Penn State becomes first FBS team in last 30 years to lose consecutive games as at least a 20-point favorite
Penn State was on the wrong end of one of the biggest upsets of the 2025 college football season a week ago when UCLA shocked the Nittany Lions as 24.5-point underdogs. It happened again on Saturday as Penn State fell to Northwestern on Saturday as a 20.5-point favorite at home. It was the first time an FBS team lost consecutive games as a heavy favorite by at least 20 points in the last 30 years.
The Wildcats pulled off their biggest upset victory since beating Notre Dame 17-15 in 1995 after finishing as a 28-point underdog in that game.
Northwestern running back Caleb Komolafe scored on a 9-yard touchdown run with 4:51 left to give his team the lead back for good. On Penn State’s next possession, quarterback Drew Allar was injured and was transported to the locker room.
Penn State was stopped on fourth-and-3 for no gain on the next play after Allar went out.
After starting the season ranked second in the preseason AP Top 25 poll, Penn State fell to 3-3 with the loss to the Wildcats and has now suffered three straight losses in Big Ten play. Penn State became the fifth team since 1950 to start the season 3-3 after being ranked in the top two in the preseason poll. The last team to start 3-3 after being ranked in the top two in the preseason poll was Oklahoma in 1964.
Penn State (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) next faces Iowa, while Northwestern (4-2, 2-1) hosts Purdue.
