No. 14 Penn State has looked plenty sharp through two games, piling up 72 points and rolling into Saturday afternoon’s matchup with heavy underdog Buffalo at Beaver Stadium with an offense that has found answers everywhere except, maybe, in the ground game.
The passing attack has been the easy part to admire. Penn State has thrown for seven touchdowns, and veteran quarterback Rocco Becht is completing 75 percent of his passes without an interception. That side of the offense has given the Lions a steady lift.
The run game, though, has been more of a slog than a splash. Penn State’s longest rush so far is just 13 yards, turned in by veteran Carson Hansen.
Hansen has been the most productive back in the room, leading the Lions with 132 yards while averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Against Temple last Saturday in Philadelphia, he handled 19 carries for 84 yards as Penn State came away with a 27-9 win, pulling away with a 17-6 second half.
James Peoples, the Ohio State transfer, worked behind him and finished with 42 yards on seven carries.
That usage has left some fans wondering about Quinton Martin Jr., the prep standout from Belle Vernon High School in western Pennsylvania, who did not get a carry against Temple. Martin did score on the ground in the second half of Penn State’s 45-10 win over Marshall, but his role has not yet matched the excitement some supporters have had for him.
One PennLive subscriber put it bluntly: “Carson Hansen is just a guy at running back. How long will Quinton Martin have to watch him? Guarantees probably made by head coach Matt Campbell? -- Marty, Pittsburgh, Pa.”
The answer, at least from the numbers Penn State has put up so far, is that Hansen has done more than simply fill a spot. He came up 48 yards short of a 1,000-yard season at Iowa State in 2025 and closed that year with five straight 100-yard games. And while Martin remains a name plenty of fans remember for his 103-yard effort against Clemson in Penn State’s Pinstripe Bowl win at Yankee Stadium in December, he’s still waiting for a bigger workload in this offense.
In Other News...
Buffalo Coach Sees One Clear Problem With Facing Penn State
Pete Lembo didnt need much time to make clear what stands out when he looks at Penn States roster ahead of a trip to Beaver Stadium. The Buffalo head coach went through the Nittany Lions with the kind of detail that comes from studying a team closely, pointing to linebacker Tony Rojas, a player he once recruited at South Carolina, and to middle linebacker Kooper Ebel as the sort of defensive leader who helps set the tone for the entire unit.
Lembo also had praise for Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht and for special teams coordinator Justin Lustig, giving Buffalo a broad view of the challenge waiting on Saturday. For a visiting coach, the problem is never just one star or one phase of the game, and Lembos breakdown suggested Penn State brings enough across the board to make every snap and every hidden-yardage situation matter. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State's Spending Reality Just Raised A Bigger Contender Question
Penn States place in the modern roster economy is becoming clearer, and it comes with an unmistakable catch. The Nittany Lions 2026 football roster budget is estimated at $29 million to $32 million, which puts them 21st nationally and seventh in the Big Ten, behind heavy hitters such as Ohio State and Oregon. In an era when talent acquisition is increasingly tied to spending power, that kind of ranking matters just as much as any depth chart discussion.
The roster churn only sharpens the point, with 62 newcomers this season and 40 of them arriving through the transfer portal. Matt Campbell has worked within those limits by keeping important pieces in place and supplementing them with players he knows from his previous stop, but the broader question hangs over everything Penn State is trying to build. The program can still compete, but the margin for error is getting thinner, and the financial gap is now part of the story. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Passing Game Suddenly Has A Ceiling Fans Will Notice
Rocco Becht has given Penn States passing game an early rhythm, completing 75.6 percent of his throws with seven touchdowns through two games while spreading the ball around to multiple receivers. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser has leaned into that balance, pointing to the chemistry in the room and the fact that no single pass catcher has separated himself as a concern, but as a strength that can make the offense harder to pin down.
Mousers confidence comes with a catch, though: the groups depth only matters if every skill player stays ready for the moment his number is called. He praised several players for what they bring to the offense, which is a sign Penn State likes the variety it has built into the passing game, but also a reminder that the ceiling for this unit may depend on whether someone eventually emerges as the clear go-to option. [Read more 🡒]