Penn State’s response to a late hit on Rocco Becht in Saturday’s 27-9 win over Temple said plenty about how this team sees itself.
When former PSU safety Kolin Dinkins shoved Becht out of bounds in the second half, right in front of the Penn State sideline, the reaction was immediate. Linemen Cooper Cousins and Anthony Donkoh moved in to defend Becht, and offensive line coach Ryan Clanton made his frustration clear as well.
That kind of sideline protection stood in sharp contrast to a moment Penn State fans still remember from 2021, when Sean Clifford took what some viewed as a late hit in the disastrous nine-overtime loss to Illinois. After that game, James Franklin was asked why his players hadn’t stepped in, and his answer made clear he didn’t believe retaliation was the answer.
“What I’d like to do is if there’s a late hit on the quarterback, I’d like for the officials to handle that,” Franklin said. “I don’t want my players, if that’s what you’re asking, if you want my players to come and retaliate?
I don’t know if that’s the thing. I don’t even really understand the question if that’s what you’re talking about.
If you’re asking our players to retaliate and get a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.“
This time, Matt Campbell had no trouble addressing what happened.
“I think again, what I would say about Rocco and just not Rocco, I would say the majority of a football team is, I think this group has really grown together,” Campbell said. “There’s a lot of unity.
There’s a lot of togetherness. I thought we showed that in some critical moments today, and obviously that situation at the end of the game, I think it’s just another example of our kids sticking up for each other.
“Whether that’s Rocco or any of our players, the reality of it is we are a team. We want to be the best team we possibly can be. And sometimes that means sticking up for your teammates.”
Becht backed up that sentiment moments later, saying he wasn’t hurt and pointing to the team’s connection.
“I think that just shows how together we are as a team- coaches, staff, players- and continue to build on one another,” Becht said, “and we’re always there to have each other’s backs.
He also made it clear the group still has to keep its composure.
“Definitely, for sure,” he said. “You know, knowing when those things happen to keep our cool.
Obviously, kind of get them off the sideline, get them away. But you know, never to take over action and commit another foul.“
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Buffalo Coach Sees One Clear Problem With Facing Penn State
Pete Lembo didnt need much time to make clear what stands out when he looks at Penn States roster ahead of a trip to Beaver Stadium. The Buffalo head coach went through the Nittany Lions with the kind of detail that comes from studying a team closely, pointing to linebacker Tony Rojas, a player he once recruited at South Carolina, and to middle linebacker Kooper Ebel as the sort of defensive leader who helps set the tone for the entire unit.
Lembo also had praise for Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht and for special teams coordinator Justin Lustig, giving Buffalo a broad view of the challenge waiting on Saturday. For a visiting coach, the problem is never just one star or one phase of the game, and Lembos breakdown suggested Penn State brings enough across the board to make every snap and every hidden-yardage situation matter. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Have Every Right To Ask About Quinton Martin
Penn State has put up 72 points through its first two games, and the offense has looked efficient enough through the air to keep things moving. Rocco Becht has completed 75 percent of his passes without an interception, which has helped mask some of the unevenness in the ground game, where Carson Hansen leads the team in rushing yards but the big plays have not yet shown up.
That is why Quinton Martin Jr. stands out as a talking point after he did not carry the ball against Temple, especially after flashing in earlier action. With the run game still searching for a true burst element and no carry going longer than 13 yards, it is fair for Penn State fans to wonder how Martin fits into the rotation and when he might get another chance to change the pace. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State's Spending Reality Just Raised A Bigger Contender Question
Penn States place in the modern roster economy is becoming clearer, and it comes with an unmistakable catch. The Nittany Lions 2026 football roster budget is estimated at $29 million to $32 million, which puts them 21st nationally and seventh in the Big Ten, behind heavy hitters such as Ohio State and Oregon. In an era when talent acquisition is increasingly tied to spending power, that kind of ranking matters just as much as any depth chart discussion.
The roster churn only sharpens the point, with 62 newcomers this season and 40 of them arriving through the transfer portal. Matt Campbell has worked within those limits by keeping important pieces in place and supplementing them with players he knows from his previous stop, but the broader question hangs over everything Penn State is trying to build. The program can still compete, but the margin for error is getting thinner, and the financial gap is now part of the story. [Read more 🡒]