Penn State’s locker room has seen this movie before, and that’s why a four-game skid doesn’t feel like the end of the conversation inside the building.
A roster built with pieces from last year’s Penn State team and Matt Campbell’s Iowa State group is leaning hard on that shared history as it tries to stop the slide. The Nittany Lions are back home Saturday against Purdue at Beaver Stadium, and several players say the key now is simple: keep showing up and keep working through it.
“Everyone's been through hard stuff, whether it was at Iowa State, Penn State, wherever it was,” former Iowa State and now-Penn State linebacker Kooper Ebel said Wednesday. “So we all have what Coach Campbell calls our scars. And yeah, we've been able to use that to our advantage.”
That mindset is being tested in a season that has gone sideways faster than anyone around the program wanted. Penn State is 3-4 and still looking for its first Big Ten win. It is also one of only three Power 4 teams without a victory over a Power 4 opponent.
The frustrations have followed. The Nittany Lions have faced only one opponent, USC, that ranked in the top-30 of ESPN’s College Football Power Index, and they still haven’t found a way to consistently handle anyone worth their weight. The noise around the program has grown, and the players know it.
Still, Ebel believes the answer isn’t panic. It’s repetition.
“That's kind of what we did at Iowa State last year,” Ebel said. “Similar situation, and in the fact we just couldn't get over the hump.
Kind of had some really close games that we felt that didn't fall our way. But yeah, you just keep showing up.
You can't waver. You can't run.
You can't hide. You just have to keep showing up, practicing hard, doing all those things and honing in on the details, and I feel like it's been a similar approach for sure.”
Tight end Andrew Rappleyea said that approach is a lesson he had to learn the hard way. He said he used to dwell on his mistakes, but college football does not leave much room for that kind of baggage.
“Yeah, I mean, reality is, it's just like, you have to move on fast,” Rappleyea said. “If you just keep watching, listening to outside noise, watching the plays that you know you want back, you're just going to set yourself up for failure going forward.
“So for me, it's just a matter of as soon as Sunday hits, regardless of the result, Saturday you have to get in [and ask yourself]. What did I do good?
What did I do bad? What do I have to work on?
And find something you can work at a little bit each day.”
Penn State’s path out of this stretch matters beyond the standings. The program’s next steps, the players know, could shape how attractive it looks to recruits moving forward.
Win at least four of the final five games, and the mood around the program changes quickly. Keep losing, and the damage deepens.
The bye week arrived at a good time, according to wide receiver Zay Robinson, giving the team a chance to step back and sort through what needs to change.
“I say we were attacking every day,” Robinson said. “Getting a little extra work in because, why not?
Does nothing but help us. So we've been getting out there a little extra, throwing with all the guys and just working that.”
Penn State will try to start turning things around Saturday, when it hosts Purdue at 4:15 p.m. ET. Big Ten Network will televise the game.
In Other News...
Penn States 2027 QB Search Just Got More Interesting
Penn States 2027 quarterback board already looks different after Will Wood flipped his commitment to Boston College, and the ripple effect was immediate. The Nittany Lions responded by extending an offer to another Class of 2027 quarterback, Ben Rolapp, who is also committed to Boston College but has drawn multiple offers while building momentum off a strong 2025 season.
For a Penn State staff still sorting through its options at the most important spot in the class, Rolapps name adds another layer to a search that is still very much ongoing. Losing one commitment can tighten the timeline for the next decision, and with Penn State continuing to pursue quarterbacks for 2027, this is the kind of recruiting twist that can quickly reshape the board. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Suddenly Has A Receiver Concern Ahead Of Purdue
Penn States passing game could be facing a little more uncertainty than usual heading into Purdue, with leading receiver Chase Sowell appearing on the availability report as questionable for the first time this season. The Nittany Lions also have Koby Howard in that same category, adding another layer of concern to a receiver group that has already been dealing with attrition and lineup shuffling as the week has gone on.
Howard has missed the last four games, and even if he is able to make it back, the expectation is that his role would be limited. There are also several defensive players on both sides dealing with various injury designations, so this game is shaping up as one where depth could matter just as much as the headline names, especially if Penn State has to adjust its plan at receiver on short notice. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces Real Pressure As Offensive Concerns Keep Growing
Penn State heads into its meeting with Purdue carrying more than just the weight of a four-game Big Ten losing streak. The Nittany Lions also need their offense to look more stable, with quarterback Rocco Becht working through turnover issues and a passing game that has not given the team much cushion during this slide. There is at least some hope on the injury front, with wide receiver Koby Howard possibly back after missing four games, which could give the group a needed spark.
Purdue arrives in Happy Valley with its own long losing run against Penn State, having dropped 11 straight in the series, but Barry Odom is already talking about the challenge of preparing for the Beaver Stadium atmosphere. For Penn State, this is the kind of game that can either settle things down or deepen the unease around an offense still searching for rhythm. The matchup offers a chance to reset, but only if the Nittany Lions can clean up the mistakes that have made the recent slide so hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]