Northwestern isn't expecting things to go as smoothly as they did last year against Penn State. Facing the best pass rush in the country is big reason why.
The Wildcats, at No. 21 in the season's first College Football Playoff rankings, emerge from their bye looking for another balanced performance in order to beat the Nittany Lions again Saturday.
Northwestern (6-2, 2-2 Big Ten) never trailed in a 29-6 victory over Penn State in its conference opener last season, holding the Nittany Lions to 266 yards of offense.
Coach Pat Fitzgerald, though, feels there was some luck involved for his Wildcats.