Penn State’s availability report for Washington brought the expected attention to receivers Chase Sowell and Koby Howard, but the list also included another starter worth watching: left tackle Malachi Goodman.
The encouraging sign for Penn State is that Goodman, along with Sowell, is listed as probable.
Goodman, a redshirt freshman, has started all eight games for Penn State and has logged more snaps than anyone else on the offense, according to Pro Football Focus, at 505. He owns a 97.4 pass-blocking efficiency rating from Pro Football Focus and has allowed 13 pressures and 11 hurries across all of his snaps.
That matters because Penn State’s offensive line just turned in what may have been its strongest outing of the season. After four Big Ten games in which the Nittany Lions struggled to move people on the ground and, as many believed, couldn’t impose their will up front, Saturday brought a different result. Penn State ran for 269 yards in a 31-17 win over Purdue.
For now, all indications are that Goodman will be available against Washington. If that changes, Penn State would be thin at the position. Garrett Sexton would likely be the next option, but he has played only 45 snaps this season, including 14 in Big Ten play.
Penn State also listed Armstrong Nnodim as probable. He has played 138 snaps at defensive tackle this season.
Howard, meanwhile, remains questionable, as coach Matt Campbell said earlier Wednesday.
Penn State and Washington are set to kick off at 3:30 on FS1.
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Penn State Just Got A Bigger Problem For Washington Trip
Washingtons quarterback situation is suddenly worth watching closely heading into Penn States trip west, because Jedd Fisch said Demond Williams is expected to start if he feels healthy. Williams has dealt with injuries and uneven play throughout the 2026 season, but he also showed why Washington wants him back on the field when he returned late in a recent game and helped finish off a win.
For Penn State, that changes the shape of the matchup in a hurry. Williams has already been through enough this season to make his availability a real week-to-week question, yet his presence gives Washington a different ceiling and a more dangerous look than the backup plan would offer. The Nittany Lions will be preparing for the possibility that the Huskies get their quarterback back at close to full strength, even if the final call still hinges on how he feels before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Campbell Just Gave Penn State Fans A New Reason To Hope
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Campbell also showed he was willing to trust his offense in a spot where most coaches would think twice, going for it on fourth down from his own 28-yard line. For a fan base that has spent plenty of time waiting for the Nittany Lions to play with more conviction, those choices mattered, and they left a real question hanging over the rest of the season: was this a one-game shift, or the start of a bolder Penn State identity? [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces A Real Road Test In Washington Turnaround Bid
Penn State finally got its first Big Ten win of the season against Purdue, and now the challenge shifts from relief to momentum. The Nittany Lions head to Husky Stadium looking to stack another solid performance on top of a game that showed progress on both sides of the ball, with the roster getting healthier as key players return from injury.
Washington presents a different kind of test, especially after its own recent victory behind quarterback Desmond Williams Jr. The setting alone makes this a real road check for Penn State, and the bigger question is whether the improvements that showed up last week can travel well enough to keep the turnaround moving in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]