Penn State Falls 24-20 to Wisconsin, but Playoff Path Remains
The short version
- Penn State lost 24-20 at home to Wisconsin, Matt Campbell's first loss as Nittany Lions coach
- Wisconsin rallied from a big halftime deficit after Luke Fickell's halftime speech
- Penn State is 1 loss through 4 games, with Koby Howard injured
- Upcoming games: at Northwestern (Oct. 3), vs. USC, at Michigan (Oct. 17)
- Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana have all shown vulnerability in Big Ten play
The Nittany Lions dropped their first game under Matt Campbell, yet a demanding upcoming schedule still offers routes to a College Football Playoff berth.
Penn State suffered its first loss of the Matt Campbell era on Saturday, falling 24-20 to Wisconsin at home. The Badgers rallied from a sizable halftime deficit after coach Luke Fickell addressed the team at the break, and booing was audible from the Happy Valley crowd as the game slipped away.
The defeat dropped Penn State to one loss through its first four games. Despite the result, the source notes the program's national championship aspirations remain alive, with a schedule that still provides multiple opportunities to build a playoff resume.
The report cautions that Penn State may not currently resemble a top-10 or even top-15 caliber team, a point sharpened by an injury to wide receiver Koby Howard. The offense remains a work in progress, with time still needed for quarterback Becht to develop chemistry with his receivers.
The running game is viewed as a bright spot. Former Ohio State transfer James Peoples has continued to produce behind an offensive line whose depth is improving, according to the report.
Penn State's next chance at a statement win comes October 3 at Northwestern's new Ryan Field. The Wildcats are coming off a narrow road loss to defending national champion Indiana, a performance that raised their national profile. Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles is described as ranking in the upper half of Big Ten quarterbacks, and Indiana coach Curt Cignetti has praised David Braun's team.
After Northwestern, USC visits Happy Valley in a high-profile matchup that would introduce Campbell's squad to a national audience. USC is coming off a 41-27 home loss to Oregon in Week 4, a result that has put coach Lincoln Riley back under pressure. On October 17, Penn State travels to Michigan for a road game the report suggests could be among the most-watched of the college football season, though Michigan's offense currently looks stronger than Penn State's.
The broader Big Ten picture has shifted since the start of the year, when the league appeared to be a three-team race. Ohio State and Oregon have each shown vulnerabilities through losses, and Indiana needed a close win over Northwestern on September 25 at Memorial Stadium, leaving the conference race more open than expected.
Penn State's recruiting of four- and five-star talent gives it a raw talent advantage over much of its remaining schedule, the report argues. While the Nittany Lions will not be favored to win the Big Ten, the piece suggests they have a reasonable chance to finish the regular season with no more than one additional loss.
Campbell, who built his coaching reputation at Iowa State, recently met with members of Penn State's 1986 national title team and has formed a vision of what a championship run would require. His team's title hopes are described as redefined rather than ended as it heads into a difficult stretch of games.
Games to watch
