Penn State’s Big Ten opener against Wisconsin puts a familiar name in a new place and adds another layer to a game already built around backfield talent.
Saturday at Beaver Stadium will bring together a Nittany Lions defense full of Iowa State transfers and an ex-Cyclone running back now carrying the load for Wisconsin. That’s the kind of matchup detail that can shape a game before the first snap.
For Wisconsin, Abu Sama III has become the featured back. Sama split carries with Carson Hansen at Iowa State in 2024 and 2025, and he’s already flashed the kind of burst that changes field position in one touch. He ripped off a 72-yard touchdown run against Western Illinois on Sept. 11, though he did not play in Wisconsin’s win over Eastern Michigan last Saturday.
Penn State’s own backfield has been a committee, but it’s a productive one. The Lions rotate four runners - Carson Hansen, James Peoples, Quinton Martin Jr. and Cam Wallace - and all four have found the end zone. Martin also topped 100 yards against Buffalo last Saturday, giving Penn State another weapon to lean on.
The Lions also hold an edge at linebacker, where Tony Rojas has set the tone. He leads Penn State with 16 tackles and has added two tackles for loss, an interception, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Cael Brezina has also given the defense useful production in a reserve role.
Wisconsin’s linebacker Cooper Catalano has been busy, too. He has 26 tackles in three games and scored on a 10-yard fumble recovery against Eastern Michigan.
Special teams could matter as well. Penn State’s coverage units have allowed just 78 return yards in three games, and none on punt returns. Zay Robinson has been steady as the punt returner, averaging 13.2 yards on 13 returns, while Ryan Barker has hit five of six field-goal attempts.
Wisconsin’s specialists have been sharp, too. Punter Sean West is averaging 45.4 yards on seven punts and has dropped three inside the 20. Gavin Lahm has made all seven of his field-goal tries.
The matchup breakdown tilts toward Penn State in running backs, wideouts/tight ends, offensive line, linebackers and coaching, with the defensive line graded even.
In Other News...
Penn State Staffer Faces Serious Off-Field Legal Trouble
A Penn State assistant coach is now dealing with an off-field situation that is drawing attention in State College and around the program. Jordan Lucas, the Nittany Lions assistant cornerbacks coach, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of DUI and three summary traffic violations after police found him asleep in a vehicle downtown with a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit.
The stop came after officers found the vehicle illegally positioned in a crosswalk, with Lucas also listed as having a suspended drivers license and an expired vehicle registration. Penn State acknowledged the charges and said Lucas remains with the program while the legal matter moves forward, leaving the university to manage both the public fallout and the uncertainty around what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Offensive Line Just Got Thinner At The Worst Time
Penn States offensive line depth took another hit at an unwelcome time, with Will Tompkins ruled out for the season because of injury, according to coach Matt Campbell. Tompkins had played 31 snaps across the first three games after transferring in from Iowa State, giving the Nittany Lions another experienced body in a position group that can never have enough of them.
The setback leaves Penn State without a player it had hoped could help stabilize things as the year unfolded, and it also delays any chance to see how he might have fit into the rotation over a full season. There is still some long-term silver lining: Tompkins is expected to keep four years of eligibility after this season, so his Penn State story is far from over even if this one now pauses before it really got going. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States RB Battle Just Got Tougher To Ignore Entering Big Ten Play
Penn State spent the nonconference slate getting a closer look at four running backs, and the rotation did not make the answer any simpler. Carson Hansen, James Peoples, Quinton Martin Jr. and Cam Wallace all got chances to show what they can do, but the way those carries were distributed also made it clear this job is still open as Big Ten play arrives.
Martin stood out most against Buffalo, where his versatility in the passing game added another layer to his case, while Peoples continued to show growth and a knack for finding the end zone. Those two now look like the clearest candidates to head the depth chart, even if the staff has not committed to one lead option yet, and the coming conference games should tell whether Penn State leans toward the more dynamic all-purpose threat or the back who has been quickest to turn touches into points. [Read more 🡒]