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The internet buzzed all week about Penn State's blown lead and debatable playcalling in its loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten opener on Saturday.
The Nittany Lions had no such strategical dilemma against Northwestern.
They never led.
The Wildcats dominated Penn State in every way in rolling to a 34-13 victory on Friday night at new $850 million Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill.
Northwestern, which pushed defending national champion Indiana in a 29-23 loss last week, improved to 3-1.
Penn State lost its second straight game after opening the season 3-0.
There will be countless issues for new Nittany Lions' coach Matt Campbell to address, but Penn State's inability to stop NW's running game tops that list.
The Wildcats rushed for 413 yards (to PSU's 48) and averaged a staggering 7.5 yards on 55 attempts.
Northwestern's Jackson Kleather opened the scoring with a 50-yard field goal on its first possession.
The Wildcats extended that to 10-0 with 5:07 left in the first quarter when quarterback Aiden Childes plunged 2 yards for a touchdown, capping a seven-play 88-yard drive in which the Lions struggled defensively.
Penn State took advantage of a NW fumble (QB exchange) at the Wildcats' 34 and cut the deficit to 10-7 on Carson Hansen's 8-yard run around the right edge with 10:29 left in the second quarter.
That was the closest Penn State would get.
Northwestern immediately answered as the Lions failed again to stop the run. Joseph Himon II's 38-yard touchdown bumped the NW lead to 17-7. Himon carried twice on the three-play drive for 74 yards - after his 47-yarder in the first quarter.
The Wildcats weren't done. They used an 11-yard punt return to the PSU 35 and -- yet again -- the Lions' surrendered a long 24-yard run by Caleb Komolafe. On the next play, Himon scored on an 11-yard TD that made it 24-7 with 1:55 left in the first half.
Penn State put an exclamation point on the first half when normally reliable Ryan Barker missed a 45-yard field goal.
Komolafe's 1-yard touchdown with 1:13 left in the third quarter gave the Wildcats a 31-7 lead.
In the too-little-too-late department, PSU quarterback Rocco Becht threw a 16-yard touchdown to Chase Sowell, cutting NW's lead to 31-13 with 7:53 left. The 2-point conversion pass failed.
Kleather added a 37-yard field goal with 2:17 to close the scoring.
The Lions return to action Saturday night by hosting USC in the annual White Out game. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. for NBC.
Northwestern hosts Ball State in a non-conference game.
The Mirror will have more coverage in Saturday’s print edition along with Monday's Penn State Extra.