Penn State’s trip to Michigan on Saturday looked a lot bigger in August than it does now. Both teams have stumbled to 0-5 in Big Ten play, and the 3:30 p.m. kickoff from the Big House in Ann Arbor arrives with far less shine than expected.
Still, the latest availability report matters. The third of four Big Ten-mandated updates for Penn State-Michigan came out Friday night, and it brought a clearer picture of who the Lions will and won’t have available.
Penn State’s list of outs is long. Wide receiver Koby Howard, defensive end LaVar Arrington II, cornerbacks Joshua Johnson and Christian Askew, defensive ends Max Granville, Mason Robinson and Dayshaun Burnett, linebacker Alex Tatsch, center Tyler Armstead, offensive lineman Will Tompkins, tight end Cooper Alexander, defensive tackle Liam Andrews and kicker Cristiano Rosa are all unavailable.
Granville is out for the season, while Howard could be back in a couple of weeks. Penn State also said earlier this week that Tatsch, one of its top reserves, is done for the year.
The probable group gives the Lions a few possible boosts. Wide receiver Chase Sowell, defensive end Yvan Kemajou, defensive tackle Armstrong Nnodim and linebacker Cam Smith are listed as probable.
Smith’s status stands out most for Penn State, especially with Tatsch out for the rest of the season. Getting Smith back would help a linebacker room that needs the depth.
There are also a couple of notes on Penn State’s report. Carson Hansen, who was listed as probable in the first report, does not appear on the second report. Sowell shows up for the first time after getting hurt against USC.
Michigan’s key injury situation is a little lighter but still worth watching. Defensive ends John Henry Daley and Dom Nichols are listed as questionable.
Daley is the biggest name there. He was a first-team All-American at Utah in 2025 and has put together a strong season with 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and a quarterback hurry. Nichols has also been a disruptive presence, posting five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries.
In Other News...
Penn State Could Be Getting A Familiar Name Back For A Key Need
Penn State may be getting a familiar name back at just the right time, with LaVar Arrington II expected to return to the football team after the bye week. The son of College Football Hall of Famer LaVar Arrington spent last season contributing on special teams, and his return adds another layer to a defense looking for help in the right spots.
Coach Matt Campbell said the staff still has to decide whether Arrington II will line up at linebacker or defensive end, a choice that will shape how quickly he can make an impact. After missing time this season because of injury, his comeback gives Penn State another option to consider as it tries to maximize his value on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces A New Injury Concern Before Michigan Showdown
Penn State got a little clarity, and a little more uncertainty, when the Big Ten-mandated availability reports came out ahead of Saturdays trip to Ann Arbor. Two starters were upgraded and removed from the report, which is the kind of update every staff wants to see this time of year, but a starting wide receiver was added as questionable, leaving the Nittany Lions with one more situation to monitor before they face Michigan.
Michigans report stayed unchanged, with players still spread across probable, questionable, doubtful and out designations. Penn State will have two more availability reports before kickoff, so the picture could shift again before the Nittany Lions take the field in one of the biggest games on their schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Offense May Be Forced Into A Shakeup At Worst Time
Penn States offense is still searching for a cleaner rhythm after a stretch in which the scoring has dried up at the wrong time. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser pointed to a few of the issues that have piled up, from the teams production in three Big Ten losses to the absence of wide receiver Koby Howard because of injury, all while the unit has continued to fight through red zone inconsistency.
Mouser also left open the possibility of changes up front, and freshman receiver Amarion Jackson could see more opportunities as the staff looks for a spark. The Nittany Lions have turned 14 of 26 trips inside the 20 into touchdowns, a mark that reflects both the promise and the frustration of an offense trying to find answers before the schedule gets any tighter. [Read more 🡒]