Difficult stretch starts for Penn State at Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) Penn State made it look easy in a shutout win last week. Now, things are about to get tougher - much tougher.

The Nittany Lions eye their third straight victory as they begin a difficult three-game stretch, starting with Saturday's visit to Northwestern.

A win over the Wildcats (6-2, 2-2 Big Ten) is no sure thing, and the schedule doesn't get any easier the rest of the way. Penn State (7-2, 4-1) has a bye next week before No. 16 Michigan visits Happy Valley, and a trip to No. 6 Michigan State closes out the schedule. But first up is a trip to Northwestern.

''It's a different environment than a lot of the Big Ten venues that we go to,'' coach James Franklin said. ''It's an…