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Penn State Finds its Groove in 31-17 Victory Over Purdue

The Nittany Lions end their four-game losing streak with their best rushing performance of the season.
Mark Wogenrich|
Penn State Nittany Lions running back Cam Wallace (26) runs with the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State Nittany Lions running back Cam Wallace (26) runs with the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers at Beaver Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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STATE COLLEGE | Penn State's Matt Campbell was one of just two Big Ten head coaches without a conference win this season. The Nittany Lions finally broke that with a 31-17 victoryover Purdue, ending their four-game losing streak.

We're tracking all the action from Beaver Stadium, so follow along for news and analysis from a game that meant plenty for Penn State.

Final: Penn State 31, Purdue 17

Penn State got a huge rushing performance from Cam Wallace, who had not played the past three games, in scoring its first Big Ten win of the season. Wallace carried the ball 22 times for a season-high 135 yards and a touchdown as the Nittany Lions rolled up 269 yards rushing.

Penn State coach Matt Campbell said that Wallace forced the offensive staff to play him with a standout week of practice during the bye.

Score update: Penn State 31, Purdue 14 (4th quarter)

Running back Cam Wallace, who didn't play the past three games, made a triumphant return Saturday. Wallace scored on a 2-yard carry in the fourth quarter to put the Nittany Lions ahead by 17.

The back had a season-high 131 yards, with a long of 48, as the featured back in Penn State's offense. He had another long run called back before the touchdown because of a holding penalty. Otherwise, Wallace generated a new dimension for the Nittany Lions.

Notable on the series: Penn State called a jet sweep to cornerback Audavion Collins, who took it 11 yards.

Score update: Penn State 24, Purdue 14 (3rd quarter)

Penn State took a two-possession lead on Ryan Barker's 44-yard field goal following a defensive interception. The Nittany Lions couldn't do much more with the series but at least got three key points after a major defensive play.

Safety Jamison Patton intercepted Ryan Brown, bringing a smaller but loud Beaver Stadium crowd to life. Patton's interception came two plays after defensive end Yvan Kemajou was whistled for roughing the passer on what appeared to be a clean hit,

That call chafed a crowd still angry by an uncalled pass-interference on Purdue in the first half. It turned out to be a penalty that ultimately aided Penn State.

Penn State-Purdue first-half rapid reaction

Penn State thoroughly outplayed Purdue in the first half, nearly doubling the Boilermakers' in yardage (272-143) and owning time of possession (22:05-7:55). The Nittany Lions should be up at least 21-0 but for Lucy pulling the football from their Charlie Brown kick attempt.

Purdue should have been called for pass interference on a second-quarter deep shot to Brett Eskildsen, true, but that's a touchdown if Rocco Becht pushes the ball another 5 yards. He just didn't have the arm strength on the heave.

Three plays later, middle protector Dom Rulli let Bisi Owens run unblocked at punter Nathan Tiyce for the block. The outside protectors had their lanes covered. Rulli's miss led to the block.

Then earlier, freshman cornerback Josiah Zayas got turned around on a Ryan Browne back-foot heave that should have fallen incomplete at worst. Without those two outliers, Penn State has controlled this game.

Running back Cam Wallace's bye-week missing persons milk carton served its purpose. He ran 13 times for 97 yards in the first half, demonstrating the best skill combination we've seen in the backfield this season.

Something to watch: Left tackle Malachi Goodman went to the locker room early after getting dinged on Carson Hansen's late touchdown run. Garrett Sexton replace him.

Score update: Penn State 21, Purdue 14 (2nd quarter)

Carson Hansen scored on a 1-yard dive on fourth down, capping a muscular 15-play drive that the Nittany Lions needed. Penn State converted two fourth downs on the drive, the first from its 28-yard line, and then largely ran the ball behind Cam Wallace.

Quarterback Rocco Becht also made two strong throws on third down to keep the drive going. So far, Penn State's offense has looked crisp, especially on the ground.

Score update: Penn State 14, Purdue 14 (2nd quarter)

What a mammoth turn of events in three plays. Becht had receiver Brett Eskildsen wide open downfield (no one within 8 yards) for a potential touchdown but could not get the ball deep enough. As Eskildsen slowed to the pass, Purdue defensive back Don Saunders sped up.

Saunders met Eskildsen as the ball arrived in what should have been pass interference, which went uncalled. Then Penn State's special teams gave up an egregious punt block, which the Boilermakers' Jalil Hall scooped-and-scored for the tying touchdown.

Penn State coach Matt Campbell was livid at the non-call and continued berating the officiating crew after the special teams touchdown. Injured receiver Chase Sowell greeted Eskildsen on the sideline, letting him vent about the non-call.

Further: Penn State's 97-game streak without allowing a special teams touchdown ended. The streak dated to 2019.

Score update: Penn State 14, Purdue 7 (1st quarter)

Penn State scored touchdowns on its first two possessions for the first time this season, as Rocco Becht scored on a 6-yard carry for his second rushing touchdown of the season. And once again, new starting back Cam Wallace made a big impact on the series.

Wallaced broke through Purdue's defense for a 48-yard gain on second down, getting the Nittany Lions into Purdue territory. Becht then hit Rappleyea, who's off to a great start, for an 18-yard gain into the red zone. Becht did nice work getting to the pylon. Sharp start for Penn State's offense, which already has 124 yards rushing.

Score update: Penn State 7, Purdue 7 (1st quarter)

The Boilermakers responded to Penn State's touchdown by going after freshman nickelback Josiah Zayas twice. They won both. First, Ryan Browne hit Asaad Waseem for a 38-yard gain on the play's opening drive.

Penn State's defense pushed Purdue to third down, where defensive end Caleb Bacon got pressure on Browne. But in fleeing, the Purdue quarterback got his eyes downfield enough to see Xavier Townsend open along the sideline behind Zayas.

Townsend not only scored but also did so through Zayas' defensive pass interference. Tough start for the freshman.

Score update: Penn State 7, Purdue 0 (1st quarter)

Rocco Becht hit tight end Andrew Rappleyea with a flip pass on second down to convert a crisp, 96-yard opening drive into a touchdown. There was a lot to unpack.

First, Penn State started running back Cam Wallace with Carson Hansen, a move to compensate for receiver Chase Sowell's absence. Then Hansen generated his first real explosive play of the season, a 42-yard gain over the left side that bettered his previous long run by 26 yards.

But Penn State stalled at the 20-yard line after Becht missed tight end Ben Brahmer on consecutive throws. Campbell responded with a superb decision, calling for a fake field goal that his special teams executed perfectly. Holder Nathan Tiyce found Brahmer with a shovel pass to convert, and Rappleyea scored two plays later.

A very light crowd at Beaver Stadium

A general view of Beaver Stadium before the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and Purdue Boilermakers.
A general view of Beaver Stadium before the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and Purdue Boilermakers. | Mark Wogenrich | Penn State on SI

This photo was taken about 10 minutes before kickoff at Beaver Stadium, where one of the lighter crowds in recent history was readying for Penn State-Purdue. Outside the stadium, cellular service was exceptional, and the porta potties had no lines.

Remember this photo when Penn State announces the attendance. Also remember that Penn State counts tickets sold, not actual attendance, and that the program has about 94,000 season-ticket holders, including students.

Penn State vs. Purdue injury updates

Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Koby Howard (6) breaks away for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bulls.
Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Koby Howard (6) breaks away for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bulls at Beaver Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Major news Saturday: Receivers Chase Sowell and Koby Howard are listed as out on the final Big Ten availability report, leaving the Nittany Lions without their top two receivers against Purdue.

Of note: Sowell had been listed as questionable on all three availability reports before the game. The fifth-year senior met with the media Tuesday and did not mention a lingering injury. Sowell left the past two games with lower-body issues but returned in both. He had a career game (11 catches, 151 yards) against Michigan two weeks ago.

Howard's return from a four-game absence was downgraded Friday night before he was moved to out Saturday. Howard was listed as doubtful on Penn State's third availability report of the week after being listed as probable Wednesday and Thursday.

Campbell spent the week tempering expectations about Howard's return from an injury the head coach said he sustained in Week 3 against Marshall. Before that, Howard was among the nation's most explosive receivers, averaging more than 26 yards per catch.

Though he has just 19 career receptions in two years, Howard has taken 10 of those plays for 20+ yards. Penn State is eager to pair Howard with Chase Sowell, who has become the offense's big-play producer in Howard's absence.

"I'm not putting him on the football field until he's 100 percent ready to go," Campbell said Wednesday, before Howard's status was downgraded to doubtful.

Penn State also expects to have four key defensive players in safety Jeremiah Cooper and defensive linemen Yvan Kemajou, Alexander McPherson and Armstrong Nnodim. All four are listed as probable.

Penn State vs. Purdue pregame notes

Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht (3) throws a pass against the USC Trojans at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht (3) throws a pass against the USC Trojans at Beaver Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Three Power 4 teams have yet to beat a Power 4 opponent during this college football season: Penn State, Michigan State and Maryland. Campbell and Michigan State's Pat Fitzgerald are the two active Power 4 coaches without a Power 4 win. Maryland fired Mike Locksley last week.

The run game has been a soft spot for Penn State on both sides of the ball. The Nittany Lions rank 107th nationally in rushing offense (130.7 yards per game) and 105th in rushing defense (172.3). The longest carry by a Penn State back in Big Ten play is 9 yards.

Beyond Howard and Sowell, Penn State has been inert in the explosive-play department. The Nittany Lions rank 115th nationally in explosive-play rate (10.97 percent). Penn State has just two plays of 30+ yards in conference play, both receptions by Sowell against USC.

Penn State will recognize former running back Ki-Jana Carter on his 2026 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Carter is the 21st former Penn State football player to be elected to the Hall.

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Mark Wogenrich
MARK WOGENRICH

Mark Wogenrich is the editor and publisher of Penn State on SI, the site for Nittany Lions sports on the Sports Illustrated network. He has covered Penn State sports for more than two decades across three coaching staffs, three Rose Bowls and one College Football Playoff appearance.

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