Penn State’s start under Matt Campbell has gone from hopeful to messy in a hurry.
A week after blowing a 17-0 lead at home against Wisconsin, the Nittany Lions were thumped again on Friday night, this time falling 34-13 to Northwestern in the opening of the new Ryan Field. The final score didn’t even capture how lopsided it was. Penn State was beaten from the first kickoff and never found a way to make it competitive.
The biggest issue was trench warfare, and Penn State lost it badly. Northwestern rolled up 413 rushing yards, with Caleb Komolafe and Joseph Himon II both clearing the 160-yard mark.
That kind of production doesn’t happen without serious damage on the other side, and Penn State’s defense spent most of the night getting pushed around and missing tackles. Northwestern offensive coordinator Chip Kelly kept the pressure on with the right calls, while Penn State’s front seven had no answer.
The problems didn’t stop there. Quarterback Rocco Becht, who followed Campbell to Penn State from Iowa State with the expectation that he’d bring steadiness and high-level play, has been stuck in a rough stretch.
Against Northwestern, he went 26-of-41 and threw two interceptions. It was another uneven night in a two-week slide that has left Penn State searching for answers.
What makes this so jarring is how quickly the season has turned. After a mostly soft nonconference schedule, Campbell’s first Big Ten stretch has been brutal.
The loss to Wisconsin was bad enough to knock Penn State from No. 13 in the national rankings and out of the top 25 entirely. Friday’s performance was worse.
That’s the part that has to sting the most for Penn State fans. Under James Franklin, the frustration was about dropping the biggest games. Now, under both Franklin and Campbell, the Nittany Lions are not only losing the marquee matchups - they’re also falling in the games they were supposed to handle.
And the schedule doesn’t offer much relief. Penn State gets USC at home next Saturday, then heads to Michigan after that. If the Nittany Lions can’t sweep those two, whatever playoff hope was left for this season could disappear fast.
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