Penn State’s offense left plenty to be desired against Wisconsin, but Northwestern head coach David Braun isn’t taking that as a reason to look past what Matt Campbell brings to the table.
The Nittany Lions were held to 223 total yards, 12 first downs and a long gain of just 22 yards in last Saturday’s 24-20 loss at Beaver Stadium, a rough afternoon for an offense coordinated by Taylor Mouser. Penn State now heads to Northwestern on Friday night for a Big Ten matchup that will be the first game played at new Ryan Field.
Braun, though, sees a much bigger picture when he studies Campbell’s approach.
“They’re really versatile,” Braun said of the Lions.
“I’ll tell you what, I’ve been so impressed with coach Campbell over the years, whether it’s been his time at Iowa State and recruiting this area.
“I thought it was a phenomenal hire by Penn State, just the way he goes about things.”
From Braun’s perspective, the challenge starts with how long Penn State’s offensive staff has been together and how many layers they can build into a game plan.
“That offensive staff, they’ve been together for a long time,” Braun said.
“Coach Campbell’s background is (as) an offensive line guy. Coach (Taylor) Mouser and Ryan Clanton, their offensive line coach, they do a really good job, specifically (with) the tight ends.
“They just find ways. There’s three tight ends on the field and they’re in a big formation that indicates run and they utilize play action out of it.
“They give you a lot of different things to defend.”
In Other News...
Penn State Veterans Called A Rare Meeting After That Wisconsin Collapse
The mood around Penn State has been pointedly serious since the 24-20 home loss to Wisconsin, and for good reason. Quarterback Rocco Becht and defensive tackle Keanu Williams said the team responded with a meeting aimed at sorting through what went wrong, resetting expectations and making sure the standard inside the locker room stayed intact after a frustrating finish.
Becht and Williams framed the conversation as an honest one, with players willing to own mistakes and speak plainly about where the performance slipped. The larger goal was less about dwelling on one bad night than tightening the group back together before the next stretch of games, with the veterans stressing unity, accountability and a shared push to get back on track. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Next Recruiting Push Centers On The Names Fans Need To Watch
The weeks after a loss are often when a staffs recruiting work becomes most visible, and Penn State wasted little time turning its attention to Happy Valley. Following the setback against Wisconsin, the program brought in a record number of football recruits under head coach Matt Campbell, giving current commits and a wide range of future targets a front-row view of the campus and the pitch around the Nittany Lions.
The visit list stretched across the 2027 and 2028 classes, with quarterback James Armstrong and edge rusher George Parkinson IV among the names drawing attention. Penn State is still pushing to add more pieces, especially at wide receiver and among in-state prospects in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, making this stretch a key one for the staff as it tries to build momentum beyond the visit weekend. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Have A New Reason To Question Matt Campbell
Penn States Week 4 win over Wisconsin left plenty for the fan base to chew on, but one sequence stood out for how carefully Matt Campbell handled it. Faced with 4th-and-1 at his own 38-yard line, Campbell initially sent the offense out, then used a timeout before ultimately choosing to punt. It was the kind of in-game pivot that can look either calculated or cautious depending on how the rest of the afternoon plays out.
Campbell later acknowledged the uncertainty around the call, saying he was weighing Wisconsins defensive alignment and the possibility of drawing an offsides penalty. For Penn State supporters, the moment added another layer to the discussion about how aggressively the staff wants to manage close games, especially when field position and momentum are hanging in the balance. The punt itself ended the possession cleanly enough, but the process behind it is likely to linger a bit longer. [Read more 🡒]