Penn State’s weekend brought a little bit of everything: a first men’s basketball loss, a rough hockey sweep at home, a football team stacking another Big Ten win, and a volleyball upset that stood out above the rest.
The men’s basketball team took its first hit of the season Sunday night, falling to Pittsburgh 82-76 at The Palestra after opening with wins over Canisius, 97-57, and Chattanooga, 97-93. Penn State got 11 points from Roko Prkacin, who shot four-of-six from the field and three-of-four at the line while adding seven rebounds, two steals and two assists.
Ivan Juric finished with 16 points on two-of-seven shooting and went nine-of-10 at the free throw line, while also pulling down 13 rebounds. Dasonte Bowen led the way with 17 points, and Francois Wibaut and Brant Byers each chipped in nine off the bench.
The Nittany Lions now turn to Mercyhurst, with tipoff set for 6:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, Nov.
Penn State football kept rolling under Matt Campbell, following a decisive win over Purdue in Week 9 with a road victory over Washington. That moved the Nittany Lions to 5-4 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten.
Rocco Becht completed 16 of 27 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns, though Washington’s defense got to him three times after turning up the pressure in the second half. Left tackle Malachi Goodman, who was banged up in Week 9, was listed as probable and played Saturday, but Penn State eased him off after halftime and used Garrett Sexton.
Chase Sowell was back after missing the previous game and made the most of it, catching four passes for 125 yards and a 45-yard touchdown. Benjamin Brahmer added 36 receiving yards, the second-most on the night.
The men’s hockey team had a much tougher weekend at Pegula Ice Arena, where Notre Dame left with two wins. On Friday, Shea Busch scored twice and Justin Poirier added a goal and an assist as Penn State carried a 2-1 lead into the second period and then stretched it before the third.
But the Irish answered with two goals in the third, tied it late in regulation, and Evan Werner ended it 1:46 into overtime. Saturday followed a similar script, with Penn State scoring first and last but Notre Dame controlling the middle of the game in a 4-2 win.
Dane Dowiak and Jackson Smith each posted a goal and an assist, while Danny Nelson scored twice for the Irish, including the winner. Penn State is now 2-7-1 overall and 0-3-1 in the Big Ten, and the schedule only gets steeper with No.
2 Michigan next on Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. EST.
The biggest punch of the weekend came from women’s volleyball, where No. 11 Penn State stunned No.
7 Wisconsin in five sets, 3-2. The Nittany Lions handled the pressure of a tight match and still scored at least 20 points in every set except the 15-point fifth, which they won to close it out.
Kennedy Martin was the headliner with 32 points and 28 kills, plus three aces, two block assists and 12 digs. Whitney Lauenstein added 16.5 points and 15 kills with three block assists, and Alexis Stucky ran the offense with 55 assists while also collecting 12 digs and an ace.
Gabrielle Nichols and Kendall Northern each reached double figures as well, giving Penn State the kind of balanced attack it needed against a Wisconsin team that entered with five players over 145 kills and six with at least 115 points. The Nittany Lions stay on the road for Maryland on Wednesday, Nov. 11, with first serve at 7 p.m.
EST on Big Ten+.
In Other News...
Penn State Fans Got A Scary Jack Ham Update
Penn State fans got a jolt before kickoff when Hall of Famer Jack Ham was hospitalized in Seattle after a medical emergency ahead of a Penn State game. Ham, who starred for the Nittany Lions before becoming a longtime Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, has remained a familiar presence around the program for years as a color commentator on Penn State football radio broadcasts.
Matt Campbell later offered a reassuring update, saying Ham is making great progress and remains in stable condition. For a fan base that has heard Hams voice and seen his connection to the program for so long, the news brought an immediate wave of concern, and then some relief as his condition improved. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Got Another Big NFL Reminder This Weekend
Former Penn State players kept popping up all over the NFL scoreboard in Week 9, another reminder of how much pro talent has come out of Happy Valley. Kaytron Allen chipped in on special teams for the Miami Dolphins with a 46-yard fake punt run and picked up his first career reception, while Saquon Barkley found the end zone for the Philadelphia Eagles. Elsewhere, Parker Washington hauled in a touchdown for the Jacksonville Jaguars, adding to a weekend that kept Penn State fans checking box scores well after the college games were over.
The biggest late-game swing came from Juwan Johnson, who caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime for the New Orleans Saints, while Dani Dennis-Sutton added tackles and a sack for the Green Bay Packers. It was the kind of scattered but steady showing that underscores how deep Penn States NFL footprint remains, with alumni contributing in every phase and at every level. For a fan base that tracks its former stars closely, this was one of those weekends that made the pro schedule feel a little like a reunion. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Bowl Projections Just Sparked A Travel Debate Among Fans
Penn States latest win pushed the Nittany Lions to five victories and put them within striking distance of bowl eligibility with three games left, which is exactly the point in the season when the projection chatter starts to heat up. National outlets have already begun slotting Penn State into a range of possible postseason destinations, with names like the Fenway Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl, Dukes Mayo Bowl and First Responder Bowl all showing up in the early guesses.
The travel conversation is part of the fun, but it is also a reminder of how much can still change before any real planning begins. Depending on how Penn State finishes, the matchup and location could shift along with it, and every projection remains speculative until bowl eligibility is officially secured. For fans, the next few weeks will decide not just whether there is a bowl trip, but what kind of trip it might turn into. [Read more 🡒]