2026 PSU at Northwestern

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#RV/22 PSU 13 Northwestern 34

Game Stats/Data

Game Five—

Rocco Becht QB

• Fifth career start at Penn State/44th start of career (including Iowa State) with 29 career victories all-time (still best among active FBS QBs)—2nd Becht loss at PSU (15th of his career) & 2nd straight loss of Matt Campbell-era to open 2026 Big Ten season—Both Offense & Defense greatly underperformed at opening night of Northwestern’s new stadium

• Game 5 Passing—12 of 29 for 114 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 2 sacks (longest completion-22 yds. on final drive of game)—Becht had 3 tipped/batted passes in the game (1 resulted in an INT/2nd straight game for this)—9 of his passes were broken up by the Wildcats defense—Becht has 10 TD passes in 5 games (9 in first 3 games of season)—8 of Becht’s 10 TD passes have been for 15+ yards

• Game 5 Rushing—10 for 23 yards, 1 TD (long-19 yds./longest rush in game for PSU)

• Becht 2026 Passing stats/also PSU career (5 games/5 played/5 starts)—57 of 93 for 865 yards, Pct. 61.29%, 9 TDs, 1 INT, 5 sacks (longest pass-70 yds. vs. Buffalo/best passing game-271 yds. vs. Marshall/most completions-21 at Temple on 27 attempts/most TD passes-career high 4 vs. Marshall)

• Becht 2026 passing vs. Big Ten only (2 games played/2 starts)—12 of 29 for 114 yards, Pct. 41.38%, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 2 sacks (longest pass-22 yds. vs. Wisconsin/best passing game-114 yds. vs. Wisconsin/most completions-12 vs. Wisconsin on 29 attempts)

• Becht 2026 Rushing stats/also PSU career (5 games/5 played/5 starts)—20 for 22 yards, 1 TD (long-19 yds. vs. Wisconsin)

• Becht Career Passing stats (48 games played/44 starts inc. ISU)—771 of 1,270 for 10,139 yards, Pct. 60.71%, 73 TDs, 28 INTs (long-82 yds. ISU at Kansas State in 2023 for TD)—Two-point Conversion Passing—4 of 7 for 8 pts. (Iowa State 2023-25)—Best Passing Yards game: 22 of 38 for 446 yards (only 400+ yd. game of ISU career), Pct. 57.9%, 3 TDs, 0 INT in 2023 Liberty Bowl vs. Memphis—Most TD passes in a game: 4 PSU vs. Marshall 2026

• Becht Career Rushing stats (48 games played/44 starts inc. ISU)—267 for 521 yards, 20 TDs (long-32 yds. ISU vs. Cincinnati in 2024)—Two-point Conversion Rushing—2 of 2 for 4 pts. (ISU 2024)—Best Rushing Yards game: 20 for 97 yds., 2 TDs ISU vs. UCF 2024

• Becht TD passes at Northwestern (1):

• Becht Longest completion at Northwestern—X yards in X Qtr. (Becht had only 1 completion of 20+ yards in this game/14 on the season)

• Most Notable Incomplete Passes at Northwestern (2)—Two 4th Qtr. incomplete passes that could have changed the outcome of the game if they were caught—4th Qtr. (8:09)-PSU leads 20-10 and has a 1st and 10 at its own 45 thanks to leaping INT by Tony Rojas LB—PSU goes for the bomb immediately, Becht passes deep down the left side for Brett Eskildsen WR who was briefly open as he turns for the ball, but the pass is slightly underthrown and the WIS defender is able to break up the pass at the last moment at the 18 yard line—PSU goes from 1st & 10 inside the 20 for a chance at a game-sealing TD to a second straight 3-and-out that puts a tired Nittany Lion defense right back on the field for the 10-play, 75-yard WIS TD drive that cuts the State lead to 3—4th Qtr. (0:14)-PSU trails 24-20 and is attempting to pull a victory out of the fire—PSU has moved (with the help of a penalty—see next) from its 25 to the WIS 29 where a sack loses 4 yards to the 33—From here, the Nittany Lions bank on their passing game and take 3 shots at the endzone—The second attempt might have been the closest call—On 3rd and 14, Becht is under heavy pressure as he furiously rolls right out of the shotgun and heaves the ball to the back right corner of the endzone for Andrew Rappleyea TE (his first target all day)—Rapp is closely guarded but the ball is on the money as he leaps and falls backwards only to see the defender get a piece of it at the last moment to break up the catch—The 4th down Hail Mary intended for Ben Brahmer TE in the left side of the endzone with 5 seconds left is no good as the balls sails out the back of the endzone and the clock rolls to all zeroes—Penn State loses by 4

• PSU Total Offense at Northwestern—233 yards on 65 plays (114 yds. passing), 12 first downs (5 by passing)

• PSU Red Zone Success & Offensive Scoring at Northwestern—3 of 3 (1 1st & goal scenario inside 10 only resulted in Barker FG after 3rd & goal Becht pass from the 4 was batted down at line with Sowell open at right pylon in 1st Qtr.) / Offense scored: 1 TD (0 passing, 1 rushing), 2 for 2 PATs, 2 for 2 FGs—14 total points by offense—1 failed 2 pt. conversion pass attempt by Eskildsen WR

• 2025 Becht Passing stats at Iowa State (12 games played/12 starts): 205 of 339 for 2,584 yards, 16 TDs, 9 INTs (with 8 rushing TDs)—Best 2025 game: 30 of 48 for 314 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs, 2 two-point conversion passes (2 rushing TDs) in ISU loss at Cincinnati—Best Season at ISU (2024/14 games started): 3,505 yards passing with 25 TDs (also had 3,120 yards passing with 23 TDs in 2023/13 games started)—ISU career games (2022-25): 43 with 39 starts & 26 wins (not all games at ISU have passing stats)

• Becht ISU Total Career Passing (43 games/39 starts): 714 of 1,177 for 9,274 yds., Pct. 60.7%, 64 TDs, 27 INTs (long-82 yds at Kansas State 2023 for TD—also had 79 yd. TD pass in this game)—Becht had 4 total TD passes of 75+ yards in his ISU career—One 75-yarder to Brett Eskildsen WR vs. BYU in 2025 (he threw 3 TDs in 7 games while at ISU)

• Becht Iowa State Career Post-Season Stats (3 games/2 bowls): 65 of 109 for 930 yards, Pct. 59.6%, 8 TDs, 1 INT (with 1 rushing TD in bowl)—Two-point Conversion Passing in Post-Season: 0 of 2 for 0 pts.—Best Post-Season game: 22 of 38 for 446 yards (only 400+ yd. game of ISU career), Pct. 57.9%, 3 TDs, 0 INT in 2023 Liberty Bowl vs. Memphis (0 of 1 for 0 pts. on two-point conversion passing)

• Led ISU to 7 career 4th Quarter game-winning drives/was 23 of 30 passing on 4th down with ISU

  Alex Manske QB

• Game 5 Passing—0 of 0 for 0 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INT, 0 sacks (longest completion-0 yds.)—Did not play at Northwestern

• Game 5 Rushing—0 for 0 yards, 0 TD (long-0 yds.)

• Manske 2026 Passing stats/also PSU career (5 games/3 played/0 starts)—9 of 14 for 102 yards, Pct. 64.3%, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 0 sacks (longest pass-31 yds. vs. Buffalo/best passing game-57 yds. vs. Marshall/most completions-6 vs. Marshall on 8 attempts—all career bests)

• Manske 2026 passing vs. Big Ten only (0 games played/0 starts)—0 of 0 for 0 yards, Pct. 0.0%, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 0 sacks (longest pass-0 yds. vs. TBA/best passing game-0 yds. vs. TBA/most completions-0 vs. TBA on 0 attempts)

• Manske 2026 Rushing stats/also PSU career (5 games/3 played/0 starts)—3 for 14 yards, 0 TD (long-6 yds. vs. Marshall)

• Manske Career Passing stats (6 games played/0 starts inc. ISU)—13 of 19 for 131 yards, Pct. 68.4%, 0 TDs, 0 INTs (long-31 yds. vs. Buffalo in 2026)

• Manske Career Rushing stats (6 games played/0 starts inc. ISU)—10 for 47 yards, 1 TD (long-13 yds. ISU vs. South Dakota in 2025)—Best Rushing Game: ISU vs. S. Dakota 2025—4 for 26 yds., 1 TD (4 yds.)

• Manske TD passes at Northwestern: none

• Manske Longest Completion at Northwestern: none

Connor Barry QB

• Game 5 Passing—0 of 0 for 0 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INT, 0 sacks (longest completion-0 yds.)—Did not play at Northwestern

• Game 5 Rushing—0 for 0 yards, 0 TD (long-0 yds.)

• Barry 2026 Passing stats/also PSU career (5 games/2 played/0 starts)—2 of 2 for 8 yards, Pct. 100.0%, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 0 sacks (longest pass-12 yds. vs. Buffalo/best passing game-12 yds. vs. Buffalo/most completions-1 vs. Marshall & Buffalo on 1 attempt each)

• Barry 2026 passing vs. Big Ten only (0 games played/0 starts)—0 of 0 for 0 yards, Pct. 0.0%, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 0 sacks (longest pass-0 yds. vs. TBA/best passing game-0 yds. vs. TBA/most completions-0 vs. TBA on 0 attempts)

• Barry 2026 Rushing stats/also PSU career (5 games/2 played/0 starts)—3 for 2 yards, 0 TD (long-4 yds. vs. Marshall)

• Barry Career Passing stats (32 games played/21 starts inc. CNU)—350 of 529 for 5,569 yards, Pct. 66.2%, 55 TDs, 10 INTs (long-83 yds. CNU at Kean in 2024 for TD)—Best passing game: 34 of 44 for 443 yds., 4 TDs CNU at Salisbury 2024—Career Two-point Conversion Passing—1 of 2 for 2 pts. (CNU 2024)

• Barry Career Rushing stats (32 games played/21 starts inc. CNU)—179 for 598 yards, 18 TDs (long-27 yds. CNU at Kean in 2024)—Longest Career TD rush: 14 yds. CNU at Rowan 2025—Best Rushing game: 11 for 66 yds., 1 TD (long-25 yds.) CNU at Dickinson 2023

• Barry TD passes at Northwestern: none

• Barry Longest Completion at Northwestern: none

• Played Previously at Christopher Newport Univ. (Div. 3 in 2023-25 making 21 starts in 30 games with 5,561 yards passing/55 TD passes/18 rushing TDs) & at Appalachian State (Div. 1 FBS in 2022—only appeared in the Spring game with 1 TD pass)

• Barry 2025 season at CNU (11 games played/11 starts)—117 of 264 passing for 2,866 yds., 35 TDs, 6 INTs (long-80 yds. at Rowan for TD)—Rushing: 85 for 257 yds., 11 TDs (long-21 yds. at Gettysburg)—Best Rushing game: 12 for 65 yds., 2 TDs vs. Salisbury

• Most TD passes in a game for CNU: 5 vs. Trine 2025 & at Rowan 2025 (on 27 of 44 for 434 yds.)

• Most TD rushes in a game for CNU: 3 at William Paterson 2025

• CLICK HERE FOR PSU ALL-TIME TD PASSING LEADERS

  CLICK HERE FOR PSU ALL-TIME PASSING YARDS LEADERS

  Carson Hansen RB

• Game 5 Rushing—4 for 11 yards, 2.75 YPC, 0 TD (long-6 yds.)—First game he did not start at RB in 2026

• Game 5 Receiving—none

• Game 5 Kick Returns—none

• 2026 Rushing/also PSU Career (5 games/5 played/4 starts)—39 for 180 yards, 1 TD, 4.62 YPC (long-16 yds. vs. Buffalo)

• 2026 Receiving/also PSU Career (5 games/5 played/4 starts)—2 receptions for 13 yds., 0 TD, 6.50 yds. per catch (long-8 yds. at Temple)

• Best 2026 PSU Rushing Yards Game (at Temple): 19 for 84 yds., 0 TD (long-13 yds.)

• Iowa State Career Rushing (38 games)—1,771 yards rushing/19 rushing TDs (also 2 receiving TDs)

• Iowa State Career 2-point conversions—1 two-point rush & 1 two-point reception

  James Peoples RB

• Game 5 Rushing—14 for 67 yards, 4.79 YPC, 0 TD (long-9 yds.)—1st start at RB for PSU

• Game 5 Receiving—0 receptions for 3 yds., 0 TD, 0.00 yards per catch (long-3 yds.)

• Game 5 Kick Returns—none

• 2026 Rushing/also PSU Career (5 games/5 played/1 start)—37 for 199 yards, 2 TD, 5.38 YPC (long-16 yds. vs. Buffalo for TD)

• 2026 Receiving/also PSU Career (5 games/5 played/1 start)—0 receptions for 3 yds., 0 TD, 0.00 yards per catch (long-3 yds. vs. Wisconsin off lateral from original pass receiver)

• Best 2026 PSU Rushing Yards Game (vs. Wisconsin): 14 for 67 yds., 0 TD (long-9 yds.)

• Ohio State Career Rushing (22 games)—541 yards rushing/5 rushing TDs

  Quinton Martin, Jr. RB

• Game 5 Rushing—6 for 14 yards, 2.33 YPC, 0 TD (long-6 yds.)

• Game 5 Receiving—2 receptions for 5 yards, 0 TD (long-4yds.)—2 targets in game

• Game 5 Kick Returns—none

• 2026 Rushing (5 games/5 played/0 starts)—26 for 152 yards, 1 TD, 5.85 YPC (long-61 yds. vs. Buffalo)

• Career Rushing (19 games/0 starts)—59 for 287 yards, 1 TD, 4.86 YPC (long-61 yds. vs. Buffalo 2026)—Martin 2-point conversion career rushing: 1 rush, 0 points in failed attempt vs. Clemson 2025—Career High Rushing: 103 yards on 20 carries, 0 TD in 2025 Pinstripe Bowl vs. Clemson

• 2026 Receiving (5 games/5 played/0 starts)—4 receptions for 4 yards, 0 TD, 1.00 yards/catch (long-4 yds. vs. Wisconsin)

• Career Receiving (19 games/0 starts)—8 for 18 yards, 0 TDs, 2.25 yards/catch (long-7 yds. vs. UCLA in 2024)

• Career Kick Returns (19 games/0 starts)—2 returns for 45 yards, 0 TD

• Best 2026 Rushing Yards Game (vs. Buffalo)—10 for 100 yds., 0 TDs (long-61 yds)—2nd 100+ yard rushing game in PSU career

  Cam Wallace RB

• Game 5 Rushing—2 for 4 yards, 2.00 YPC, 0 TD (long-2 yds.)

• Game 5 Receiving—none

• Game 5 Kick Returns—none

• 2026 Rushing (5 games/5 played/0 starts)—22 for 125 yards, 5.68 YPC, 2 TDs (long-59 yds. vs. Buffalo for TD)

• Career Rushing (12 games/0 starts)—46 for 211 yards, 3 TDs, 4.59 YPC (long-59 yds. vs. Buffalo 2026)

• 2026 Receiving (5 games/5 played/0 starts)—1 reception for 7 yards, 0 TD, 7.00 yards/catch (long-7 yds. vs. Buffalo)

• Career Receiving (12 games/0 starts)—2 receptions for 19 yards, 0 TD, 9.50 yards/catch (long-12 yds. vs. Nevada 2025)

• Career Kick Returns (12 games/0 starts)—1 return for 1 yard, 0 TD

• Best 2026 Rushing Yards Game (vs. Buffalo)—8 for 77 yds., 1 TD (long-59 yds. for TD)

  CLICK HERE FOR PSU ALL-TIME RUSHING LEADERS STATS

  CLICK HERE FOR PSU ALL-TIME RUSHING TD LEADERS

  Offensive Line Information

  OL Starters at Northwestern (5th straight game)—Malachi Goodman LT, Trevor Buhr LG, Brock Riker C, Cooper Cousins RG, & Anthony Donkoh RT—Riker was later replaced by Vaea Ikakoula

  ALL RECEIVERS (WR/TE)

• Chase Sowell WR: 6 receptions for 70 yards, 0 TD (long-22 yds. on final possession)—started at WR for 4th straight game—9 targets in game—Sowell now has 24 20+ yd. receptions in career—on 22 yd. catch in 4th Qtr. Sowell crossed 2K in career receiving yards (2,019 yds.)—1 reception involved hook & lateral with James Peoples RB for 3-yard gain in 4th Qtr. (illegal tripping penalty on Wis. defender added 15 yds. to play)

• Ben Brahmer TE: 4 receptions for 36 yards, 0 TD (long-19 yds.)—season high 8 targets in game (including target on unsuccessful Hail Mary to deep left endzone on final play)—Career receiving yards: 1,110 yds.

• Brett Eskildsen WR: 0 receptions for 0 yards, 0 TD (long-0 yds.)—started at WR—targeted 6-times with no receptions—2 pt. conversion pass

• Andrew Rappleyea TE: 0 receptions for 0 yards, 0 TD (long-0 yds.)—started at TE after having been listed as Game Time Decision after injuring right shoulder vs. Buffalo—only 1 target in game came on final PSU drive, 3rd & 14 pass from the WIS 33 from Becht for potential GW TD in back right of endzone (defender was able to get hand on ball and keep Rappleyea from making catch with 5 seconds left—was probably best opportunity of Becht’s 3 pass attempts in the final 30 seconds of the loss—Sowell & Brahmer were other 2 targets on 2nd and 4th down)

• Zay Robinson WR: 0 reception for 0 yards, 0 TD (long-0 yds.)—only 1 target in game—also returned kicks & punts—see stats below—36 yds. All-purpose all on 3 returns

• Gabe Burkle TE: 0 reception for 0 yards, 0 TD (long-0 yds.)—started at TE—1 target

• Koby Howard WR: Did not play at Northwestern (out with undisclosed injury from Buffalo game/will miss several games)—Season Receiving: 12 for 344 yds., 2 TDs (28.67 YPC)—Season Rushing: 2 for 24 yds., 1 TD

  SELECTED DEFENSE

• Tony Rojas LB: 6 tackles/4 solo, 1 sack (2 yds. in losses/5 career sacks), 2 TFLs (3 yds. in losses/18 career TFLs), 1 INT (in 4th Qtr.-no return yds./6 career INTs/2 INTs in 2026), 1 QB hurry—22 total tackles on season—6 INTs (1 pick 6) are most among current FBS LBs

• Kooper Ebel LB: 8 tackles/3 solo, 3 QB hurries—2nd straight PSU game leading team in tackles

• Jeremiah Cooper S: 8 tackles/4 solo, 1 Pass breakup—1st PSU game sharing team lead in tackles (new career high)

• Marcus Neal S: 6 tackles/1 solo—Notable: had issues on final 2 passing TDs by Wisconsin QB Colton Joseph—beaten in left corner endzone on Joseph 11-yd. TD pass to Eugene Hilton WR with 3:31 to go—bowled over by Jacob Harris TE on 72-yd. GW TD pass from Joseph with 1:13 to go (this was questionable non-call for possible OPI penalty on Harris while PSU was flagged for mysterious illegal use of hands-declined)

• Audavion Collins CB: 3 tackles/2 solo, 3 Pass breakups (career high)—Notable: missed open field diving tackle on Jacob Harris GW TD catch/run at PSU 30-yard line

• Josiah Zayas CB: 0 tackles/0 solo, 1 INT (51-yd. return for TD in 2nd Qtr./1st career INT & TD)—PSU’s 1st pick-6 since Jahmir Joseph CB 49-yd. return vs. Villanova 2025—PFF Team of Week—PFF grade 93.1 (highest among True Freshmen)

• Daryus Dixson CB: 0 tackles/0 solo, 1 INT (24-yd. return to 11-yard line setting up TD rush/1st career INT)—Dixson INT in 2nd Qtr. came on possession following Zayas INT (1st back-to-back possession INTs since 2024 Fiesta Bowl/CFP Quarterfinal vs. Boise State—Zion Tracy & Tyrece Mills)

• Yvan Kemajou DE: 3 tackles/1 solo, 1 QB hurry

• Armstrong Nnodim DT: 3 tackles/1 solo, 1 TFL (1 yd. loss)

• Ikenna Ezeogu DE: 3 tackles/1 solo, 1 QB hurry

• Jahmir Joseph CB: 3 tackles/2 solo

• Alexander McPherson DE: 2 tackles/2 solo, 1 TFL (5 yds. in losses/1.5 career TFLs)

• Caleb Bacon DE: 1 tackle/1 solo

• Alex Tatsch LB: 2 tackles/1 solo

• Zion Tracy CB: 1 tackle/1 solo, 1 QB hurry—3rd start of 2026 season

  >Note: Northwestern became just the 5th team since 1947 to rush for over 400 yards in a game against Penn State (all 5 games are PSU losses)—413 yards is now the fourth largest single game rushing total vs. PSU behind Michigan State (452 yds. in 1997), Notre Dame (425 yds. in 1989), & Michigan (418 yds. in 2022), and just ahead of Ohio State (408 yds. in 2013)—Northwestern 2026 also matched Notre Dame 1989 for the lowest winning point total in a 400-yard rushing game vs. Penn State with 34 points

  KICKING/PUNTING/RETURNS

• FGs: Ryan Barker-2 of 2, 22 yds. & 37 yds. made—2026 season: 7 of 8 FGs made with season long of 48 yds. vs. Buffalo / Career: 40 of 45, 88.89% is best all-time at PSU)—Barker is 13 of 15 all-time on FGs of 40+ yds. (Career long-49 yds. vs. Maryland 2024 & vs. Oregon 2025)

• PATs: Ryan Barker-2 of 2 (2026 season: 17 of 17 / Career: 109 of 111, 98.2%)—2026 Season high: 6 PATs made on 6 attempts vs. Marshall & Buffalo (this is also his career high made/attempted)

• Game Scoring by Kicking: Ryan Barker-8 pts. (2026 Season scoring: 38 pts. / Career: 229 pts.)—2026 Season high: 12 pts. vs. Buffalo—Career single game high: 15 pts. (on 4 FGs & 3 PATs) at USC 2024 (1 FG in OT) & vs. Nevada 2025

• Kickoffs: Cristiano Rosa 1 for 65 yds., 1 TB, 0 fair catch, 0 OOB—seen at medical tent/did not return to game (Season: 14 for 902 yds., 10 TBs), Lucas Tenbrock 4 for 254 yds., 3 TBs (PSU penalized for offsides on 1 TB), 0 OOB—Wisconsin returned 1 kick for 20 yds. (Season: 12 for 765 yds., 8 TBs)

• Kick Returns: Zay Robinson WR 1 for 20 yds. (long-20 yds.)—2 PSU fair catches/2 Wisconsin TBs on 5 kicks—Season: 4 for 78 yds., 0 TD, Avg. 19.50 YPKR (long-34 yds. vs. Marshall), 2 returns of 20+ yards

• Punting: Nathan Tiyce 7 for 299 yds. (long-54 yds.), Avg. 42.71 YPP, 1 50+ yds., 2 inside 20, 1 inside 10, 0 Inside 5, 0 TB (4 Wisconsin fair catches/3 punts OOB)—Season: 16 for 669 yds., (long-55 yds. vs. Marshall), Avg. 41.81 YPP, 2 50+ yds., 5 inside 20, 3 inside 10, 2 Inside 5, 2 TBs—Career Notes: 4 career 50+ punts, 12 career punts inside 20, 8 career punts inside 10

• Punt Returns: Zay Robinson WR 2 for 16 yds. (long-11 yds.)—1 fair catch by Robinson/No Wisconsin TBs on 6 punts (0 punts out of bounds)—Season: 15 for 188 yds., 0 TD, 12.53 YPPR (long-38 yds. vs. Buffalo/single game season high 8 returns, season high 109 yds. vs. Buffalo), 3 20+ yard returns/2 30+ yard return