Penn State’s week suddenly got a lot messier.
What looked like a favorable early-season setup has turned into a fast-moving problem as the Nittany Lions try to recover from a stunning loss to Wisconsin and turn right around for a Friday night trip to Northwestern. That’s a brutal bounce for a team that is still getting its first real taste of Big Ten play, and the timing only gets tougher with injuries, travel and a short week all hitting at once.
The loss to Wisconsin didn’t just sting because of the result. It exposed a few pressure points that now sit squarely in the spotlight as Penn State heads into another difficult matchup. Here are the five biggest things to watch.
Koby Howard’s absence changes everything
Penn State was rocked by Koby Howard’s injury after he erupted for 115 yards against Buffalo. He had been building momentum fast and looking like one of the more promising young receivers around, but now he’s expected to be out for the foreseeable future.
That leaves the offense searching for answers after one of its quietest outings of the season in Week 4. Without Howard, Penn State posted its lowest point total and yardage total of the year, and the passing game never found a rhythm. The wide receivers didn’t give much on Saturday, and the tight ends didn’t pick up the slack either.
Matt Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser have work to do this week if they want to get that unit moving again.
Rocco Becht has to reset fast
Rocco Becht is going to spend this week under a bright spotlight after a rough showing against Wisconsin. It was one of the worst games of his career, and there’s no way to dodge the fact that he played a major role in the loss.
He looked off, he was inaccurate, he drifted into sacks, and he never seemed fully settled when the game tightened up. For a quarterback with as much experience as he has, that makes this a big reset week. Everyone around the program will be watching to see whether he can turn it around quickly.
Penn State needs its aggressive identity back
Early in the season, Campbell and Mouser had no hesitation about pushing the issue on fourth downs and staying on the gas even when Penn State was already in control. That approach was part of the team’s early identity.
Against Wisconsin, though, they backed off that mindset, and it didn’t work out. Instead of stretching the lead and closing the door, they went conservative late, and the game slipped away.
That’s not the version of Penn State that has shown up most often so far. If the Nittany Lions are going to handle tougher opponents, they need to get back to being the team that attacks, not the one that eases up.
More close games are coming
Penn State better be ready for a lot more tense finishes.
The Wisconsin game was a reminder that the rest of the schedule is likely to feature plenty of nail-biters, and there’s no guarantee the next ones will be any easier. The Nittany Lions didn’t handle their first real test with much composure, which makes the next pressure situation even more interesting.
This group is going to live in those moments. The question is whether it can respond better when the game is on the line.
Campbell is already under the microscope
Penn State brought in Campbell to change the direction of the program, and after one loss, the early returns are mixed at best. The school moved on from James Franklin, in part, because of games that looked too much like the one Penn State just dropped to Wisconsin.
There’s still plenty of season left, and Campbell has time to show that this won’t become a pattern. But this was not the start he needed. If Penn State is going to restore confidence and belief, Campbell is going to need a strong finish to the year.
In Other News...
Penn States Offensive Struggles Make One Former QB Hard To Ignore
Penn State has spent plenty of time looking for answers on offense, and in the middle of that conversation, a familiar name keeps surfacing. Ethan Grunkemeyer, who started for the Nittany Lions last season before moving on to Virginia Tech, has quickly become one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the ACC, leading the conference in completions while helping the Hokies get out to a 4-0 start.
What stands out most is the way Grunkemeyer is being described by opposing coaches, who have praised his decision-making and his ability to protect the ball. For Penn State, it is the kind of development that can make an offseason transfer look even more notable, especially when the Nittany Lions are still sorting through their own identity on offense. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Still Has A Shot At A Massive Recruiting Flip
Kemon Spells recruiting story still has a Penn State angle worth watching. The five-star running back had originally committed to James Franklins program before backing off his pledge ahead of Franklins firing, and even with Georgia now holding his commitment, the Nittany Lions have not stopped pushing. USC and Virginia Tech are in the mix too, but Penn States prior connection gives this chase a different feel than a typical long-shot pursuit.
Spell has a visit to Athens scheduled, which only adds to the stakes for every other program still trying to get him back in the fold. For Penn State, the challenge is obvious: turn an old relationship into a fresh reason to reconsider, all while navigating a race that includes multiple major programs for one of the top running backs in the country. [Read more 🡒]
Former Penn State Star Faces A New NFL Twist Fans Didn't Expect
Joey Porter Jr. is getting a fresh NFL start after the Pittsburgh Steelers sent the former Penn State cornerback to the Dallas Cowboys in a deal that brought back a second-round draft pick. Porter had not seen the field for Pittsburgh this season, with contract issues and injury concerns keeping him out of the lineup as the situation around him grew more complicated.
The move also adds another layer to an already familiar pipeline between two of the leagues most recognizable front offices, since it is the third transaction in the past two years between Steelers general manager Omar Khan and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. For Penn State fans, it is a notable twist for one of the programs most visible recent pros, and one that now sends his next chapter to a new contender with plenty of attention still attached. [Read more 🡒]