Penn State heads into Saturday’s matchup with Purdue carrying more than a four-game losing streak. The Nittany Lions are also trying to clean up a pair of uglier numbers: they’ve dropped four straight overall and four straight in Big Ten play, and they still haven’t managed a run of 10-plus yards in conference action.
But the most troubling stretch sits in the calendar, not the standings. Penn State has lost six straight games in October and is trying to avoid a seventh. That skid dates back to last season, when the month began with James Franklin still as head coach and ended with him out the door 12 days later.
The October unraveling started with heavy-favorite Penn State falling to UCLA and Northwestern in its first two games of the month. Franklin was dismissed the day after the Northwestern loss. With Terry Smith stepping in as interim coach, PSU then lost its final game of October the following week at Iowa.
The last time Penn State won in October was Oct. 26, 2024 at Wisconsin.
That victory pushed PSU to 7-0 and kept the program in the top three before its showdown with No. 4 Ohio State in Beaver Stadium the next week.
That was less than two years ago, but the contrast is stark. A win over Purdue wouldn’t restore Penn State to that level, but it would give the program its first victory since Sept. 19 and offer a badly needed lift for the team and its fanbase.
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 🡒]