Penn State walks into Big Ten play with the look of a team that has handled its business, and the numbers in this matchup point the same way. Wisconsin has pieces that can make this interesting, but the Badgers are still searching for the kind of consistency that Penn State has already shown on both sides of the ball.
On offense, Penn State has been able to pair a winning quarterback with a running game that finally flashed some explosiveness last week. Rocco Becht’s record speaks for itself: his 29 wins are the most by an FBS quarterback.
The part that jumps off the page is how much bigger the offense looked with some chunk plays on the ground. That matters here because Wisconsin’s defense has not yet shown it can force opponents into long, grinding drives.
Wisconsin’s offense, though, is not coming in empty-handed. The Badgers have put the ball in the air more than expected, and quarterback Colton Joseph has answered with two games over 200 passing yards.
The run game, however, remains a work in progress. Against Notre Dame, Wisconsin managed only 67 rushing yards on 31 carries, a rough number for a program that still wants to lean back into its power roots.
Abu Sama III will also have a little extra motivation in this one after running for 732 yards for Campbell's Cyclones last year.
The edge there goes to Penn State.
Defensively, Penn State has been stingy enough to keep opponents from ever really settling in. The starting unit has allowed just one touchdown, and that came after the Temple game was already decided.
The Lions are giving up 201 yards per game, and they’re bringing pressure, even if the sack total still isn’t where it needs to be. The bigger test now is whether that front can hold up against a Wisconsin offense that wants to get physical.
Wisconsin’s defense is still a puzzle. The pass rush was supposed to be a calling card, but the Badgers have only three sacks in three games, with two of those coming last week.
CJ Carr had his way with them as well, which makes it hard to know exactly what this group is yet after two easier games in the mix. There’s also a lot of turnover in the unit, with only three starters back from last season.
On the plus side, Wisconsin picked off its first two passes last week after making the secondary a priority in the portal.
That side also tilts to Penn State.
Special teams give Penn State another advantage. Zay Robinson is a real weapon in the punt return game, the kind of player who can flip field position in one snap.
Ryan Barker has settled in too, hitting four straight field goals since a rare miss against Temple, including a 48-yarder last week. Nathan Tiyce hasn’t been asked to do much, but his 41.6 yards per punt average is not good enough.
Wisconsin has some strong special-teams answers of its own. Gavin Lahm, who handled kickoffs in 2024, has been solid in his new role and is 5-for-5 on field goals with a 51-yarder.
He did miss an extra point, though. Sean West has been excellent at punter, averaging 45.4 yards and putting four of seven kicks inside the 20.
He also hit a 70-yarder against Notre Dame. In the return game, Nate Palmer and Carson Van Dinter are the names to watch.
The coaching and intangible side still favors Penn State as well. It would be a surprise if Penn State didn’t enter conference play unbeaten, but the faster starts have been just as important as the wins themselves.
A year ago, those slow openings in the first three games hinted at what was coming later. Defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn is also the kind of name that keeps coming up for bigger jobs.
For Wisconsin, Luke Fickell has not been able to recreate the momentum he built at Cincinnati, where he turned a dormant program into a Final 4 playoff team in 2021 and won national coach of the year honors. Since then, Wisconsin has gone from seven wins to five to four. The pressure is only building from here.
Prediction record: 3-0
In Other News...
Penn State Gets A Timely Boost Before Its Wisconsin Test
Armstrong Nnodims return gave Penn State a useful lift last weekend, with the transfer defensive tackle finally making his season debut against Buffalo after missing the first two weeks with an injury. He made an immediate contribution with two tackles, but the bigger takeaway was simply getting him back into the mix as the Nittany Lions continue to sort through a defensive tackle group that has needed every available body.
Nnodim said the stretch away from the field left him motivated to get back, and he credited the support around him from coaches, teammates and family for helping him through the setback. For Penn State, his return matters beyond one game, especially with Wisconsin ahead and the staff looking to keep the rotation deep, fresh and effective up front. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Get A Reassuring Weather Read For Wisconsin Saturday
A favorable weather picture is taking shape for Penn States matchup with Wisconsin at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, and that matters more than usual for a crowd that likes to settle in and let the football take over. Meteorologist Joe Murgos forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies with some sunshine, kickoff temperatures around 65 degrees and breezy conditions, but nothing that sounds disruptive for a game in Happy Valley.
The bigger weather concerns are centered farther east, where rain and stronger winds are expected near Philadelphia and New Jersey. For the Nittany Lions and their fans, the key read is simpler: the game itself is expected to stay mostly dry, which should keep the focus on the matchup instead of the elements. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Face One Frustrating Hurdle Before Wisconsin Opener
The buildup to Penn States Big Ten opener against Wisconsin is complicated by something that has nothing to do with the matchup on the field: getting access to the game in the first place. Beaver Stadium will host the meeting with the Badgers, but the broadcast is set to live exclusively on Peacock and NBCSN streaming services, turning a familiar Saturday attraction into a reminder of how much college football has shifted for viewers.
From a football standpoint, the Lions have plenty going for them. They are favored to win and carry a six-game winning streak against Wisconsin into the opener, with Koby Howard unavailable and coach Matt Campbell set for his debut in the spotlight. Still, for plenty of fans, the first hurdle is simply figuring out how to watch a game that should have felt like a straightforward conference showcase. [Read more 🡒]