Two Penn State starters are still hanging in the balance with kickoff less than 24 hours away for Saturday’s Big Ten opener against Wisconsin, and that uncertainty could have a real impact on the Nittany Lions’ offense.
According to the Big Ten’s mandatory availability report, offensive lineman Brock Riker and tight end Andrew Rappleyea were both listed as questionable again on Friday. They had carried that same designation on all three reports this week, leaving their status unresolved heading into No.
13 Penn State’s 5 p.m. ET matchup with Wisconsin at Beaver Stadium.
Riker started the first three games at center before leaving the win over Buffalo after two drives. Rappleyea also started two of the first three games, but he exited the Buffalo game in the second quarter after taking a hard hit.
Penn State and Wisconsin will issue one final availability report at 3 p.m. ET Saturday, two hours before kickoff. At that point, players will be sorted into the conference’s game-day categories.
If Riker is unable to play, redshirt freshman Vaea Ikakoula is positioned to step in at center. He took over for Riker and handled most of the Buffalo game, holding up well on the interior.
Rappleyea’s status matters too because Penn State has already used several tight ends through the first three weeks. He is one of three on the roster who have started two games, alongside senior Ben Brahmer and redshirt senior Gabe Burkle. If Rappleyea is limited or unavailable, Brahmer and Burkle can absorb more of the workload, while redshirt junior Finn Furmanek could keep seeing snaps in the offense.
Friday’s report did bring one change: Black was upgraded from questionable to probable. He sat out the last two games after playing in the season opener and should contribute on special teams. Davis, the other probable player, has not appeared in a game this season after transferring from Boston College in the offseason.
The report also listed Bryan Jackson II as questionable, while Cai Bates, Jaylon Domingeaux, Michael Roeske and Xavier Ukponu were ruled out.
Rulli remains a special-teams-only player through the first three weeks. Matt Campbell said he is still coming back from a preseason injury and may eventually get healthy enough to work into the two-deep.
The Big Ten began requiring pregame availability reports before the 2024 season and expanded the system for 2026 to include three reports during the week. Teams submit them by 8 p.m. ET three days, two days and one day before a game, with the final update arriving two hours before kickoff.
On game day, the conference’s report uses three categories: game time decision, out and out (1st Half). If a player is not listed, he is considered available. For road teams, the Big Ten says players are included if they are part of the travel squad or if they are, or have been, in the two-deep on offense, defense or special teams, or otherwise regularly play.
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