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Penn State postgame report card: Grading Nittany Lions vs. Marshall
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- Penn State postgame report card: Grading Nittany Lions vs. Marshall
The new-look Nittany Lions certainly looked like they were ready for a new era of Penn State football with a resounding 45-0 win over the Thundering Herd. Here is a look at the postgame report card for Penn State following the Marshall game.
Quarterback: A
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht (3) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images
Rocco Becht looked every part of the most experienced QB in the FBS, looking cool, calm and composed. He threw for 271 yards and 4 touchdowns, which was a career high for the former Iowa State man. The fact that he was able to spread the ball around to four different receivers must have felt good for Penn State fans. You could nitpick a couple of his throws, but otherwise, he was almost flawless on the day. Plus, it's always good when you can get two backup QBs in the game, with Alex Manske looking pretty impressive himself in leading a late fourth-quarter touchdown drive.
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Running Backs: C-
Penn State running back Carson Hansen (21) carries the ball during an NCAA football game against Marshall at Beaver Stadium, Sept. 5, 2026, in State College.
This was perhaps the only worrying aspect of Penn State's game, but due to the electrifying aerial attack, it was somewhat glossed over. Carson Hansen , the Iowa State transfer, looked aggressive early, but only finished the day with 48 rushing yards on 11 carries. The reason why the whole unit gets a C- is because Hansen was the leading rusher on the day. While they all combined for 163 yards, the fact that no one cracked 50 yards could give some highly nitpicky Penn State fans pause. It was not until both Cam Wallace and Quinton Martin Jr. got into the game that the ground game had any juice.
Receivers and Tight Ends: A+
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Koby Howard (6) runs with the ball which would result in a touchdown during the first quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images
This grade comes down to one man: Koby Howard . Now the lead returning receiver for the Nittany Lions , Howard played like he had a point to prove. On only 6 catches, he had 161 yards, showcasing elite speed on his touchdown as well as making contested catches. He was truly elite today. Other receivers of note were Brett Eskildsen , who caught a nice screen pass and showed off his own elite speed with a touchdown, and Zay Robinson , who was more involved in Penn State's kick return game, but also was electric downfield. Ben Brahmer was the difference maker among the tight end room, catching Becht's last touchdown pass of the day.
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Defense: A
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd running back Jo'Shon Barbie (6) pushes through the Penn State Nittany Lions defense during the first quarter at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images
What more could you say about this Penn State defense today? Every single player looked fired up and it showed on the football field. While Kooper Ebel looked solid calling the shots for the D and Tony Rojas dazzled in his return, the star of the defense today was Caleb Bacon , who had a sack and led the team with 3 TFLs on the day. It was his second half performance that basically ensured Marshall would take nothing away from their visit to Happy Valley. Bryson Williams recorded a late interception for the secondary, who didn't necessarily need to do too much in this game.
Special Teams: B+
Apr 25, 2026; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions kicker Ryan Barker (94) kicks a field goal during the Penn State Blue-White Spring game at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images
Nothing special of note from the special teams other than Ryan Barker kicking a 38 yard field goal and the debuts for three new members: Australian punter Nathan Tiyce who averaged 43.3 yards on his punts and the man handling kickoff duties in Lucas Tenbrock . Zay Robinson showed promise as a returner with 41 yards and a long of 23.
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Coaching: A+
Penn State head coach Matt Campbell during an NCAA football game against Marshall at Beaver Stadium, Sept. 5, 2026, in State College.
Matt Campbell put his stamp on the start of the season with a complete coaching performance, having all of his guys ready for the start of the season. Many wondered how the Nittany Lions would look early on in this game with so many new faces and they answered with aplomb and ferocity. It's a testament to Campbell's coaching style and philosophy that everything was so in sync for the Nittany Lions no matter who was on the field. Penn State fans could not have asked for a better debut from their new head coach.
Overall: A
This was a perfect start to what feels like something new brewing in State College. Matt Campbell's boys proved they're not messing around and proved a point, leaving little doubt that they want to wipe the slate clean. With standout offensive and defensive performances, Penn State will take away a lot of positives as they head into Week 2 and their first road game of the year.
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Up next for Penn State
Penn State will be back in action next Saturday when the Nittany Lions make a trip to Philadelphia to face the Temple Owls. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET next Saturday, September 12, from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State postgame report card: Grading Nittany Lions vs. Marshall
