Northwestern unveils $875M football stadium vs Penn State. What to know
Northwestern unveils $875M football stadium vs Penn State. What to know
John Leuzzi, USA TODAY NETWORKFri, October 2, 2026 at 10:10 AM UTC
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Since David Braun took over the Northwestern football program in 2023, the Wildcats have steadily climbed the Big Ten ranks.
That ascent has included a signature road victory at Penn State last season and a near-upset of defending national champion Indiana in Week 4, when Northwestern came up just short in a thrilling fourth-quarter battle in Bloomington.
Now, the Wildcats are set to begin a new chapter in Evanston, with the opening of their new near-billion-dollar home venue, Ryan Field.
REQUIRED READING: Inside college football's newest, most expensive stadium
Northwestern is set to host Penn State — who, ironically, is coming off a loss to unranked Wisconsin last week under first-year coach Matt Campbell — in front of a sold-out 35,000 crowd at Ryan Field at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 1.
"Never seen a stadium like this before. And when they say that one of two things is true," Pat Ryan Jr., CEO of Ryan Sports Development, told USA TODAY Sports in November 2025. "Either we'll be right in making these bold bets. And if we're right, you'll see echoes of it in lots of buildings going forward. And if we're wrong, it'll be one of a kind, the only one of its kind, you know?"
Here's what to know:
What's the capacity for Ryan Field?
The state-of-the-art stadium will hold a crowd of 35,000 fans, down from the previous capacity of 47,310 at the previous Ryan Field, which was demolished in 2024.
"We really do believe this will be the best stadium to watch a football game or stadium-concert in America," Ryan Jr. said during a USA TODAY Sports visit to Ryan Fieldin August. "The worst seat is only 136 feet from the sidelines.
"Our (sight) lines are even better than a lot of basketball arenas that are half the capacity, including the United Center (home to the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks). This is more like a baseball-stadium size. Not small by any means but very much allows us to be aggressive if we’re willing to invest."
What is 'Wildcat Wall' at Northwestern's Ryan Field?
Another addition to Ryan Field, apart from its 21st-century look and capacity, is what sits in the south end zone: the "Wildcat Wall," Northwestern's standing-room-only student section that will hold 2,000 students and have a steep 33-degree, 65% slope to it.
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It's a European football-styled, standing-room-only supporters section built right near the end zone.
"He got down to the end zone to take a look at it, and he talked about how you could feel energy coming off of it, even without people in it. Because it's looming over that south end zone," Ryan Jr. told USA TODAY Sports in an exclusive interview in May about what former USC quarterback and Fox college football analyst Matt Leinart thought of the "Wildcat Wall."
Added Ryan Jr.: "No one's ever imported a supporter section from European football to create a student section. And I think most people in sports know that European football fans are among the most passionate fans out there and they really energize a building unlike most any other sport."
Here's a look at the "Wildcat Wall" from a run-through that Northwestern held last week:
REQUIRED READING: Northwestern built something college football hasn't tried — and aims to intimidate
How much did Ryan Field cost?
Ryan Field cost $875 million, making it the most expensive college football stadium to be built.
As noted by USA TODAY's Ehsan Kassim, the field was originally set to cost $862 million, with the majority coming from the Ryan Family. But due to weather delays and inflation, the cost of the stadium increased by $13 million, according to The Chicago Tribune.
Where did Northwestern football play before Ryan Field?
Since the demolition of the original Ryan Field in 2024, Northwestern has played its home games at the temporary Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, the Wildcats' makeshift lakeside stadium that's located along Lake Michigan.
Northwestern football home games at Ryan Field
Below is a look at Northwestern's upcoming home game:
Friday, Oct. 2: vs. Penn State | 8 p.m. ET
Saturday, Oct. 10: vs. Ball State | 12:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, Oct. 24: vs. Rutgers
Saturday, Nov. 7: vs. No. 14 Iowa
Saturday, Nov. 28: vs. Illinois
Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' new College Football Unfiltered podcast, hosted by USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You can stream on YouTube or download via Apple podcasts and Spotify.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Northwestern unveils $875M football stadium vs Penn State. What to know
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