UNIVERSITY PARK -- Penn State is still searching for a running game with a pulse, and the people in charge know the problem starts up front.
As the Nittany Lions head to Michigan, Matt Campbell is asking for more than incremental progress. He wants an offensive line that can help define what this team is on the field and give Penn State a better chance to earn its first conference win under new leadership. A more physical approach on the ground against the Wolverines, who are also struggling at 3-2 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play, would be a logical place to begin.
"I think you're trying to figure out, especially up front, where can we settle this group of young men into," Campbell said. "I think we've dabbled in a little bit of everything trying to find what these guys do best and give them the most confidence."
The offense has not found much traction. Penn State ran for only 48 yards and then 68 yards in its last two games, averaging a little more than 2 yards per carry against Northwestern and No.
19 Southern California. That stretch also put the Nittany Lions in an uncomfortable spot they have not seen in a while: they have gone three straight games without reaching 100 rushing yards, something they last did in 2021 against Illinois, Ohio State and Maryland.
"We have to find an answer there," Mouser said. "Obviously that's been a squeaky wheel for us and that's certainly been a discussion, are we playing the right people? I don't think it's ever a 'we are what we are' but we are a running game without an identity and that's the reality of the situation."
The search for answers could lead to changes in personnel and possibly scheme. Penn State has used the same starting front five in all six games - tackles Malachi Goodman and Anthony Donkoh, guards Trevor Buhr and Cooper Cousins, and center Brock Riker - but Campbell and Mouser are open to shaking things up.
Redshirt senior Dominic Rulli has been out with an unspecified injury. He was not on the team's recent injury report and could be part of the rotation against Michigan. Garrett Sexton, who has appeared in four games this season, is another option for more snaps, and vaunted prospect Owen Aliciene may also get a look after redshirting last season under the program's previous staff.
The backs have not been able to create much on their own, either. Carson Hansen has carried the ball 57 times, while James Peoples is close behind with 52 touches.
Quinton Martin Jr. and Cam Wallace did not factor into Saturday's loss. Hansen and Peoples both got carries against Southern California, but Penn State managed only 41 rushing yards in the first half and never found a way to generate consistent chunk gains.
That has become a glaring issue. Penn State ranks 124th nationally with just 17 runs of 10 or more yards, and the Nittany Lions have only three carries of 20 yards or longer.
For Mouser, that kind of struggle stands out sharply after a decade at Iowa State, where he worked with future NFL backs Breece Hall and David Montgomery in more productive zone and duo run systems.
Hall piled up 3,036 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns over his final two seasons in Ames, while Montgomery finished his last two seasons with 2,362 yards and 24 scores.
"For us, it's about putting the right people in spots when you go out there and be able to talk about where you're blocking and where you're going," Mouser said, "and as simple as that sounds, we haven't done it and it's been very frustrating for us offensively."
In Other News...
Penn State Could Be Getting A Familiar Name Back For A Key Need
Penn State may be getting a familiar name back at just the right time, with LaVar Arrington II expected to return to the football team after the bye week. The son of College Football Hall of Famer LaVar Arrington spent last season contributing on special teams, and his return adds another layer to a defense looking for help in the right spots.
Coach Matt Campbell said the staff still has to decide whether Arrington II will line up at linebacker or defensive end, a choice that will shape how quickly he can make an impact. After missing time this season because of injury, his comeback gives Penn State another option to consider as it tries to maximize his value on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces A New Injury Concern Before Michigan Showdown
Penn State got a little clarity, and a little more uncertainty, when the Big Ten-mandated availability reports came out ahead of Saturdays trip to Ann Arbor. Two starters were upgraded and removed from the report, which is the kind of update every staff wants to see this time of year, but a starting wide receiver was added as questionable, leaving the Nittany Lions with one more situation to monitor before they face Michigan.
Michigans report stayed unchanged, with players still spread across probable, questionable, doubtful and out designations. Penn State will have two more availability reports before kickoff, so the picture could shift again before the Nittany Lions take the field in one of the biggest games on their schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Offense May Be Forced Into A Shakeup At Worst Time
Penn States offense is still searching for a cleaner rhythm after a stretch in which the scoring has dried up at the wrong time. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser pointed to a few of the issues that have piled up, from the teams production in three Big Ten losses to the absence of wide receiver Koby Howard because of injury, all while the unit has continued to fight through red zone inconsistency.
Mouser also left open the possibility of changes up front, and freshman receiver Amarion Jackson could see more opportunities as the staff looks for a spark. The Nittany Lions have turned 14 of 26 trips inside the 20 into touchdowns, a mark that reflects both the promise and the frustration of an offense trying to find answers before the schedule gets any tighter. [Read more 🡒]