⚡ CFB Dashboard

- Campbell described Penn State's center change after Brock's first two series against Buffalo as precautionary: Brock entered the game dinged up and still did not appear 100%. He praised Vaea Ikakuola's execution in relief and said having two capable centers was valuable; he did not announce a permanent starting change or return timetable. - Campbell said the player identified as 'Rapp' in the supplied Penn State Q&A could have returned after being dinged up, but the staff decided against putting him back in given the game situation. The answer supplies no diagnosis, injury location or next-game availability ruling. - Campbell credited all four Penn State running backs with productive moments against Buffalo and singled out Quinton's strong practice week carrying into the game. He also tied the rushing improvement to perimeter blocking and getting runners into space, without announcing a new backfield order or touch allocation. - Campbell said Penn State defended first- and second-down runs better against Buffalo than against Temple, creating passing situations where pressure could help the secondary. He emphasized experienced defensive backs plus younger depth allowing fresh-body rotation rather than requiring veterans to handle roughly 60 snaps; no fixed snap limit or new coverage package was announced. - Campbell attributed most Penn State penalties against Buffalo to fundamental technique at the point of attack and called out a separate selfish late penalty. He also flagged a dropped snap for quarterback work. While putting the 2026 season turnover margin at plus-five through three games, he stressed cleaner finishing rather than treating the 55-13 win as complete execution.

- In the Sept. 15 pre-Buffalo interview, coordinator Taylor Mouser said 85-90% of Penn State's offense was installed, but overly full call sheets in the first two games may have kept players from playing fast. He still saw basic blocking mistakes up front and emphasized practice and simplification, not installation of a new offense. - Reviewing Temple before Buffalo on Sept. 15, Mouser said Penn State had tried a receiver-at-running-back package while Quinton Martin received no carries. He said Martin had earned touches in camp and his absence was not a lack of trust. That explained one game's usage, not a new depth order or a promised future touch count. - In that Sept. 15 Temple review, Mouser highlighted Finn's split-flow kickouts and willingness to block defensive ends. On a third-and-one play, he said Finn corrected an otherwise wrongly blocked play by taking the defender. Mouser valued his backfield vision and short-yardage blocking options; he did not announce a receiving promotion.

- QB/LB: QB Rocco Becht, OT Anthony Donkoh and LB Kooper Ebel are now 3-for-3 in being named Penn State game captains.

- Pick/market: Gameday bump and podcast recap this week, including some PFF insights.

- RB: Mark and Daniel both included Hansen TDs as part of their predictions later in this podcast.

- RB/WR: Penn State also dressed only four running backs in the season opener where as we've seen seven tight ends play in two games with an eighth we know to be part of the plans.

- OL: In a perfect world, I'd like to see them all get rushing attempts with the starting OL.

- Penn State has used 12 personnel on 45% of 134 snaps and 11 personnel on 32.8% through two games. The article contrasts that with Taylor Mouser's prior-season offense, including Iowa State's 72% two-tight-end usage through two weeks. It attributes the larger three-receiver role to Koby Howard's emergence, not abandonment of the two-tight-end base. - Koby Howard has gained 187 of his 229 receiving yards against safeties and linebackers. The film review describes Penn State repeatedly attacking the middle with him, giving Mouser a receiver-led option for matchups that previously leaned heavily on tight ends. - The writer sees potential for more 13 personnel because Gabe Burkle and Andrew Rappleyea are strong blockers and Rappleyea can align at fullback. More tight-end rotation or heavier groupings are possibilities raised by the analysis, not staff-confirmed changes to the current offense. - Temple and Marshall presented similar middle-field coverage opportunities. The article treats a future single-high defense as a test of whether Howard remains the primary matchup target or Penn State changes its personnel and attack. The early usage pattern is opponent-dependent evidence, not a fixed season-long plan.

- Penn State's Rocco Becht has completed 34 of 45 passes for 539 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions through two games. The writer praises his pocket awareness and decisions despite a poor start at Temple. Alex Manske has returned to the backup role after surgery earlier in the year. - Carson Hansen starts at running back and leads Penn State with 30 carries for 132 yards, but the writer sees no established go-to back. James Peoples has 73 yards on 15 carries and Cam Wallace 49 on 12; Quinton Martin did not carry against Temple after getting work in the opener. Production and role separation remain questions. - Penn State's receivers are creating more separation and yards after the catch, according to the writer. Howard leads with nine catches for 229 yards and a touchdown; Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen each have seven catches and a touchdown. The assessment is that Becht now has multiple viable receiving options rather than one primary outlet. - Ben Brahmer has six catches for 87 yards and a team-high three receiving touchdowns; Temple coverage busts helped create openings. Andrew Rappleyea's value has been blocking and pass protection, and Gabe Burkle is back in action after his 2025 season-ending injury. The writer views tight end as a Penn State strength. - Penn State center Brock Riker has had no reported snapping or communication issues. Trevor Buhr leads its PFF pass-blocking grades and Malachi Goodman its run-blocking grades; Anthony Donkoh is playing well after returning to health. Still, the writer flags line depth and inconsistent rushing push, while interior losses contributed to failed goal-line execution at Temple.

- QB: Thanks again for sharing this, I love studying these charts.

- TE: 6 man box +, absolutely it's a reaction to the multiple 2 and 3 TE sets.

- Pick/market: We're probably 6th in the B1G and 20ish nationally at the moment.

- QB/DB: Tom Allen was blessed to have amazing personnel and call a scared needlessly passive defense that regularly got completely pantsed in the first half of games.

- QB/OL: Overall Grade B Minus - The team started slowly and didn’t take control until the third quarter.

- Offense: Really hoping Peoples gets more play this next game.

- QB/RB: My fear is that last year it was obvious (no pun intended) that Allen should be the guy getting the bulk of the carries.

- QB/RB: I was going to bring up the same situation with Singleton.

- Pick/market: Hansen reminds me of a small tight end almost.

- QB/RB: At most programs the backup QB is the most popular guy on the team.

- Offense: many things can be true at the same time hansen isn't getting it done Martin isn't bringing it in practice to supplant hansen peoples is maximizing reps a lot of what TD says is...

- RB: My problem with Hansen is that once he hits the initial hole he just lowers his head and hopes for best.

- Injury: About Hansen I keep seeing the statement from fans that this is the BIG and he's not cut out for it but we haven't actually played a BIG game yet.

- Pick/market: The only player ive seen be able to do this and get away with it is saquon and peak leveon bell.

- KICKER: Campbell on what he wants to find out more about from his team: "I think there’s a lot.

- Injury: Tight end Gabe Burkle on his return from injury: "It was a blessing to be out there and playing football again.

- OL: Mouser on the offensive line and the running game: "I think as you can probably tell, we're all frustrated with the level of mediocrity that I would call the run game, and that starts...

- OL: Mouser's full answer on the interior O-line: "You watched Cooper Cousins and Trev and those guys and Brock Riker, their ability to pull and be physical in the C and D gap.

- OL: Poor Saquon left the Giants to go to a team with an offensive line.

- QB/RB: Kenneth Walker is a beast - he jukes, he runs you over, he accelerates into the hole, he throws blocks for his QB - his vision is amazing.

- WR: Imagine if the extra square footage cost 100k in building materials (probably aggressive TBH).

- QB/WR: He's a freshman who leads the team in catches, yards, yards per catch, longest catch and TDs.

- Offense: OC Taylor Mouser on the run game: "Feel like there's a lot of growth to be had there.

- Pick/market: The VMI team i saw against VT for 15 min (wached the 1st Q) was hands down the worst college football team I have ever seen at any level of the sport.

- QB: I did not expect the line to be THAT big.

- RB: With the caveat of it being with the second team offense around him.

- Pick/market: Smolik was 10/16 for 59.

- QB: Becht was past the line of scrimmage when he threw the ball.

- QB: Former Penn State QB Beau Pribula, now at Virginia, faces West Virginia on Saturday.

- Lembo described Penn State's offense as run-first and formation-heavy, using multiple tight ends and extra linemen to widen edges and make perimeter defenders tackle. Zone, duo and counter runs support play-action, screens and RPOs, with tempo mixed in. Moving tight ends between attached, wing and slot alignments creates run/pass conflicts rather than simply adding blockers. - Lembo described Penn State's defense as roughly 70% four-down fronts with three- and five-man variations and eight or nine linemen rotating. On passing downs he expects crowded-line simulated pressures, defenders dropping out, Cover 2/Tampa 2 and man coverage; he also noted double-edge pressure and red-zone bear fronts. These are Buffalo's scouting observations, not a fixed call sheet.

- WR: Penn State wide receiver Chase Sowell is on his fourth school.

- OL: Penn State left tackle Malachi Goodman earned praise from offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser this week.

- Penn State coach Matt Campbell expects interior defensive linemen Armstrong Nnodim and Alijah Carnell to play against Buffalo after holding them out following last week's warmups to avoid setbacks. Dallas Vakalahi is still working back into form after missing most of camp. The expected returns are Campbell's outlook, not completed medical clearances or proof that every returning lineman is game-ready. - Cam Smith remains questionable despite being out at Tuesday's practice after missing the previous game. Alex Tatsch played roughly 20 snaps last week, and Gabe Burkle also returned to action. Campbell distinguished being healthy enough to practice from being ready to perform in a game; Smith's participation should not be treated as a confirmed return. - Penn State's running-back roles remain unsettled: practice performance, packages and the hot hand will determine important carries. Campbell expressed confidence in Quinton Martin but did not promise an expanded role. Carson Hansen is producing positive runs after missing camp, while explosiveness, finishing and game conditioning are still coming back. - Campbell attributed goal-line and early offensive problems to details such as run reads and blocking timing, while backing coordinator Taylor Mouser's play-calling. He saw better execution after the first quarter. The improvement does not erase short-yardage concerns: missed blocks and inches on individual runs still prevented drives from finishing. - Campbell called offensive-line depth a major question and said receiver roles are still separating through practice. With a new team and players returning from injuries, he is still evaluating position-group depth rather than presenting the early rotation as settled.

- WR: Penn State's keys to victory include another turnover-free game and a detailed plan to slow Buffalo big-play wideout Chance Morrow.

- WR: Keep your eyes on the wideouts in Penn State-Buffalo on Saturday.

- Injury: @TDsTake & I hopped on the @Lions247 YouTube channel after hearing from Penn State coach Matt Campbell & offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser yday to discuss running back usage, injuries & more

- TE/LB: Traverse City (Mich.) West TE Aidan Jacobs will be at Penn State on Saturday and while the Kent State commit loves the Golden Flashes, an opportunity to suit up in State College would be...

- TE: Tight end Finn Furmanek grew up in the shadow of Penn State.

- TE/LB: former Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki gets on the board in the season opener

- TE: Pat Freiermuth is the second Penn State tight end to catch a touchdown today

- TE: Brenton Strange is the *third* Penn State tight end to catch a touchdown today!

- TE: Make it four Penn State tight ends with touchdowns today as Tyler Warren joins in on the fun.

- WR/TE: FIVE PENN STATE TIGHT ENDS WITH TOUCHDOWNS TODAY (Yes we count Juwan as a Penn State tight end even if he played wide receiver here)

- TE: Going to sound like a broken record, but that and 4 TE set is not helping the running game.

- QB/LB: They not going to put anything real on film till they have too.

- Injury: After losing to tOSU last year with their AIDS quilt of an offensive line, I automatically assume that OL depth players on the opposing team will have a out-of-body experience.

- QB: what game did people watch temples qb took off quick because of pressure

- Pick/market: Agree with this.

- QB: I feel like we should be talking more about the fact that we have a dude at QB

- QB: we have a ton of pansies in this forum that would rather throw a tantrum.

- QB: you do realize they had a lot of backups in the beginning of this drive

- Pick/market: Lynn's defenses at USC really didn't get to the QB

- QB: Fair point, but I think it is also pretty clear we just don't have the personnel this year.

- QB: I know the game wasn’t what everyone was hoping for, but it’s certainly worth being excited about the QB play thus far, and the receiving room appears much improved.

- QB/DL: Gotta hope that a sleepy noon kick on the road was a factor here, but...

- Pick/market: That's an outlier in a game like this.

- QB: noah fifita isn't gonna play in the nfl, but he's a great college qb.

- QB: Exact same play WMU should have run last week to ice the game, instead they got cute and fumbled.

- Offense: I have a theory that the transfer portal is really hurting player development across the country- either because kids are transferring without developing or because kids are playing too early … And seeing that...

- QB: Mateer feasts on weak teams and then they get in rock fights with the good ones.

- OL: I love watching the entire OSU offensive line hold on every play.

- QB: Jason wright and Holmes were locked in a battle during their camp, so not sure it matters much

- Pick/market: Penn State QB Rocco Becht has completed 34 of 45 passes for 539 yards and seven touchdowns in his first two starts for the 2-0 Lions.

- Pick/market: Noted 5-9 beat writer @danieljtgallen next to TE Ben Brahmer (6-7)

- RB/WR: Penn State's running back room, defensive end room and wide receiver room were all talking points after the Temple win.

- QB: after starting 1-of-4 for 56 yards, Rocco Becht is 13-of-14 for 126 yards & two touchdowns.

- Pick/market: TOUCHDOWN PENN STATE!

- Offense: Carson Hansen puts a couple nice runs on tape & the Penn State offense finally starts moving before stalling out in the red zone.

- Pick/market: Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht led the offense on an 83-yard touchdown march to put the Lions up 10-3 on Temple at halftime.

- Pick/market: TOUCHDOWN PENN STATE!