EVANSTON, Ill. — Penn State’s comeback bid came up short after James Franklin’s Lions dug themselves in a hole that was too big to work their way out of.
After slogging through a first quarter where the Nittany Lions posted 22 yards of offense on 17 plays and looked half asleep and unable to move the ball at Northwestern’s Ryan Field, the Lions woke up but it was too late. Northwestern kicker Jack Mitchell hit a 35-yard field goal with nine seconds left to hold off the Lions’ comeback and cap a 10 play, 36-yard drive. Mitchell missed two field goals and an extra point earlier in the game.