Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1547542
6 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M I t's taken nine games, but we've fi- nally made it. Like the classic rocker lacing the early part of the setlist with less palatable stuff from the new album, Penn State (and I) can finally play the hits. Say it with me … It's hard to win football games, on the road, in the Big Ten. Feels good, no? Well, if you've cho- sen to continue feeling at all. Or if you disregard the twists, turns and heart palpitations that it took for the Nittany Lions to get their first conference road win of the season on Nov. 7 in Seattle. It was pretty fun, then it wasn't. The game was spiraling out of control, and then it wasn't. It's clearly not how Matt Campbell drew it up, but a 28-25 victory over Washington was a siz- able step forward in this mostly self- imposed reclamation job. And by the time Penn State landed back in State College, just after 2 a.m. the following morning, its goals for the rest of the year remained hazy but intact. The outcome of Penn State's visit to the Pacific Northwest doesn't change much in regard to how fans will feel about the season. It doesn't make up for the four-week lull that will ulti- mately define the fall of 2026. It does, however, mark more incremental prog- ress toward, as Campbell said after the win, becoming the type of team the Lions want to be. For now, not necessarily for the fu- ture. It's amazing what a little breathing room can do. Penn State went into the Purdue game with the Big Ten's lowest rushing average in conference play — 75 yards per game — but was up to No. 9 (123.8 ypg) going into its matchup with Minnesota on Nov. 14. Against Washington, the Lions were led by se- nior Carson Hansen, who finished with 119 yards and a score on 14 carries, part of a solid overall effort that produced 174 yards on the ground. That's not a world-beating total by any stretch, but it's more than enough to open up some options while also lifting some of the burden from the shoulders of redshirt senior quarterback Rocco Becht. That's when the Nittany Lions can be at their best. Becht was pretty good, too, against the Huskies. It was more like bumper cars than a roller coaster, which is where Penn State fans should want it to be at this point. His stat line — 16- of-27 for 240 yards and 2 touchdowns — was once again delivered without a turnover, and the Nittany Lions' final drive was as clutch as we've seen Becht in critical situations, even if he only threw 1 pass. Campbell used the word "poise" nine times in his postgame press con- ference. Clearly, he was pointing to Becht, whose name is typically front and center in those sessions, for bet- ter or worse. But the Nittany Lions collected themselves after a dreadful quarter-and-a-half coming out of halftime to turn it around. Think about it: When was the last time Penn State was asked to finish off a game like that and succeeded? At Minnesota in 2024, maybe? And this time, no fake punts. Penn State simplified its rushing attack during the bye week, and the results have been nearly staggering, considering what was trotted out there in the run game through the first seven weeks of the season. Less thinking, more doing. The basic formula isn't much different. First, see what junior guard Cooper Cousins and redshirt ju- nior tackle Anthony Donkoh are up to on the right side, and just take what's there to be had. The offensive line, which still has the same five starters as in the first half of the season, is doing more when asked to do less. We've seen Hansen and redshirt junior Cam Wallace morph in front of our eyes in the past two weeks. Han- sen, specifically, couldn't get downhill soon enough in the first half of the season. At Washington, he put up 5 runs of 10 yards or longer himself, largely of the patient variety. His first- quarter touchdown was a complete shock; he took a slingshot off the hip of redshirt freshman tackle Malachi Goodman, roller-derby style, through a hole that didn't develop until he made his move. These little things have started to add up. The second half may have been a different story, with the hosts turn- ing the first-half rout into a one-score game. But the Lions were able to re- gain control in time to escape Husky Stadium with a victory, in large part because the offense was able to put together a drive that consumed more than half of the fourth quarter. As evidenced by their two recent victories, there's teaching going on. And more important, there's learning taking place. ■ Senior running back Carson Hansen led the Nittany Lions with 119 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries at Washington on Nov. 7. PHOTO BY FRANK HYATT Penn State Finds Its Rhythm JUDGMENT CALL O P I N I O N SEAN FITZ SEAN.FITZ@ON3.COM