalty yards per game, compared to Penn State's 23rd-ranked 44 per-game average. Penn State is 128th in FBS in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on 100% of trips. Northwestern's red zone offense ranks 1st, scoring on 100% of red zone opportunities. Northwestern ranks 95th in the FBS with an average time of possession of 29:19, compared to Penn State's 41st-ranked average of 31:46. Team leaders Penn State Passing: Rocco Becht, 865 yards, 9 TDs, 1 INT, 61.3 completion percentage Rushing: James Peoples, 199 yards on 37 carries, 2 TDs Receiving: Koby Howard, 344 yards on 12 catches, 2 TDs Northwestern Passing: Aidan Chiles, 807 yards, 6 TDs, 0 INTs, 70.7 completion percentage Rushing: Gavin Sawchuk, 143 yards on 25 carries, 0 TDs Receiving: Griffin Wilde, 245 yards on 14 catches, 2 TDs Last game Penn State lost 24-20 to Wisconsin on Sept. 26. Becht passed for 114 yards on 12-of-29 attempts (41.4%) with no touchdowns and one interception. He also carried the ball 10 times for 23 yards and one rushing touchdown. Peoples carried the ball 14 times for 67 yards. Chase Sowell put up 70 yards on six catches. Northwestern fell 29-23 to Indiana on Sept. 25. Chiles led Northwestern with 293 yards on 22-of-29 passing (75.9%) for two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball 13 times for 15 yards and one rushing touchdown. Sawchuk had 26 rushing yards on five carries. Luke Dehnicke recorded 140 yards on seven catches. Next game Penn State hosts No. 18 USC on Oct. 10. Northwestern hosts Ball State on Oct. 10.

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