Penn State heads to Philadelphia this weekend with a 1-0 record and a fresh reminder that there are multiple ways this matchup could tilt. After rolling past Marshall 45-0 at Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Lions now meet Temple on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field, and the game brings a few familiar names and a few key personnel questions into focus.
One of the most interesting pieces on Temple’s side is Jaxon Smolik. He began as a reserve quarterback on the 2025 Penn State team, but now he’s with the Owls, who opened the season with a 38-14 win over Rhode Island.
Temple used both Smolik and Ajani Sheppard in that game, and Smolik finished 4 of 6 for 57 yards and a touchdown. The Owls also leaned on their ground game, rushing for 227 yards, while the defense chipped in with two interception returns for touchdowns.
Smolik’s Penn State background adds another wrinkle because Terry Smith knows him well. Smith, Penn State’s cornerbacks coach and associate head coach, served as the Lions’ interim head coach for seven games in 2025 after Penn State fired James Franklin. That kind of familiarity could make him a useful voice for Matt Campbell and defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn as they prepare for Temple.
Penn State, meanwhile, got a strong push from Caleb Bacon against Marshall after shifting him from linebacker to edge rusher. Bacon made the move look like a smart one, finishing with six tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry. That kind of disruption could matter again if Temple’s offense gets pinned behind the chains.
On the offensive side, Penn State’s receivers were a major part of the story against Marshall, and two names worth tracking against Temple are Chase Sowell and Zay Robinson. Koby Howard led the way with six catches for a career-high 161 yards and a touchdown, while Brett Eskildsen added five receptions for 48 yards and a score. Sowell got involved early, hauling in a 20-yard catch on Penn State’s opening drive and a 13-yard reception on the next possession.
Robinson, a redshirt freshman, also made his presence felt. He caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Rocco Becht early in the third quarter, and he contributed on special teams too, returning a kickoff 34 yards and bringing back three punts for 31 yards.
In Other News...
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
Matt Campbells first game at Penn State doubled as a recruiting showcase, with multiple prospects from the 2027 through 2029 classes on hand. The guest list included current commits and a handful of targets the staff is still trying to bring into the fold, a reminder that big-game Saturdays in State College are as much about the future as the present.
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 🡒]