"Yeah, they're probably thinking this is the year they can get that win," Penn State quarterback Zack Mills said. "They've beaten teams that we haven't. They beat Ohio State and we didn't, they beat Purdue and we didn't.
So they're going to come in with some confidence."
Confidence is nice, but a high-powered offense is even better.
On paper, at least, it would appear the Wildcats offense should bring a lot of creativity and explosiveness to Happy Valley, something Penn State home crowds haven't seen for some time during the recent stretch of close, defense-dominated games.
"You're gonna have to play your area and be patient [on defense]," Penn State safety Calvin Lowry said. "They run misdirection-type stuff."
When a team has a few dependable weapons coupled with a deceptive style of offense like Northwestern does, it's easy to see how misdirection could work so well. Faking one way and going the other is a strategy that only works when the decoy is an actual threat to get the ball.
That's where Northwestern's three-pronged attack -- quarterback Brett Basanez, running back Noah Herron and wide receiver Mark Philmore -- would normally come in to play if Philmore weren't out for this weekend's game with an injured knee.
"They are the best-balanced offensive football team I think we will have played," Penn State football coach Joe Paterno said.
The statistics appear to confirm that. Basanez, Herron and Philmore are among the conference's top three in passing yards per game, rushing yards per game and catches per game, respectively.
Even though Philmore will be sidelined, the Wildcats should have adequate pass-catching weapons in Jonathon Fields and Ashton Aikens. This game may prove to be one of the tougher tests a very stout Penn State defense has faced this season.
The Lions' offense, on the other hand, isn't quite so settled.
Mills is expected to start at quarterback after sitting out last week's 21-10 loss to Ohio State because of the lingering effect of a concussion suffered against Iowa two weeks ago.
Still, it is uncertain who will end up seeing snaps before the day is over.
Many fans have been calling for strong-armed true freshman Anthony Morelli to see playing time now that Penn State has clinched its fourth losing record in five years.
And there isn't much certainty in this time of doubt, a similar position to the one in which the Lions found themselves a year ago before the Northwestern game.
In fact, they only sound certain about one thing: They must find some small way to salvage this disastrous season.
"We know that we're capable of winning ... we have to," Penn State running back Tony Hunt said. "There's no other choice. We just gotta hang in there."
