Penn State will be down a piece on the edge Saturday, with defensive end Max Granville ruled out for the noon matchup against Temple.
Granville, a sophomore in the Nittany Lions’ defensive end rotation, is unavailable for Penn State’s second game of the 2026 season. The game is set for a national ESPN2 broadcast.
The 6-foot-3, 252-pound Granville was on the field in Penn State’s season-opening 45-0 win over Marshall, logging 22 defensive snaps. His workload leaned toward pass rush work, with 16 snaps rushing the quarterback and six in run defense.
He didn’t come away with a tackle or sack against the Thundering Herd, but he did finish with two pressures, including one quarterback hit and one hurry.
Pro Football Focus gave Granville a 54.2 overall defensive grade for the game. His best number came as a pass rusher, where he posted a 57.1 grade, while his run-defense grade checked in at 54.6.
He was also charged with one missed tackle.
Granville’s absence removes a rotational option from a Penn State defensive front that distributed snaps widely in the opener. He began the season behind starting defensive end Ike Ezeogu on the depth chart.
Without Granville, Penn State will need more from the rest of its defensive end group against the Owls.
The Nittany Lions are trying to build on their shutout of Marshall and move to 2-0 under first-year head coach Matt Campbell. Kickoff is scheduled for noon on ESPN2.
In Other News...
Penn State Just Lost A Defensive End It Couldnt Afford To Lose
Penn States defensive line took another hit in practice, with defensive end Max Granville set to miss the rest of the season after a new injury, as announced by head coach Matt Campbell. Granville had worked his way back onto the field this year after sitting out the entire previous season, so this latest setback lands especially hard for a group that was already counting on him to provide depth and energy off the edge.
The injurys nature was not disclosed, leaving the program with one more unanswered question at a position where availability has already been an issue. For a defense that needs steady rotation and dependable pressure up front, losing Granville again is the kind of blow that can ripple beyond one roster spot and force the staff to reshuffle its plans in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Suddenly Has A Week 2 Availability Problem To Watch
Penn State heads into its Week 2 matchup with Temple already juggling some early-season injury uncertainty, and the latest update from Matt Campbell added a few names to keep an eye on. Defensive end LaVar Arrington II is expected to miss four to six weeks after knee surgery, while offensive tackle Owen Aliciene and defensive tackles Armstrong Nnodim and Alijah Carnell were all listed as questionable as the Nittany Lions continued preparing for the game.
There was better news elsewhere on the depth chart, with tight end Gabe Burkle and linebacker Alex Tatsch both probable to return after working back from injuries. For a team trying to settle into the rhythm of the season, the availability picture matters on both sides of the ball, especially with the front still sorting out who will be ready to go when Temple comes to town. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Gets An Early Test As Key Lions Near Return
Penn State heads into its 2026 trip to Temple with a chance to keep building on what it showed against Marshall, when the offense leaned on explosive plays, yards after the catch and a steady running back rotation to create separation. The defense also left reason for optimism, especially in the secondary, where the Lions handled their business well enough to make that early road opener feel like more than a tune-up.
The bigger picture is that this one arrives as Penn State starts a stretch of five road games in 2026, so getting healthier now matters. There is also some movement to watch on the depth chart, with the staff expecting a couple of key players back in the mix after missing last week, while Temples tendencies on both sides of the ball should offer a different kind of test than Marshall did. [Read more 🡒]