2026 PSU vs. USC

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PSU XX #19/17 USC XX

Game Stats/Data

Game Six—

Rocco Becht QB

• Sixth career start at Penn State/45th 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

• Game 6 Passing—26 of 41 for 243 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 1 sack (longest completion-26 yds. on 1st play of game)—1st 200+ yd. passing game in Becht’s Big Ten career (4th of season)—2nd game with 20+ completions—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 came in the 3 non-conference games)—8 of Becht’s 10 TD passes have been for 15+ yards

• Game 6 Rushing—7 for 10 yards, 0 TDs (long-10 yds./longest rush in game for PSU for 2nd straight week)

• Becht 2026 Passing stats/also PSU career (6 games/6 played/6 starts)—83 of 134 for 1,108 yards, Pct. 61.94%, 10 TDs, 3 INTs, 6 sacks (longest pass-70 yds. vs. Buffalo/best passing game-271 yds. vs. Marshall/most completions-26 at Northwestern on season high 41 attempts/most TD passes-career high 4 vs. Marshall)

• Becht 2026 passing vs. Big Ten only (3 games played/3 starts)—38 of 70 for 357 yards, Pct. 54.29%, 1 TD, 3 INTs, 3 sacks (longest pass-26 yds. at Northwestern/best passing game-243 yds. at Northwestern/most completions-26 at Northwestern on 41 attempts)

• Becht 2026 Rushing stats/also PSU career (6 games/6 played/6 starts)—27 for 32 yards, 1 TD (long-19 yds. vs. Wisconsin)

• Becht Career Passing stats (49 games played/45 starts inc. ISU)—797 of 1,311 for 10,382 yards, Pct. 60.79%, 74 TDs, 30 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 in PSU vs. Marshall 2026—Most Completions/Attempts in a game: 30 of 48 ISU at Cincinnati 2025

• Becht Career Rushing stats (49 games played/45 starts inc. ISU)—274 for 531 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 vs. USC (1): XX Qtr. (7:53)-

• Becht Longest completion vs. USC—XX yards in 1st Qtr. to

• Most Notable Non-Scoring Passes vs. USC (2)—

• PSU Total Offense vs. USC—291 yards on 63 plays (243 yds. passing), 20 first downs (13 by passing)

• PSU Red Zone Success & Offensive Scoring vs. USC—2 of 2 / Offense scored: 2 TDs (1 passing, 1 rushing), 1 for 1 PATs, 0 for 1 FGs—13 total points by offense—1 failed 2 pt. conversion pass attempt

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

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

• Manske 2026 Passing stats/also PSU career (6 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 (6 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 vs. USC: none

• Manske Longest Completion vs. USC: none

Connor Barry QB

• Game 6 Passing—0 of 0 for 0 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INT, 0 sacks (longest completion-0 yds.)—Did not play at Northwestern

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

• Barry 2026 Passing stats/also PSU career (6 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 (6 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 vs. USC: none

• Barry Longest Completion vs. USC: 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 6 Rushing—4 for 19 yards, 4.75 YPC, 1 TD (long-8 yds. for TD/21st TD in career)—First game he did not start at RB in 2026—TD Rush: 2nd Qtr. (10:39)

• Game 6 Receiving—1 reception for 9 yards, 0 TD (long-9 yds.)—1 target/7 YAC

• Game 6 Kick Returns—none

• 2026 Rushing/also PSU Career (6 games/5 played/4 starts)—43 for 199 yards, 2 TDs, 4.63 YPC (long-16 yds. vs. Buffalo)

• 2026 Receiving/also PSU Career (6 games/5 played/4 starts)—3 receptions for 22 yds., 0 TD, 7.33 yds. per catch (long-9 yds. at Northwestern)

• 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 6 Rushing—8 for 13 yards, 1.63 YPC, 0 TD (long-5 yds.)—1st start at RB for PSU

• Game 6 Receiving—2 receptions for 16 yds., 0 TD, 8.00 yards per catch (long-11 yds.)—2 targets/first receptions of the season/18 YAC

• Game 6 Kick Returns—none

• 2026 Rushing/also PSU Career (6 games/5 played/1 start)—45 for 212 yards, 2 TD, 4.71 YPC (long-16 yds. vs. Buffalo for TD)

• 2026 Receiving/also PSU Career (6 games/5 played/1 start)—2 receptions for 19 yds., 0 TD, 0.00 yards per catch (long-11 yds. at Northwestern)

• 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 6 Rushing—3 for 6 yards, 2.00 YPC, 0 TD (long-4 yds.)

• Game 6 Receiving—none

• Game 6 Kick Returns—none

• 2026 Rushing (6 games/5 played/0 starts)—29 for 158 yards, 1 TD, 5.45 YPC (long-61 yds. vs. Buffalo)

• Career Rushing (19 games/0 starts)—62 for 293 yards, 1 TD, 4.73 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 Single Game Rushing: 103 yards on 20 carries, 0 TD in 2025 Pinstripe Bowl vs. Clemson

• 2026 Receiving (6 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 6 Rushing—0 for 0 yards, 0.00 YPC, 0 TD (long-0 yds.)—Did not play at Northwestern

• Game 6 Receiving—none

• Game 6 Kick Returns—none

• 2026 Rushing (6 games/4 played/0 starts)—22 for 125 yards, 5.68 YPC, 2 TDs (long-59 yds. vs. Buffalo for TD)

• Career Rushing (11 games/0 starts)—46 for 211 yards, 3 TDs, 4.59 YPC (long-59 yds. vs. Buffalo 2026)

• 2026 Receiving (6 games/4 played/0 starts)—1 reception for 7 yards, 0 TD, 7.00 yards/catch (long-7 yds. vs. Buffalo)

• Career Receiving (11 games/0 starts)—2 receptions for 19 yards, 0 TD, 9.50 yards/catch (long-12 yds. vs. Nevada 2025)

• Career Kick Returns (11 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 vs. USC (5th straight game)—Malachi Goodman LT, Trevor Buhr LG, Brock Riker C, Cooper Cousins RG, & Anthony Donkoh RT

  ALL RECEIVERS (WR/TE)

• Chase Sowell WR: 5 receptions for 68 yards, 1 TD (long-26 yds.)—started at WR for 5th straight game—12 targets in game—TD catch: 16 yd. pass from Becht in 4th Qtr. (2nd of season/8th of career)—Sowell now has 25 20+ yd. receptions in career—Career receiving yards (2,087 yds.)

• Ben Brahmer TE: 5 receptions for 45 yards, 0 TD (long-12 yds.)—started at TE—6 targets in game—Career receiving yards: 1,155 yds.

• Brett Eskildsen WR: 6 receptions for 45 yards, 0 TD (long-16 yds.)—started at WR—targeted 8-times

• Andrew Rappleyea TE: 5 receptions for 36 yards, 0 TD (long-13 yds.)—started at TE—7 targets—5 catches ties career best established at 2025 Pinstripe Bowl vs. Clemson

• Zay Robinson WR: 2 receptions for 24 yards, 0 TD (long-19 yds.)—5 targets in game—also returned kicks & punts—see stats below—65 All-purpose yards including 41 yds. in returns

• Koby Howard WR: Did not play vs. USC (out with undisclosed injury from Buffalo game/has now missed 3 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: 12 tackles/5 solo, 1 sack (9 yds. in losses/6 career sacks), 3.5 TFLs (15 yds. in losses/21.5 career TFLs), 1 Pass breakup—12 tackles & 3.5 TFLs are career highs (2nd career game with 10+ tackles with 10 vs. FIU 2025)—34 total tackles on season—6 INTs in career (1 pick 6)

• Kooper Ebel LB: 11 tackles/2 solo, .5 TFL (0 yds. in losses/16 career TFLs), 1 Pass Breakup—11 tackles match ISU career high—Notable: missed 3 tackle attempts struggling to stop NW run game

• Keanu Williams DT: 7 tackles/5 solo—7 tackles are career high

• Marcus Neal S: 5 tackles/3 solo—Notable: 2nd Qtr. INT of Aidan Chiles at NW 45 erased by questionable DPI call after receiver caused collision

• Jamison Patton S: 5 tackles/2 solo

• Cael Brezina LB: 5 tackles/2 solo

• Daryus Dixson CB: 5 tackles/1 solo, .5 TFL (0 yds. in losses/2.5 career TFLs)—started 5th game of season after having been listed as Questionable/Game Time Decision during week ahead of game

• Yvan Kemajou DE: 4 tackles/2 solo

• Jeremiah Cooper S: 4 tackles/1 solo

• Josiah Zayas CB: 3 tackles/2 solo, 1 Fumble recovery (0-yd. return/1st of career)—2nd Qtr. Fumble recovery immediately followed penalty-negated INT by Neal—Zayas recovered ball at NW 34 after bad handoff exchange to RB setting table for short PSU drive resulting in Hansen 8 yd. TD run

• Audavion Collins CB: 3 tackles/2 solo

• Alexander McPherson DE: 3 tackles/1 solo, 1 QB hurry—1st career start

• Alex Tatsch LB: 3 tackles/0 solo, .5 TFL (1 yd. in losses/2.5 career TFLs)

• Dallas Vakalahi DT: 1 tackle/1 solo, 1 TFL (2 yds. in losses/3.5 career TFLs)

  >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 with two 200+ yd. rushers), 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-0 of 1, 45 yds. missed wide right—2026 season: 7 of 9 FGs made with season long of 48 yds. vs. Buffalo / Career: 40 of 46, 86.96% is best all-time at PSU—Barker is 13 of 16 all-time on FGs of 40+ yds. (Career long-49 yds. vs. Maryland 2024 & vs. Oregon 2025)

• PATs: Ryan Barker-1 of 1 (2026 season: 18 of 18 / Career: 110 of 112, 98.21%)—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-1 pt. (2026 Season scoring: 39 pts. / Career: 230 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 0 for 0 yds., 0 TB, 0 fair catches, 0 OOB—Did not play at Northwestern due to undisclosed injury in Wisconsin game (2026 Season: 14 for 902 yds., 10 TBs), Lucas Tenbrock 3 for 185 yds., 1 TB, 1 fair catch, 0 OOB—Northwestern returned 1 kick for 24 yds. (2026 Season: 15 for 950 yds., 9 TBs)

• Kick Returns: Zay Robinson WR 2 for 41 yds. (long-23 yds.)—3 PSU fair catches/2 Northwestern TBs on 7 kicks—Season: 6 for 119 yds., 0 TD, Avg. 19.83 YPKR (long-34 yds. vs. Marshall), 3 returns of 20+ yards

• Punting: Nathan Tiyce 7 for 288 yds. (long-60 yds.-result TB), Avg. 41.14 YPP, 1 50+ yds., 3 inside 20, 1 inside 10 (15 yd. penalty on PSU), 0 Inside 5, 1 TB (5 Northwestern fair catches/1 return net 16 yds. after NW penalty/0 punts OOB)—Season: 23 for 957 yds., (long-60 yds. at Northwestern), Avg. 41.61 YPP, 3 50+ yds., 8 inside 20, 4 inside 10, 2 Inside 5, 3 TBs—Career Notes: 5 career 50+ punts (1 60+), 15 career punts inside 20, 9 career punts inside 10

• Punt Returns: Zay Robinson WR 0 for 0 yds. (long-0 yds.)—2 fair catches by Robinson/No Northwestern TBs on 2 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