Penn State gets its final tune-up of the non-conference slate Saturday, and the matchup with Buffalo should be more about cleanup than drama. The Nittany Lions are set to kick off at noon ET at Beaver Stadium, with the usual September priorities in place: stay healthy, smooth out a few rough edges and get the backups some work.
Still, there’s plenty to keep an eye on. One of the biggest items on the day is the 40th reunion of Penn State’s 1986 national-championship team, but the football itself brings a few questions worth tracking as Big Ten play draws closer.
The run game is one of them, and it’s been a live issue all week. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser wasn’t shy about his level of satisfaction, and running back Quinton Martin Jr. has barely shown up in the offense so far.
The common thread is easy to spot: Penn State has yet to hit an explosive run through two games. It’s the only Big Ten team without a rushing play of 20 or more yards, and its longest gain on the ground is 16 yards, by Cam Wallace in the second half against Marshall.
That lack of burst is showing up in the numbers. Behind quarterback Rocco Becht, Penn State ranks second in the Big Ten with 12 pass plays of 20-plus yards, but the ground game has only five runs of 10-plus yards. The contrast is sharp, and it puts the rushing attack squarely in the spotlight against Buffalo.
Mouser made it clear this week that he wants more from that side of the offense.
"Obviously, to say that I'm less than thrilled with where the run game's at would be an understatement," Mouser said. "I feel like there's a lot of growth to be had there."
At the same time, he isn’t looking to yank Becht out of rhythm just to force the issue. The quarterback has opened the season with the best two-game stretch of his career, completing 75 percent of his passes and posting the Big Ten’s top passer-efficiency rating at 227.51. So while the run game needs work, Becht is still going to be asked to throw.
Mouser has also been experimenting with different looks early in the season. Last week, he lined receiver Koby Howard up in the backfield for a few snaps and called two Wildcat runs for Carson Hansen. He also acknowledged there can be a downside to loading too much into the game plan, saying he had "too many things installed" in Penn State's Week 1 win over Marshall.
Buffalo brings its own offensive storyline, and it starts with senior receiver Chance Morrow. He’s been the Bulls’ most dangerous weapon by a wide margin, scoring all five of their touchdowns and tying for the FBS lead in receiving touchdowns.
Last week against FIU, Morrow caught 11 passes for 173 yards and two scores in Buffalo’s 33-20 loss. Through two games, the Louisville transfer has 16 receptions for 258 yards.
That makes this a worthwhile test for Penn State’s secondary, which hasn’t had to deal with a passing attack like this yet. The most interesting matchups could come when Morrow, listed at 6-4 and 192 pounds, lines up against cornerbacks Audavion Collins and Daryus Dixson.
"First and foremost, he's an elite talent," Campbell said of Morrow. "... He's got an elite catch radius, he's long, he's got the abiltiy to threaten you down the field and, if you watch some of those catches in tight spaces, he's a real challenge."
Penn State should have the chance to spread the work around if the game unfolds the way most expect. A total of at least 70 players could see the field, and for some, this may be their only action all season. As Campbell put it this week, playing time has to be earned.
Even so, Saturday matters for more than just mop-up duty. Penn State still needs to build a clearer picture of who comes next behind the starters, and the rotations should reveal a lot.
Up front, the offensive line is one area to watch after the Nittany Lions used their starting five for every series but one at Temple. Campbell said this week that depth on the line is a concern, and this game could help sort out the pecking order.
There’s a similar issue on the defensive front, where Penn State is adjusting after Max Granville was lost for the season. Granville suffered a season-ending injury in practice just days before the Temple game, leaving the staff with little time to map out a replacement plan. With a week to study the options, the Nittany Lions are now working through a new approach at defensive end.
Granville had been emerging as Penn State’s best pure pass-rusher at the position, and now that role will likely shift to Yvan Kemajou, Caleb Bacon or some combination of players. His absence also changes how the 275-pound edge Ikenna Ezeogu is used. The pass rush was already a preseason question; Granville’s injury only makes it more urgent, and Penn State doesn’t have much time left to figure it out.
In Other News...
Penn State May Have Found A Bigger Weapon Than Fans Realized
Penn State has spent the first two weeks seeing Zay Robinson in a little bit of everything, and the early returns suggest the redshirt freshman transfer from Iowa State may be carving out a bigger role than many expected. In the 45-0 win over Marshall, Robinson broke loose for a 39-yard touchdown, adding another flash point to an opening stretch in which he has already made an impact as a receiver and on special teams.
Robinson has handled punts and kickoffs, caught several passes and lined up at multiple receiver spots, giving the Nittany Lions a versatile option who can change field position and help the offense in different ways. His growing role has drawn praise from teammates and coach Matt Campbell, and Penn State will keep watching to see just how far his expanded workload can go as the season develops. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Still Has One Big Problem To Sort Out Before Wisconsin
Penn State has opened the season 2-0 and gets Buffalo before the schedule stiffens and Big Ten play begins, but the next step is as much about answers as it is about another win. The staff still has some sorting to do on the back end with its safety rotation, and there are fresh faces up front trying to settle into a run defense that will be tested more seriously once league play arrives.
The bigger issue, though, may be on offense, where the rushing game has not yet given the Nittany Lions the kind of reliable edge they want heading toward Wisconsin. Buffalo offers a useful checkpoint to see what works, what needs tweaking and how quickly Penn State can get its ground attack pointed in the right direction before the games start carrying more weight. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State May Watch Ohio State Steal Another Early Recruiting Win
Jordan Halls recruitment has quickly become one to watch for Penn State, which was the first Power Four program to offer the Ohio running back after his decommitment from Miami (OH). The three-star prospect has drawn attention from both Penn State and Ohio State, giving the Nittany Lions an early opening in a class-building race that matters as much for the future of the backfield as it does for bragging rights.
Ohio State is now hosting Hall for a visit, and that has put Penn State in the familiar position of trying to hold off a regional power with deep ties in the state. For both programs, the interest goes beyond one player, since each is looking to secure running back help in its 2027 class, but the current momentum appears to favor the Buckeyes unless Penn State can change the conversation soon. [Read more 🡒]