Penn State’s first road test of the Matt Campbell era comes quickly, and it comes with a few questions attached.
The Nittany Lions are 1-0 after handling Marshall at Beaver Stadium, but Saturday’s trip to Temple in Philadelphia will tell a little more about what this team looks like away from home. Temple is also 1-0, and the Owls won’t be lining up quietly if their opener is any indication.
One of the biggest battlegrounds sits on the ground. Temple ran for 227 yards in its 38-14 win over Rhode Island, and that kind of production will get Penn State’s attention in a hurry. The Nittany Lions were stingy against Marshall, giving up only 147 total yards and just 44 rushing yards, so the question now is whether that front can keep Temple from finding room again.
Penn State has its own run-game issues to sort through on offense. Against Marshall, the passing attack carried the day, while the ground game managed only 3.6 yards per carry on 45 attempts. The Lions have multiple capable backs, but one of them needs to separate from the pack.
The wide receiver group, though, looked like a real strength in the opener. Sophomore Koby Howard posted his first 100-yard receiving game, and two other Penn State wideouts found the end zone on throws from quarterback Rocco Becht. The receivers also did a nice job turning catches into extra yards after the ball arrived.
There’s also a little history hanging over this matchup. The last time Penn State and Temple met at Lincoln Financial Field, the Owls bullied the favored Lions to a 27-10 upset. Penn State went on to finish 7-6 that season.
This time, the Lions head into Saturday as heavy favorites.
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 🡒]