Penn State enters the bye week with a long to-do list, and the problems are piling up on both sides of the ball. The run defense has been sliding since Big Ten play started, the quarterback situation has been uneven, and the roster has some obvious talent gaps that have shown up against conference competition.
That leaves the Nittany Lions with a simple question: what actually needs to change before the season gets away from them? The answers start with the offense, where Penn State has gotten almost nothing done on the ground.
The numbers tell the story. Penn State has not topped 68 rushing yards in a game since Week 4 against Wisconsin, and over its last three contests it has averaged only 2.2 yards per carry. The staff has already tried plenty, but one more wrinkle could be giving Manske more snaps and using his dual-threat ability on designed runs or run-pass options.
That wouldn’t mean changing the starting quarterback conversation. Head coach Matt Campbell said that isn’t going to happen. But the redshirt freshman still needs a bigger role, especially with Rocco Becht struggling in Big Ten games.
The run game also needs a sharper plan. Carson Hansen is the more physical, downhill back, which explains why Taylor Mouser has often used him between the tackles. But that approach has been running into trouble, particularly with left guard Trevor Buhr and hobbled center Brock Riker as weak spots up front.
The better path may be to lean right. Guard Cooper Cousins and tackle Anthony Donkoh have been Penn State’s strongest side of the line, and Pro Football Focus has consistently graded them as the top linemen each week. Mouser should be sending more outside-zone runs behind them, not only with Hansen but also with James Peoples and Quinton Martin Jr.
There’s at least one clue that direction makes sense. Penn State’s only two explosive runs of the season - Martin’s 61-yard rush and Cam Wallace’s 59-yard touchdown against Buffalo - came when the play bounced outside.
A healthier passing approach could help too, especially if Koby Howard is back, potentially against Purdue. If that happens, Penn State should move away from its usual 12- and 13-personnel looks and spread the field to attack through its receiver talent.
That group has real punch. Howard, Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen form Penn State’s best wideout trio since arguably 2021, when the Nittany Lions rolled out Jahan Dotson, Parker Washington and KeAndre Lambert-Smith. That trio finished with 2,523 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns.
This year’s group may not match that ceiling, but it has already shown it can take over. Sowell posted 11 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown against Michigan last weekend, while Howard went for 161 yards and a score against Marshall.
Defensively, Penn State has one clear strength and one alarming flaw. The corners have been excellent. The Nittany Lions rank fifth nationally in passing yards allowed per game at 141.3, and outside corners Daryus Dixson and Audavion Collins have combined to allow just nine completions this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
The run defense, though, has been a problem that keeps dragging the unit down. Penn State is last in Big Ten games in rushing yards allowed at 218.25 per game and is giving up 4.9 yards per carry overall. That has hurt the Nittany Lions against conference opponents in particular.
The adjustment is pretty clear: play more aggressively. With those corners capable of handling single coverage, Penn State should bring an extra run defender into the box and dare teams to beat them through the air. Dixson, Collins and Josiah Zayas have earned the trust to be left on an island.
That same logic should open the door for more blitzing, especially since the pass rush has been thin. Penn State has nine sacks, but the defensive line has only two of them. D’Anton Lynn should send Tony Rojas more often; he leads the team with five sacks, while no other Penn State defender has more than one.
Penn State gets its next chance to fix things Oct. 31 against Purdue at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
In Other News...
Penn State Fans Never Expected A Beaver Stadium Game To Feel Like This
Penn States next trip to Beaver Stadium has taken on an unusual feel, with tickets for the Purdue game showing up at prices that would have seemed unthinkable not long ago. Depending on the vendor, seats are listed starting around $9 to $11, a sign of how differently this matchup is being viewed compared with the kind of marquee fall Saturday that usually brings the place to life.
The backdrop is a Penn State program trying to steady itself in Matt Campbells first year, while Purdue enters with a reminder of how long it has been since the Boilermakers last beat the Nittany Lions, back in 2004. Even with the schedule already stretching into 2026, this one has turned into a strange snapshot of where Penn State stands right now, and how quickly the mood around a game can change when expectations do. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Comes Out Of Its Bye With A Bigger Problem Than Purdue
Penn State comes out of its bye week facing more than just the need to shake off a disappointing loss to USC. The Nittany Lions return to Beaver Stadium for their first home game since that setback, and the matchup with Purdue arrives at a time when the bigger questions are about how this team wants to look and who will define the offense going forward.
The quarterback situation remains at the center of the conversation, but the issues around it reach deeper than one position. Under coach Matt Campbell, Penn State is still trying to settle on an identity, while Purdue enters with some real momentum of its own and an offense that has shown more bite lately. The betting line and ticket availability suggest plenty of interest, but for Penn State the more pressing issue is whether the bye week brought answers or just more time to think about the same ones. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces One Big Doubt Despite Purdue Confidence
Penn State heads into its meeting with Purdue carrying a record that has made every remaining Big Ten game feel like a chance to steady the season. The schedule has eased a bit, and the Nittany Lions are still favored by more than a touchdown, but that number comes with plenty of caveats after an offense that has struggled to finish drives and a defense that has not always been able to paper over the issues.
The biggest question is whether the offense can finally turn trips inside the 20 into touchdowns instead of settling for frustration. One potential boost could come from Koby Howard returning to the mix, which gives Penn State another piece to lean on as it tries to find a cleaner rhythm, but the bigger test is whether the Nittany Lions can show they are more than just a heavy favorite with lingering problems. [Read more 🡒]