r/CFB • /r/CFB • 14d ago

Postgame Thread [Postgame Thread] Northwestern Defeats Penn State 34-13

Box Score provided by ESPN

Team 1 2 3 4 T
Penn State 0 7 0 6 13
Northwestern 10 14 7 3 34
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443

u/Rate-Limiting_Step Penn State • Princeton 14d ago edited 14d ago

I can understand the growing pains that come with transition and whatnot. Plus going on the road to a huge milestone event (awesome stadium opening for Northwestern).

But what was inexcusable was how badly it was belt to ass the whole game. No pride in playing whatsoever. Just let them run right through us. And to top it off, our offense stalled out just as much this week as last week.

I will say maybe I bought into the hype too much, but man it’s hard to take anything good away from this game at all. A hard pill to swallow.

121

u/olbleedyeyes Iowa State Cyclones • Hateful 8 14d ago

This game would be inexcusable even by our standards.

The appeal of Matt Campbell is he at least makes games competitive even against very good teams.

Idk if it's having to transition to a new school for everyone or what but there's something off for what was supposed to be at least a cohesive squad. I just don't get it.

52

u/flying_porygon Iowa State Cyclones • Clemson Tigers 14d ago

There was always a Heacock coaching defense and helping us stay in it. The offense never set the world on fire, even with Purdy and Breece.

I think you’re seeing growing pains for Campbell without Heacock. The offense tonight obviously wouldn’t have done it for most games even with Heacock, but they’d probably have gotten more opportunities and it would have looked competitive. Maybe 21-14 or 21-17.

Making games competitive against good teams never was because the offense was throwing for 400 yards and we got into a shootout

7

u/olbleedyeyes Iowa State Cyclones • Hateful 8 14d ago

I suspect this is partially why it's been rough sledding once they had hit conference.

Matt's trying to figure out life without the most consistent part of his coaching staff, and he's also using a lot of defenders that were built for a very specific defense.

And I don't know what scheme they're using now, but it seems it's not meshing well with the pieces he's had to bring in.