STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Quentin Williams tunes out the whispers he hears from Northwestern skeptics.

Beat Penn State on the road Saturday, and the No. 24 Wildcats might take another step toward quieting the doubters and proving their 5-0 record is no fluke. Buoyed by its strong start, Northwestern (1-0 Big Ten) is supremely confident it can roll into Beaver Stadium and go toe-to-toe with surging Penn State (3-2, 1-0).

“I wasn’t a big believer in wanting to do what people think you can’t do,” said Williams, a senior defensive end and Pittsburgh native.