Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season brought another familiar sight: Penn State names popping up all over the league box scores.
With nearly 40 former Nittany Lions on NFL rosters, there was no shortage of action, and a handful of them delivered big moments for their teams. From special teams trickery to late-game scoring drives, the Penn State pipeline stayed busy.
Kaytron Allen made his mark in a different way for the Miami Dolphins. Penn State’s all-time leading rusher helped spark a fake punt, turning it into a 46-yard gain and picking up his first career reception in the process. It was the kind of hidden-yardage play that can swing a game, and Miami got a big one out of it.
Saquon Barkley kept his scoring streak alive for the Philadelphia Eagles, finding the endzone for a third straight game. It came in a tough outing against the Giants, where he carried the ball 13 times for just 22 yards in a 19-11 loss, but the touchdown still gave him a notable finish.
Juwan Johnson came through when the New Orleans Saints needed it most. In overtime against the Browns, he caught two passes for 34 yards and finished the job with a 15-yard touchdown grab that helped seal the win.
Dani Dennis-Sutton was active for the Green Bay Packers in their victory over New England. He recorded four tackles, added half a sack and logged a quarterback hit in a busy all-around performance.
Parker Washington continued to earn trust in Jacksonville’s offense. In the Jaguars’ 33-10 win over the Ravens, he hauled in two catches for 61 yards and a touchdown, staying involved in one of the league’s most productive attacks.
In Other News...
Penn State Fans Got A Scary Jack Ham Update
Penn State fans got a jolt before kickoff when Hall of Famer Jack Ham was hospitalized in Seattle after a medical emergency ahead of a Penn State game. Ham, who starred for the Nittany Lions before becoming a longtime Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, has remained a familiar presence around the program for years as a color commentator on Penn State football radio broadcasts.
Matt Campbell later offered a reassuring update, saying Ham is making great progress and remains in stable condition. For a fan base that has heard Hams voice and seen his connection to the program for so long, the news brought an immediate wave of concern, and then some relief as his condition improved. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Bowl Projections Just Sparked A Travel Debate Among Fans
Penn States latest win pushed the Nittany Lions to five victories and put them within striking distance of bowl eligibility with three games left, which is exactly the point in the season when the projection chatter starts to heat up. National outlets have already begun slotting Penn State into a range of possible postseason destinations, with names like the Fenway Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl, Dukes Mayo Bowl and First Responder Bowl all showing up in the early guesses.
The travel conversation is part of the fun, but it is also a reminder of how much can still change before any real planning begins. Depending on how Penn State finishes, the matchup and location could shift along with it, and every projection remains speculative until bowl eligibility is officially secured. For fans, the next few weeks will decide not just whether there is a bowl trip, but what kind of trip it might turn into. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Receiver Concern Just Got Worse With Koby Howard
Penn States receiver picture has taken another hit with Koby Howard still stuck on the sideline after the injury that required surgery back in Week 3. He had returned to practice ahead of Week 9, but he has not played since, and the latest update from Matt Campbell makes the situation sound even more uncertain as the season moves on.
Campbell said Howard is in a pause state in his recovery and has not been cleared to come back until he is fully healthy, which leaves open the possibility that he does not play again this year. Howards production before the injury showed why his absence matters, with 344 yards and two touchdowns on 12 catches, and the good news for Penn State is that he still has three seasons of eligibility left once he gets back to full strength. [Read more 🡒]