Koby Howard’s expected return for Penn State’s Week 9 matchup with Purdue is still up in the air.
The sophomore wide receiver has been sidelined since Week 3, and while he had floated a possible comeback against Michigan in Week 7 on social media, that never materialized. Head coach Matt Campbell had already suggested before that game that Howard’s return would come after Penn State’s Week 8 bye, but on Tuesday he stopped short of calling it certain.
Matt Campbell on Koby Howard:
“I would say his availability for Purdue is questionable at this moment.” pic.twitter.com/KfcgRV1rDo
- Joel Haas (@Joel_Haas1) October 20, 2026
That’s a step forward from being ruled out, though it still leaves Howard’s status unsettled with Penn State set to host Purdue at 4:15 p.m. ET at Beaver Stadium.
Howard’s absence has stretched long enough that the assumption of a Week 9 comeback now feels less clean than it did when Campbell first talked about a post-bye return and Howard’s own post pointed to Michigan. If anything, Campbell’s latest update suggests this wasn’t just a case of Howard being held out against the Wolverines as a safety measure.
Penn State’s offense could use the boost. Against Michigan, redshirt senior wide receiver Chase Sowell turned in the best outing of his season, hauling in 11 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown. Michigan crowded the box to try to bottle up a struggling Penn State run game, and Sowell consistently won his matchups, even against Michigan’s future NFL cornerbacks.
If Howard is able to return, Sowell’s breakout could make life harder on Purdue’s defense too. With both receivers stressing the field, the Boilermakers may be less inclined to stack the box or bring early-down run blitzes, which could open the door for Penn State’s ground game.
It would also matter for fifth-year quarterback Rocco Becht, who committed three turnovers in the second half against Michigan, and all 21 of the Wolverines’ points came after those giveaways. Campbell said after the loss that he didn’t consider, and wouldn’t consider, making a quarterback change.
Even with four losses already on the board, there’s a case for giving redshirt freshman Alex Manske a shot as Becht’s long-term successor down the stretch. But Campbell’s faith in Becht is clear, and getting Howard back would at least give him a cleaner read on what his veteran quarterback can do with a full set of weapons.
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Penn States offensive frustration spilled into the open after the Michigan game, when Quinton Martin Sr., the father of running back Quinton Martin Jr., took aim at quarterback Rocco Becht on social media. The post quickly turned into a public distraction for a team already dealing with questions about how it is distributing touches, and it only added to the sense that some of the discomfort around the offense has moved beyond the building.
Martin Sr. later apologized publicly to Becht, but the bigger issue for Penn State is still hanging there. Head coach Matt Campbells playing-time decisions have been under scrutiny, and Martin Jr. has seen limited carries this season, leaving his future with the program part of the conversation as well. For a team trying to steady its offense, even one familys frustration has become a revealing sign of how much tension is building around those decisions. [Read more 🡒]
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Purdue will arrive in State College with the same 3-4 record, but the matchup has clearly lost some of its pull for fans who were expecting a much different kind of late-season spotlight. The game is set for a 4:15 kickoff on Big Ten Network, and while the price on the secondary market suggests a soft appetite for the trip, Penn State still gets a chance to reset at home under the lights. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Get Another Home Game Frustration Before Purdue
Penn State fans already had one unusual home date this fall, and they are getting another before Purdue rolls into Happy Valley. The Oct. 31 matchup has been set for a 4:15 p.m. kickoff on Big Ten Network, another late-afternoon slot that is not exactly the traditional look for a Nittany Lions home game.
It comes on the heels of the Wisconsin game being placed in a 5:00 p.m. window on Peacock, adding to the sense that Penn States home schedule has been anything but standard lately. The Lions will come out of a bye week to face a Purdue team that has been more competitive than expected, so the timing of this one will matter as much for the atmosphere as for the football. [Read more 🡒]