Penn State is back on the road for the first time this season, and the 16th-ranked Nittany Lions will take that 1-0 start into Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon for a meeting with Temple.
The opener went just about as cleanly as Penn State could have hoped. The Nittany Lions rolled past Marshall 45-0, outgaining the Thundering Herd 487-147 and never letting the game get close. Rocco Becht threw for 271 yards and four touchdowns in Matt Campbell’s coaching debut, while Koby Howard delivered the biggest receiving day of the bunch with six catches for 161 yards and a score.
Howard said the first game was only the beginning.
"I feel like (the season opener) was just a test, but you know it really doesn't stop here," Howard said. "I've just got to keep proving myself and keep showing the coaches that they can trust me, so that when those big moments come, they're ready to call my number."
Penn State’s defense was just as sharp. Marshall managed only 1-for-11 on third down and averaged 1.7 yards per carry, a suffocating effort that helped keep the shutout intact. Caleb Bacon finished with five tackles and a sack, but he was quick to keep the performance in perspective.
"It's game one," cautioned Penn State defensive end Caleb Bacon, who had five tackles and a sack. "We've got a game next week.
You can't let your highs get too high. You can't let your lows get too low."
There were still a few areas Campbell wanted to see sharpened. Penn State ran for just 3.6 yards per carry against Marshall, and none of its 45 rushing attempts went longer than 16 yards. Even so, the Nittany Lions kept the operation clean with only four penalties and no turnovers.
"If there is one mantra, we would like to be, we'd like to be tough, we'd like to be disciplined and we'd like to be together as a football program," Campbell said. "I think you want to turn the videotape on and you want to be able to see that. When you see it, you're able to recognize positivity."
Temple also enters at 1-0 after a convincing start of its own. The Owls beat Rhode Island 38-14, with Keveun Mason doing most of the damage on the ground. He ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns, and Temple added a pair of pick-sixes to put the game away.
The passing game was less efficient. Ajani Sheppard and Jaxon Smolik combined to go 9-of-16 for 142 yards and a touchdown, leaving K.C. Keeler with a quarterback competition that still appears open.
"It's an ongoing competition," Keeler said. "...
Ideally, we'd prefer to not play two equally, but we won't live by any creed. If we play them both 50-50, I'm good with that.
If we play one and it's a package for the other, I'm good with that. We'll do what we need to do to help the team win."
Saturday’s matchup is the first between the teams since 2016. Temple’s last home game in the series came in 2015, when the Owls stunned Penn State 27-10 for their first win in the rivalry since 1941.
"This is an opportunity to have a great moment," Keeler said. "Every day we walk past that iconic picture of the Temple-Penn State game in 2015, so we'll lean into that. ...
It sounds like it's going to be a great atmosphere there. Let's enjoy it for about 15-20 seconds, and then let's worry about playing the football game."
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 🡒]