Penn State gets one last tune-up before Big Ten play, and the biggest question hanging over Saturday’s matchup with Buffalo isn’t on the defensive side of the ball.
That unit has been cruising. The offense, especially the run game, is the part that still needs answers.
The No. 2 Nittany Lions are 2-0 and will host the Bulls, who are 1-1, at Beaver Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Kickoff is set for noon ET, with the game on BTN and streaming on FOX One. Penn State opened as a 41.5-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, and the over/under sits at 50.5.
What’s most concerning for Penn State is how little juice the ground game has found through two weeks. Carson Hansen has 30 carries for 132 yards, and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser didn’t hide his frustration, saying he is “less than thrilled” with the rushing attack and accepting responsibility for the struggles.
That makes Saturday a useful final test before Wisconsin arrives to open Big Ten play on Sept. 26. It’s a chance to spread the work around and see more from James Peoples, Cam Wallace and Quinton Martin Jr., all of whom could get extra carries against a Buffalo defense that looks outmatched on paper.
Head coach Matt Campbell pushed back on the idea that the issues are about play design. His message was simpler: the details and execution have to improve. “I think Mouse has done a really good job,” Campbell said Tuesday.
While the offense searches for rhythm, Penn State’s defense has been doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. The Nittany Lions have allowed only 12 points over two games, and cornerbacks Audavion Collins and Daryus Dixson have been playing at an elite level. Linebacker Tony Rojas has also emerged after returning from the torn ACL he suffered last season.
There’s also a projection floating around for Saturday that has wide receiver Zay Robinson as the MVP in a 42-3 Penn State win. That forecast includes a kick return touchdown and four catches for 96 yards.
As for availability, Campbell said defensive linemen Armstrong Nnodim and Alijah Carnell are expected to play this weekend, while linebacker Cam Smith is questionable against Buffalo.
In Other News...
Penn State Suddenly Has A Tight End Concern Fans Know Too Well
Penn States depth at tight end is being tested again after Andrew Rappleyea left the Week 3 game against Buffalo in the first half with a right shoulder injury and did not return. It was an unwelcome development for a position group that has already spent plenty of time drawing attention for all the wrong reasons, even as the Nittany Lions continue to have bodies available behind him.
Gabe Burkle, Benjamin Brahmer and Finn Furmanek give Penn State options if Rappleyea needs time, but the bigger question is how long the staff has to manage another potential absence at a spot it was hoping to stabilize. Brock Riker also exited early and did not reenter, though it was not clear whether his departure was injury-related, adding one more layer of uncertainty to a game that turned into more than just a routine September tuneup. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Has A New Injury Worry Before Wisconsin
Penn State left its Week 3 win over Buffalo with a couple of familiar-looking worries after starting center Brock Riker and tight end Andrew Rappleyea went down in the first half. Head coach Matt Campbell said both players were "dinged up," but the early read was encouraging enough to suggest neither injury appears serious.
Still, the Nittany Lions have a short week to get their offense back in order before a Week 4 Big Ten test against Wisconsin. Riker is important to the middle of the line, and Rappleyea gives the offense another piece in the passing game, so Penn State will be watching both situations closely as it tries to avoid carrying more injury uncertainty into conference play. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Found A New Playmaker Fans Will Be Talking About
Penn State had plenty to like in its 55-13 win over Buffalo at Beaver Stadium, but the game also offered a glimpse of a player who may have quickly earned a bigger spotlight. Koby Howard was a constant presence whenever the Nittany Lions needed a spark, finding the end zone as both a runner and a receiver while giving the offense a burst of explosiveness in a nonconference tune-up that was comfortable for most of the afternoon.
Howards 20-yard rushing touchdown and 70-yard receiving touchdown were the kind of plays that tend to stick with fans long after a blowout is over, and he was hardly the only contributor in a balanced effort. Caleb Bacon and Yvan Kemajou helped set the tone defensively with tackles, a sack and a forced fumble, while Zay Robinson added useful field position work on punt returns, but Howard was the one who gave the night its most memorable new storyline. [Read more 🡒]