Penn State heads to Washington as a slight underdog Saturday, and the matchup asks the Nittany Lions to win in a very specific way: lean on the run, make Demond Williams Jr. uncomfortable, and hope a key receiver can give the offense some juice.
That formula starts with Kaytron Wallace, who was the story in Penn State’s 31-17 win over Purdue. Wallace came out of the backfield mix to rush for 131 yards on 22 carries, both season highs for the Nittany Lions.
Now the challenge is turning that into a bigger role. Penn State coach Matt Campbell said this week that Wallace should get another start next to complementary back Carson Hansen, and Wallace needs to keep getting at least 20 carries.
His patience and power worked against Purdue’s soft run defense, but Washington is a tougher test. Even if the early yards are slow to come, Penn State can’t drift away from him.
This has to become a two-back offense, with Wallace as the lead option.
The run game also matters because Penn State can’t expect to pound the ball 51 times again and call it a day. That puts more on quarterback Rocco Becht, and Becht is clearly more dangerous when Chase Sowell is on the field.
Koby Howard is unlikely to play, and even if he does, his workload should be limited. Sowell gives Becht the big-play element this offense needs, especially if Penn State falls behind.
Without him, the Nittany Lions have looked shaky early on the road and are not built to dig out of a hole. Play-action off the run game, with Sowell involved, gives Becht a much better path.
There’s also a defensive edge here for Penn State if it can finally finish plays up front. The Nittany Lions’ pass rush has been one of the least threatening in the Big Ten, and it took eight games for a defensive lineman, Yvan Kemajou, to record a sack.
Penn State is tied for last in the conference with five sacks in Big Ten games. But Washington’s offensive line has been vulnerable, too.
The Huskies have allowed a conference-high 26 sacks, including 23 in Big Ten play, and Demond Williams Jr. has a habit of drifting into pressure. If Kemajou, Caleb Bacon and Alexander McPherson can close from the edge and put Williams on the turf, Penn State can disrupt Washington’s best offensive trait: the quarterback’s arm and scrambling ability.
The flip side is that Williams is still a problem. He isn’t fully healthy, and Elijah Brown was pulled at Nebraska, so Williams is back in the lineup.
Campbell called him the most mobile quarterback in the Big Ten, and Penn State has already seen enough on tape to know how hard he is to contain. Even with linebacker Tony Rojas spying him, Williams can still escape.
Penn State has to shut down his run lanes, force him into a pure passing game and get physical with Washington’s receivers. Letting him hurt them on third-and-long would be a costly mistake.
Becht’s side of the equation brings its own danger. The quarterback who once led seven game-winning drives at Iowa State has not looked like that version at Penn State, and against Purdue he was at his best when the run game let him manage the offense instead of forcing tight-window throws.
That’s the version Penn State needs again. If Sowell isn’t right, Becht could be pushed into hero-ball territory, and that’s not where this offense wants to live.
Controlled play-action, rollouts and the occasional deep shot suit him much better. The Nittany Lions also cannot afford to fall behind 14-0, because they have not won a game this season after trailing by a touchdown.
Washington’s passing game gives Penn State another real test. Chris Lawson has been excellent in Big Ten play, catching 18 passes for 258 yards over the last two weeks, including the game-winning catch from Williams at Nebraska.
That puts the spotlight on Penn State’s corners, especially Audavion Collins, who has allowed just five receptions all season. Washington will try to steer clear of that matchup when it can, and Daryus Dixson gives Penn State another capable option on the back end.
The Huskies may also look to attack the Nittany Lions’ safeties in coverage.
Penn State has a workable path here, but it’s narrow: feed Wallace, keep Becht comfortable, and make Williams play from the pocket. If any of those pieces slip, Washington has enough answers to make the night difficult.
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Penn State Just Got A Bigger Problem For Washington Trip
Washingtons quarterback situation is suddenly worth watching again heading into Penn States trip west. Jedd Fisch said Demond Williams is expected to start against the Nittany Lions if he feels healthy, a notable development for a Washington offense that has had to navigate both injuries and uneven play from its signal-caller this season.
Williams has already shown why his availability matters, returning late in a recent game and helping Washington close out a win. For Penn State, the uncertainty is less about the name on the depth chart than the challenge of preparing for a quarterback who can change the feel of a game when hes on the field, even if his season has been anything but steady. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State May Have Found An NBA Talent Nobody Saw Coming
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Prkain wasted no time showing why there was buzz around his name, going off for 28 points in his debut for the Nittany Lions. It was the kind of opening-night performance that can change the conversation fast, especially when a player with pro experience starts looking like a potential NBA-level piece in a college uniform. The bigger question now is how quickly Penn State can turn that kind of individual flash into something lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces A Real Road Test In Washington Turnaround Bid
Penn State finally got the Big Ten win it needed against Purdue, and now the bigger question is whether that start can actually travel. The Nittany Lions head to Husky Stadium looking to build on signs of progress on both sides of the ball, with a healthier roster giving the staff more options as the season starts to settle in.
Washington brings its own momentum into the matchup after a recent victory sparked by quarterback Desmond Williams Jr., and that makes this trip a real test for Penn States turnaround bid. The Lions have shown enough improvement to believe they are moving in the right direction, but this is the kind of road game that can quickly show how much of that progress holds up away from home. [Read more 🡒]