⚡ CFB Dashboard

- 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.

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

- 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.

- 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.

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

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

- Penn State DE Max Granville is out for the season after a practice injury before Temple; LaVar Arrington II's reported absence is 4-6 weeks following late-camp cleanup surgery. At tackle, Alijah Carnell and Armstrong Nnodim dressed but did not play at Temple after missing Marshall. Matt Campbell said both will play against Buffalo; no workload was specified. - Lions247 projects Penn State to use primarily two linebackers, with Caleb Bacon working mainly at defensive end rather than SAM. That is the outlet's expectation, not an official weekly chart. Alex Tatsch returned for 24 Temple snaps after missing Marshall with an injury; Cam Smith missed Temple with an unspecified injury, with no return confirmed here. - Penn State's Zion Tracy started in the slot at Temple, playing 16 snaps there and 29 overall; Josiah Zayas had 14 slot snaps and 25 overall. Tracy has also played outside and wore a left-hand splint in the opener. Safety Jeremiah Cooper's workload grew from 12 to 34 snaps as he returns from injury, without an explicit full-health declaration. - Penn State tight end Gabe Burkle started at Temple and played 20 snaps, third most among the tight ends, after missing Marshall following an ACL recovery that limited spring and camp work. The unofficial chart gives Ben Brahmer, Andrew Rappleyea and Burkle shared first-line status. Cooper Alexander has missed action since camp with an injury. - Penn State's Dominic Rulli projects as the second center when healthy but has only played special teams against Marshall and Temple after offseason injury issues. Right tackle Owen Aliciene, dinged up late in camp, missed Marshall but returned for three late Temple snaps. Neither note establishes readiness for a full offensive workload.

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

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

- 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.

- 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.

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