Penn State gets its first real Big Ten test of the season on Saturday night, and the Nittany Lions will walk into it with a lot working in their favor - and one big concern.
The No. 13 team in the country has already moved to 3-0 with wins over Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo, but Wisconsin brings a different level of challenge to Happy Valley. Penn State also may have to handle that matchup without one of its top offensive pieces. Koby Howard was “dinged up” against Buffalo, and Matt Campbell said Wednesday that Howard will miss an extended period of time.
Wisconsin arrives with a different kind of pressure hanging over it. The Badgers opened 2026 with Notre Dame at Lambeau Field in Week 1, and that loss is their only blemish so far. Luke Fickell came into the year with plenty of job pressure, so Saturday gives his team a chance to make a statement on the road.
This one also comes with a few quirks. It’s Campbell’s first game as a Big Ten head coach, and the matchup will be streamed exclusively on Peacock with an unusual early-evening kickoff.
The betting line reflects Penn State’s edge. The Nittany Lions are -400 on the moneyline, while Wisconsin sits at +310. Penn State is favored by 10.5 points, with the over/under set at 44.5.
Penn State’s injury report includes LaVar Arrington II, who is out with a knee injury, Max Granville out, Andrew Rappleyea questionable, Koby Howard out, and Brock Riker probable.
Wisconsin’s injury report was not listed in the source material.
The weather should cooperate nicely in Happy Valley. Saturday is expected to bring a classic fall setting, with a high of 65 degrees in the mid-afternoon before temperatures drop to a nighttime low of 51. Conditions are expected to be breezy and partly cloudy, with no weather issues projected to affect the field.
In Other News...
Penn State Staffer Faces Serious Off-Field Legal Trouble
A Penn State assistant coach is now dealing with an off-field situation that is drawing attention in State College and around the program. Jordan Lucas, the Nittany Lions assistant cornerbacks coach, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of DUI and three summary traffic violations after police found him asleep in a vehicle downtown with a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit.
The stop came after officers found the vehicle illegally positioned in a crosswalk, with Lucas also listed as having a suspended drivers license and an expired vehicle registration. Penn State acknowledged the charges and said Lucas remains with the program while the legal matter moves forward, leaving the university to manage both the public fallout and the uncertainty around what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Offensive Line Just Got Thinner At The Worst Time
Penn States offensive line depth took another hit at an unwelcome time, with Will Tompkins ruled out for the season because of injury, according to coach Matt Campbell. Tompkins had played 31 snaps across the first three games after transferring in from Iowa State, giving the Nittany Lions another experienced body in a position group that can never have enough of them.
The setback leaves Penn State without a player it had hoped could help stabilize things as the year unfolded, and it also delays any chance to see how he might have fit into the rotation over a full season. There is still some long-term silver lining: Tompkins is expected to keep four years of eligibility after this season, so his Penn State story is far from over even if this one now pauses before it really got going. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States RB Battle Just Got Tougher To Ignore Entering Big Ten Play
Penn State spent the nonconference slate getting a closer look at four running backs, and the rotation did not make the answer any simpler. Carson Hansen, James Peoples, Quinton Martin Jr. and Cam Wallace all got chances to show what they can do, but the way those carries were distributed also made it clear this job is still open as Big Ten play arrives.
Martin stood out most against Buffalo, where his versatility in the passing game added another layer to his case, while Peoples continued to show growth and a knack for finding the end zone. Those two now look like the clearest candidates to head the depth chart, even if the staff has not committed to one lead option yet, and the coming conference games should tell whether Penn State leans toward the more dynamic all-purpose threat or the back who has been quickest to turn touches into points. [Read more 🡒]