Buffalo heads to State College on Saturday afternoon, and Penn State enters the matchup with a few clear issues to clean up despite its 2-0 start.
The No. 16 Nittany Lions are coming off a 27-9 win over Temple, but the offense left points on the field early and often. Penn State had first-and-goal at the Temple 9 and later at the Temple 6 in the first quarter, only to come away empty on one trip after Ryan Barker missed a short field-goal attempt and on another when the Lions failed to convert a fourth-and-goal from the Temple 2.
That has put the red zone under the microscope. Penn State ranks 123rd in FBS in red zone offense, having converted 7 of 10 chances inside the 20. Four of those drives ended in touchdowns, three in field goals, and three others produced no points at all.
The Lions also have to deal with some attrition up front on defense. Third-year end Max Granville is out for the season after an injury in practice last week, and another end, LaVar Arrington, is expected to miss about a month with a knee issue. Even so, Penn State’s end group still has depth, with Yvan Kemajou, Ike Ezeogu, Alexander McPherson and Caleb Bacon expected to carry more of the load.
One player whose role looks set to grow is redshirt freshman receiver and return man Zay Robinson. He has flashed as both a pass catcher and a special-teams threat, including a 39-yard touchdown from quarterback Rocco Becht in the win over Marshall.
He and Becht connected again for 22 yards on a third-and-15 against Temple, and Becht appears to be building more trust in him. Robinson has four catches for 73 yards and is averaging 12.6 yards on five punt returns.
Penn State also has a productive target in Brahmer, who leads the team with three touchdown receptions and is averaging 14.5 yards on six catches. He has caught a pass in 14 straight games and reached 1,000 career yards against Temple, bringing his total to 1,064.
In Other News...
Penn State's First Big Ten Home Stage Just Got Even Bigger
Penn States first Big Ten home test comes with a little extra shine, as the Nittany Lions get set to host Wisconsin on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Beaver Stadium. The conference opener will also double as Homecoming and the programs Helmet Stripe game, giving an already meaningful afternoon a bit more pageantry as Penn State looks to carry a 2-0 start into league play.
The matchup arrives with Penn State sitting No. 14 in the AP Top 25 Poll, adding to the sense that this is more than just an early conference date. It will also be streamed exclusively on Peacock, which means plenty of attention will be centered on a game that could set the tone for how the Nittany Lions are viewed once the Big Ten race fully settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Sent A Clear Message After That Hit On Rocco Becht
Late hits on quarterbacks have a way of revealing a teams temperament, and Penn State has now shown two very different versions of itself in those moments. Back in the 2021 loss to Illinois, the reaction was muted, with James Franklin saying afterward that he preferred the officials to handle that kind of play. In the recent game against Temple, though, the response around Rocco Becht looked a lot more unified, with the offense and the rest of the group making it clear they were not going to let a teammate get left on an island after he took the shot.
That shift in body language mattered because it came with the usual balancing act every team faces in those situations: stand up for your quarterback without turning it into a penalty parade. Matt Campbell and Becht both pointed to the teams togetherness afterward, and it fit the bigger picture around Penn States sideline, where protecting one another is becoming part of the message as much as any play call. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Alumni Made Immediate NFL Noise In Week 1
Penn States NFL alumni wasted no time making themselves part of the Week 1 conversation in 2026, with former Nittany Lions showing up all over the box scores. The most eye-catching production came from a tight end group that has become a familiar source of pride for the program, as Mike Gesicki, Tyler Warren, Brenton Strange and Pat Freiermuth all found the end zone, while converted wideout Juwan Johnson added another touchdown of his own.
There was more than scoring on the resume, too. Jaquan Brisker turned in a strong day with an interception and multiple tackles, Parker Washington scored despite some contract uncertainty hanging over his future, and Saquon Barkley logged a notable 42-yard rush. Joey Porter Jr. was sidelined by a back injury while his contract situation remains unsettled, and Kaytron Allen also made his regular-season debut with the Washington Commanders, adding another Penn State name to a busy opening week. [Read more 🡒]