Penn State is heading into Week 2 with a familiar name on the other sideline, and the history between these two programs suggests this one won’t come easy.
The Nittany Lions travel to eastern Pennsylvania to face Temple in the first meeting between the teams in a decade. It’s a series that has been tilted heavily toward Penn State for a long time, but there is enough recent evidence to keep the Owls from being dismissed outright.
Temple won three of the first four matchups in the early 1900s, but that was a long time ago. Since then, Penn State has taken control in a big way, going 39-1-1 in the last 41 meetings.
Still, the one Temple win in 2015 is the kind of result that lingers. Even Penn State’s victory the following year was anything but routine. The Nittany Lions escaped with a 34-27 win in 2016, a game in which Trace McSorley threw for nearly 300 yards and accounted for two touchdowns, one through the air and one on the ground.
That matchup swung back and forth before Penn State finally separated in the fourth quarter. It also came during a strange 2016 season that later included a win over Ohio State.
Penn State and Temple have met six times since 2010, and none of those games has been decided by more than 17 points. That may sound like a comfortable margin, but in this series it has still meant a competitive afternoon.
So this game offers an early read on where Penn State stands. Can the Nittany Lions turn it into another convincing win, or will Temple drag them into another tight one?
In Other News...
Temple Heads To Penn State With One Problem Fans Will Notice
Temples trip to Penn State comes with a little more uncertainty than a normal September road test, starting up front where the Owls are already shorthanded. KC Keeler confirmed that starting left tackle Giakoby Hills will be out for six weeks, a significant blow to an offensive line that has to deal with one of the bigger fronts on the schedule.
The injury picture does not stop there, either. Starting tackle Kevin Terry and left guard Eric King are both game-time decisions, which leaves Temple waiting to see how much of its protection plan will be available by kickoff. The quarterback situation is still unsettled as well, with the Owls choosing between Jaxon Smolik and Ajani Sheppard for the starting job, adding another layer of uncertainty to a matchup that already looks demanding. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Just Put Its Recruiting Board On Notice
Matt Campbells first game at Penn State doubled as a recruiting showcase, with multiple prospects from the 2027 through 2029 classes on hand. The guest list included current commits and a handful of targets the staff is still trying to bring into the fold, a reminder that big-game Saturdays in State College are as much about the future as the present.
Among the names in attendance were 5-star cornerback Nasir Richardson from the 2028 class and 4-star edge rusher DJ Dockery from the 2029 class, both the kind of young blue-chippers Penn State wants to keep circling. The staff also added to the board by extending an offer to 3-star defensive lineman McCoy Richardson, a prospect viewed as a possible flip from Wake Forest, leaving the rest of that recruiting picture to keep developing after the visit. [Read more 🡒]
DAnton Lynn Just Raised A Big Penn State Defense Question
Penn States secondary is already looking a little different as the season settles in, and DAnton Lynn made it clear why true freshman Josiah Zayas is getting first crack at cornerback. Lynn pointed to Zayas mental strength and steady development, a notable endorsement for a young player stepping into a demanding spot on a defense that is still sorting itself out.
Lynn also signaled that the scheme itself is going to keep evolving, with the staff planning to add complexity gradually rather than overload the group early. With Temple next on the road, he emphasized communication and preparation as the big keys, which leaves an obvious question hanging over the defense: how quickly can a young corner and a growing playbook handle the next test? [Read more 🡒]