PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 12: Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht #3 calls a play during the game between the Temple Owls and the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 12th, 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

What will Penn State do to ensure the safety-and-wellbeing of Buffalo’s punter?
How in gawd’s name does the 4th most populated state in the country (New York), with only one D1 FBS public university (Buffalo – Syracuse and Army are the other FBS schools in the state), allow said school to exist in the MAC (?!?!), and play football in a glorified high school stadium with a track around the field (the only one in D1 FBS)?!

Oh, and a grammatical pointer to everyone to start the week… it’s the University AT Buffalo, not the University OF Buffalo!!! Even Penn State can’t seem to get that one right.–Smee

That was terrifying the last time that Buffalo played at Penn State. Luckily, the punter (Evan Finegan) was up and able to play football, albeit not at a game level, just a few months after the gruesome injury. If you don’t remember it, don’t look it up – it was gross.
This is very interesting to me. I think of it as similar to how there’s no consistently strong football powers in the north east of the country, farther north and east than Penn State. It’s one of, if not the, most populous parts of the country in terms of population density – but you can’t field a local school? Especially nowadays, with technology allowing for indoor practice and game facilities.

How impressed have you been by the play of Rocco Becht? I am very impressed with the poise and confidence that he is showing. I think that last Penn State quarterback to play like this was Trace McSorley. Clifford and especially Allar seemed to play scared or if not scared overly cautious. On a scale of one to ten how much to do love it when a pass is thrown for more than 20 yards in the air? Me? I am a 10. Throw it deep! Back the safeties off, open the running game. Football isn’t all that complicated.–Gerry Dincher

So far, I’ve been pleased with his play. This is fascinating, because the godson of some of my friends was VERY unimpressed with Rocco last Saturday (to the point where he said something like, “If you’re riding with him, good luck I guess”), and yet aside from the beginning of the game, I thought he did well and the impartial stats bore that out. I really feel like much of the game, the playcalling did not do anyone on offense any favors – and the lack of actual possessions made it difficult to get into any sort of rhythm after the first few disappointments.

How surprised are you that the PSU QB is the #4 rated passer in college football right now? (In 2025 Drew was #80, in 2024 he was #5, in 2023 he was #53, and in 2022 Clifford was #54.)–RWReese

On paper, very surprised! But when you dive into it, realizing that Becht has the most starts of any returner in FBS and he’s playing in the same system he’s been in for his whole collegiate career, it makes sense. He’s capable, and playing in a system that he knows very well (Taylor Mouser was his OC in 2024 and 2025, and was on staff prior to that as well). In a vacuum, it would be more surprising for him not to have a very good passer rating.

Why are we not seeing more playing time from Quentin Martin and Cam Wallace? Or you’ll be the future of the running back room and getting no time against temple. For Quentin Martin Junior would be starting early in the season, how’s that happen when he’s not getting any time–PSUFAMILY

I’m not sure we’ll ever know the exact reason, but ultimately it very likely boils down to the fact that the coaches believe that starting Carson Hansen at running back gives the team the best chance at success. You and I may disagree (and at times, perhaps quite vociferously), but they do see a lot more than we do. Right now, I’m going to make attempts to tone down my malcontent on this, but I reserve the right to revisit in a few weeks.

Do we know what/how Max Granville was injured? I know the team doesn’t release medical info, and he’s entitled to his privacy, but assume it’s another knee injury? Does he try to rehab and play again next year? Is that at Penn State or somewhere else? Heartbroken for that guy.–Blumski13

It hasn’t been released what his specific injury was or what happened, just that it was in practice. It’s gotta be so disappointing for a player who by all accounts had a fantastic offseason, and has been hampered by injuries multiple times over the course of his collegiate career.

I’m sure we’re all wishing him the best recovery, whether or not that impacts his future on-field performance.

Probably not going to phrase this q very well but hoping the essence leaks through. Much of the hope for an outstanding defense seemed to be predicated on Max Granville’s POTENTIAL rather than on demonstrated performance from him. So while Max’s absence is certainly a loss, does it require a total reset of expectations from what should be a pretty good State defense?–PSU_Lions_84

This is interesting, because I don’t recall takes that Granville’s potential was a key to an outstanding defense. Preseason, the defensive line was the biggest question mark on that side of the ball, and this injury obviously doesn’t help that; but just one player, even a great one, doesn’t make or break an entire defense. With the speed of play and the depth needed up front on the defense, multiple players need to step up in order to alleviate the expected pressure on the back seven (which will be very good) of the defense this year.

Caleb Bacon’s one of them, and while he had a quieter week two, he’ll definitely grow into his end role. But Ikenna Ezeogu and Yvan Kemajou will absolutely be very important – not even touching on the tackles.

So, what’s the deal with the face-recognition thing at the stadium? Mrs Smee and I noticed it as we entered for Marshall, and I went on the app today to see if I could set it up, but I can’t find anything about it anywhere? Anyone know wassup?–Smee

I signed up for it before week one, but didn’t end up using it. I think there are some limitations on its use, but it was rolled out so late that they’re likely still working out all of the kinks on their own as well.

You can sign up for it here: https://enroll.wicketsoft.com/pennstate

Is Ryan Day the biggest tool ever?

During his post game interview, he blamed everything on the players. It was they this & they that. He never said a word about his bad calls. He decided to go for it on 4th down & it did not succeed. He won’t accept blame for anything.–EagleLionSly

I’m no fan of Ryan Day, but he’s not even the biggest tool football coach in the conference now that Pat Fitzgerald is back on the sidelines.

He’s a very good coach, and obviously his approach has had success. But I definitely agree that not taking any ownership for any of the issues that arose in the fourth quarter of that game in Austin is a red flag; even if specifically none of it was on the coaches, ultimately the buck stops with them and with him as the head coach and CEO of the program. The onus is on him for everyone else to do their job, and when they don’t, it becomes his fault whether he specifically didn’t do anything to cause it.

Of course, we’re saying this now and yet Ohio State will likely rebound in a big way, and if they play Texas again in the post season, my bet would be that the ultimate outcome is more like the first half and less like the end score.

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