Big Ten football usually gets decided in the trenches, and Penn State’s first real test of that truth arrives fast.
The Nittany Lions come out of a non-conference stretch that included Marshall, Temple and Buffalo, and the question now is whether that schedule gave them a cushion that won’t hold up once league play starts. Saturday against Wisconsin should say plenty.
The Badgers, even with their issues under Luke Fickell, still tend to bring the kind of physicality that exposes soft spots. They were fourth in the Big Ten in rush defense last season, even though they finished dead last in rushing, a problem Fickell has to fix if he wants to keep his job.
That makes this matchup less about rankings and more about how Penn State handles contact. The Lions are No. 13 in the AP poll, but the struggle against Temple - a well-coached team led by K.C.
Keeler and motivated by in-state proximity - left enough of a mark to make you wonder whether the early schedule created a false sense of security. The next few weeks should clear that up in a hurry.
And the stretch ahead is no joke. After Wisconsin, Penn State goes to Northwestern on Friday, Oct. 2 for the Wildcats’ opening of their new $850 million stadium, then comes the toughest back-to-back of the PSU season: USC in White Out conditions, followed by a trip to the Big House.
The other big piece to watch is the backfield, where Penn State has been rotating four runners and trying to make it work.
Starter Carson Hansen has been the steady one so far, carrying 35 times and holding up well physically, but his 4.8 yards per carry is the lowest of the group. Quinton Martin got the message after a zero-carry game at Temple and has responded with 20 carries for 6.9 yards apiece, plus the team’s only 100-yard game, against Buffalo.
Ohio State transfer James Peoples has flashed, too, showing off a leap over a defender at Temple and some outside burst against Buffalo while averaging 5.7 on 23 carries. Cam Wallace has been efficient as well, putting up 6.1 yards on 20 tries, as the staff has backed up its promise to play all four.
The question is whether that can continue once the schedule tightens. Harder opponents usually mean fewer chances to spread the ball around, and the best backs often separate themselves by settling in and wearing defenses down as games go on.
Penn State has had backfield jams before. In 1969, it had Charlie Pittman, Lydell Mitchell and Franco Harris, though the schedule was soft enough that it hardly mattered and the defense was second to none.
In 1993, the first year Penn State played in the Big Ten, Ki-Jana Carter, Mike Archie and Stephen Pitts were all in the mix. Archie and Pitts were good players.
Carter was great. The issue was that the Lions took two losses before they fully turned to Carter, though they still finished 12-0 in 1994.
That’s the backdrop now. With a College Football Playoff berth potentially on the line, the way Penn State sorts out its running back “committee” may end up shaping just how far this team goes.
In Other News...
Penn State Staffer Faces Serious Off-Field Legal Trouble
A Penn State football staffer is facing serious off-field legal trouble after police in downtown State College found Jordan Lucas asleep in a vehicle under circumstances that quickly turned into a legal issue. Lucas, an assistant cornerbacks coach, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of DUI along with three summary traffic violations after the stop, which also involved a suspended drivers license and expired vehicle registration.
Penn State has already acknowledged the charges and said Lucas remains with the program while the legal matter continues. For a coaching staff that has spent much of the season trying to keep the focus on the field, the situation adds an unwelcome off-field storyline involving a relatively new face in the defensive room. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Offensive Line Just Got Thinner At The Worst Time
Penn States offensive line took another hit at a bad time, with coach Matt Campbell announcing that Will Tompkins is done for the season because of injury. Tompkins had been part of the early rotation, logging 31 snaps over the first three games after transferring in from Iowa State, and he gave the Nittany Lions another experienced body in a group that can rarely afford to lose one.
The longer-term picture still offers something for Penn State to work with, since Tompkins is expected to keep four years of eligibility after this season. For now, though, his absence leaves the staff with one less option up front as the season keeps moving and the line depth gets put under more pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Just Lost A Dangerous Weapon Before Wisconsin
Penn States receiving group took a hit in the Week 3 win over Buffalo, and it comes at an awkward time with Big Ten play beginning. Koby Howard suffered an injury in that game and head coach Matt Campbell confirmed he will be out for an extended period, leaving the Nittany Lions without their most productive pass catcher heading into Wisconsin.
Howard has led Penn State in receiving yards through three games, so his absence forces a real adjustment in how the offense attacks the field. The injury is not season-ending, but missing him for the opener changes the shape of the passing game and puts more pressure on the rest of the receiving corps to fill the void. [Read more 🡒]