Penn State’s running game didn’t just wake up against Washington. It has started to look like the kind of unit the Nittany Lions were searching for all season, and Saturday’s 28-25 win was the latest proof.
Cam Wallace had a small reminder on his eye-black stickers for the trip to Seattle: “stay down.” It wasn’t aimed at Washington’s defenders. It was a personal message about the grind, the kind of note that fit a backfield that had been fighting through inconsistency and then finally found some traction.
For much of Big Ten play, Penn State could barely get anything going on the ground. Before last week’s breakout against Purdue, the Nittany Lions had averaged just 2.2 yards per carry over a three-game stretch from Northwestern through Michigan. Then came 269 rushing yards against the Boilermakers, and the momentum carried over in a 174-yard, two-touchdown effort against Washington.
Carson Hansen was at the center of it. He crossed the 100-yard mark for the first time all season, finishing with 119 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. One week after rushing for 96 yards and a score on 17 attempts, he took over the 1A role from Wallace.
“I would say a little bit is we helped him [Hansen] schematically, trying to pair the offensive line to what our tailbacks do best,” head coach Matt Campbell said after the game. “Once we said, ‘Man, let’s get good at something. Let’s get a foundation for these backs to get north and south, and let this offensive line have some confidence in what they’re doing,’ I think that really helped us.”
Wallace still made his presence felt. A week after a career-best 135 rushing yards, he ran for 56 yards on seven carries against the Huskies and broke loose for a 46-yard touchdown.
“Between him and Cam Wallace before the half, like, those are two guys that have busted their butts in practice time and time again,” wide receiver Chase Sowell said. “And then going all the way back to the bye week, those are the same guys that are always curious to find out what they can do better.”
Penn State’s first half on the ground was the kind of start that can change a game. The Nittany Lions piled up 110 rushing yards before halftime, mixing in explosive plays and building a 22-point lead.
But the third quarter was a different story. From the opening snap of the second half until the start of the final drive, they managed only 15 rushing yards, and Washington started to chip away.
That’s where Hansen came back in and steadied things. On the final drive, he ran for 49 yards, including a 36-yard burst that pushed Penn State just outside the red zone and helped close the door.
“Carson’s always been a player where the more he goes in the game, the better he gets,” Campbell said. “And I think every good running back I’ve ever coached, that’s kind of the case, right?”
Added Sowell: “Man, I think he took some strides today.”
Wallace said the bye week before Purdue didn’t bring a huge overhaul. The biggest changes were more physical play up front, more consistency, and sharper attention to the little things in practice.
There were also new wrinkles from offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser. Penn State leaned on option runs outside the pocket and misdirection against Washington, plays that helped keep the defense guessing.
“That was a scheme that we thought we could get a heads-up on those guys,” Wallace said, “and we came out here and we executed some of them, and some of them we didn’t execute.”
Whatever the formula, it has worked over the last two games. Penn State has rushed for 443 yards in that span, and the offense has paired that surge with its two best outings of the season, scoring 59 points against Purdue and Washington. Wallace, Hansen and the rest of the group are hoping there’s still more left in the tank.
In Other News...
Penn State Suddenly Has A Big O-Line Concern After Washington
Penn States 28-25 win over Washington came with a late development that could linger into next week, as starting left tackle Malachi Goodman had to be replaced in the second half because he was not at full strength. Goodman had been a steady presence all season, starting each of the first eight games and logging more offensive snaps than anyone else on the roster, so his exit was hard to miss even in a victory that kept the Nittany Lions moving forward.
Garrett Sexton stepped in at left tackle and, according to coach Matt Campbell, handled the job well, which at least gives Penn State a workable option if the position has to be shuffled again. The bigger issue now is Goodmans status for Minnesota, since his availability is still unclear and the lines stability could matter even more if the Nittany Lions have to navigate another game without one of their most dependable blockers. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Escaped A Washington Scare Fans Wont Soon Forget
Penn State had every reason to think it was headed for a comfortable finish after building a 28-6 halftime lead against Washington, with Rocco Becht throwing for 240 yards and two touchdowns and Carson Hansen piling up 119 rushing yards and a score. For much of the afternoon, the Nittany Lions looked in control, moving the ball efficiently and putting themselves in position to cruise to a win that would help their push toward bowl eligibility.
Washington made sure the second half felt anything but routine, ripping off the last 19 points and turning the final stretch into a nervous test for Penn States defense and composure. The Nittany Lions escaped 28-25, but it was the kind of finish that lingers, the sort of scare that can either sharpen a team or leave it replaying what almost slipped away. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Campbell Just Changed A Penn State Problem Fans Know Too Well
Penn State has spent enough time around the Big Ten to know how quickly a road trip can turn messy, especially against a team that is fighting to steady itself. Matt Campbell pointed to the contrast between two games against Wisconsin as a reminder of how much can change when a group handles the moment better, saying the later meeting showed more poise and stronger leadership. In that version, the offense and defense both looked more settled, and the result was a win the program could use as another sign of progress.
Campbell also singled out quarterback Rocco Becht for his composure, while stressing that the bigger message is still about development from week to week. The run game and pass rush remain areas the staff wants to keep pushing forward, even with a road victory over a struggling Big Ten opponent already in hand. With an 8-4 finish in view, the challenge now is turning those cleaner stretches into something Penn State can count on more often. [Read more 🡒]