Penn State’s 45-0 rout of Marshall gave the Nittany Lions plenty to celebrate, and Caleb Bacon walked away with individual hardware to match the team result.
The Big Ten announced Monday that Bacon was named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week after his standout day at Beaver Stadium. It’s the first weekly conference honor of his career.
Bacon, a redshirt senior defensive end, was all over the field from the opening quarter. He finished with six tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack, and every one of those tackles came before halftime as Penn State seized control. He also logged solo tackles for loss on back-to-back plays in the first quarter, part of a game that marked the second multi-tackle-for-loss outing of his career.
The 6-foot-4, 242-pound native of Lake Mills, Iowa, arrived at Penn State after playing at Iowa State. His résumé already included All-Big 12 honorable mention recognition and a semifinalist nod for the Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2025.
He also picked up Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors on Dec. 1, 2025.
Through his career, Bacon has piled up 137 tackles, including 76 solo stops, 19 tackles for loss, seven sacks and two forced fumbles.
His performance helped Penn State open the Matt Campbell era with a shutout, and the 45-0 victory was the Nittany Lions’ first shutout in a season opener since a 52-0 win over Akron in 2017. It was also Penn State’s first shutout in a head coach’s debut since Dick Harlow guided the team to a 26-0 win over Westminster in 1915.
No. 18/17 Penn State heads to Temple on Saturday for its first road game of the season. Kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field is set for noon on ESPN2.
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Temple Heads To Penn State With One Problem Fans Will Notice
Temples trip to Penn State comes with a little more uncertainty than a normal September road test, starting up front where the Owls are already shorthanded. KC Keeler confirmed that starting left tackle Giakoby Hills will be out for six weeks, a significant blow to an offensive line that has to deal with one of the bigger fronts on the schedule.
The injury picture does not stop there, either. Starting tackle Kevin Terry and left guard Eric King are both game-time decisions, which leaves Temple waiting to see how much of its protection plan will be available by kickoff. The quarterback situation is still unsettled as well, with the Owls choosing between Jaxon Smolik and Ajani Sheppard for the starting job, adding another layer of uncertainty to a matchup that already looks demanding. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Just Put Its Recruiting Board On Notice
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Among the names in attendance were 5-star cornerback Nasir Richardson from the 2028 class and 4-star edge rusher DJ Dockery from the 2029 class, both the kind of young blue-chippers Penn State wants to keep circling. The staff also added to the board by extending an offer to 3-star defensive lineman McCoy Richardson, a prospect viewed as a possible flip from Wake Forest, leaving the rest of that recruiting picture to keep developing after the visit. [Read more 🡒]
DAnton Lynn Just Raised A Big Penn State Defense Question
Penn States secondary is already looking a little different as the season settles in, and DAnton Lynn made it clear why true freshman Josiah Zayas is getting first crack at cornerback. Lynn pointed to Zayas mental strength and steady development, a notable endorsement for a young player stepping into a demanding spot on a defense that is still sorting itself out.
Lynn also signaled that the scheme itself is going to keep evolving, with the staff planning to add complexity gradually rather than overload the group early. With Temple next on the road, he emphasized communication and preparation as the big keys, which leaves an obvious question hanging over the defense: how quickly can a young corner and a growing playbook handle the next test? [Read more 🡒]