Postgame Notes: Penn State vs. TemplePostgame Notes: Penn State vs. Temple

Postgame Notes: Penn State vs. Temple

TEAM

  • Penn State is now 41-4-1 all-time against Temple and 13-4 in road matchups.
  • The Nittany Lions are now 172-96-12 all-time against current FBS and FCS Pennsylvania programs.
  • 17 Nittany Lions made their collegiate debut: LB Josh Banks appeared in his first collegiate game, marking the 17th Nittany Lion to make his collegiate debut this season.
  • 8 true freshmen played: Banks was also the eighth true freshmen to appear in a game for PSU this year.

 

STREAKS

  • Penn State has won 27-consecutive games over non-conference opponents during the regular season.
  • Penn State has not allowed a special teams touchdown in 92-straight games, dating back to the start of the 2019 season.

 

OFFENSE

Team

  • Through two games, Penn State has had five different receivers catch a touchdown pass (Benjamin Brahmer, Brett Eskildsen, Koby Howard, Zay Robinson, Chase Sowell).
  • Penn State had five completions of 20+ yards on Saturday, bringing its season total to 12 passes of 20+ yards.
  • The Nittany Lions threw for 268 passing yards. Since 2014, PSU has thrown for 200+ yards on 101 occasions. Penn State is 77-24 in those games.

 

Rocco Becht

  • QB Rocco Becht completed 21-of-27 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns.
  • Becht connected with Benjamin Brahmer on a 23-yard touchdown late in the second quarter. Becht has a touchdown pass in each of his last seven games.
  • Becht threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Chase Sowell in the third quarter.
  • He completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Brahmer in the fourth quarter. It was Becht’s 71st career touchdown pass.
  • Becht collected his 23rd career game with multiple touchdown passes and ninth career game with three or more passing touchdowns
  • Six of Becht’s seven touchdown passes this season have gone for 15+ yards.
  • The Florida native posted his 31st career 200-yard passing game.
  • Becht has led his teams to 28career wins, most among current FBS quarterbacks.

 

Carson Hansen

  • RB Carson Hansen led Penn State with 84 rushing yards on 19 carries, averaging 4.4 yards per rush.

 

Chase Sowell

  • WR Chase Sowell caught five passes for 58 yards and a touchdown.
  • Caught his first touchdown pass for the Blue & White, a 16-yard reception, on Penn State’s first drive of the second half. It was his seventh career receiving touchdown.

 

Koby Howard

  • WR Koby Howard hauled in a 56-yard catch on the opening play of the game. Eight of Howard’s 16 career catches have gone for 20+ yards.

 

Zay Robinson

  • WR Zay Robinson caught a 22-yard pass in the third quarter on a Penn State third-and-15 to convert a first down. He has two 20+ yard catches this season.

 

Benjamin Brahmer

  • TE Benjamin Brahmer made five grabs for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
  • On the day, Brahmer went over 1,000 career receiving yards and now has 1,064 yards.
  • He caught a 23-yard touchdown pass with eight seconds remaining in the first half.
  • Brahmer caught a second touchdown pass at 7:48 in the fourth quarter, this time for 23 yards. It marked dthe 12th receiving touchdown of his career and his third career 20+-yard touchdown catch.
  • The senior added a 20-yard catch in the third quarter.
  • Brahmer tallied his second career game with multiple touchdown receptions.
  • He has 21 career receptions of 20+ yards.
  • Brahmer has a catch in 14-straight games.

 

DEFENSE

 

Team

  • LB Tony Rojas picked off a pass in the first quarter and returned it to the Temple 5. It was Penn State’s third takeaway this season (2 interceptions, 1 fumble).
  • The only team in FBS to not allow a score in its first five quarters of the season.
    • Georgia Southern, Iowa, Kennesaw State, Maryland, and South Carolina could join the list in their games later today [9/12].
  • Since the start of the 2022 season, Penn State has forced 92 turnovers (54 interceptions, 38 fumbles).
  • Penn State held Temple to 283 total yards, marking the 77th time holding an opponent under 300 total yards since 2014.
  • The Nittany Lions limited the Owls to 107 passing yards. It was the 93rd time holding an opponent under 200 passing yards since 2014.

 

Yvan Kemajou

  • Recorded a solo sack on the penultimate play of the first quarter.
  • 6 career TFL, 1.5 career sacks

 

Tony Rojas

  • LB Tony Rojas recorded six tackles in the first half and finished the game with 7 stops.
  • Caught an interception at 7:10 in the first quarter, marking the fifth of his career. Returned for 13 yards to set up first-and-goal for the Nittany Lions at the Temple five-yard line.

 

Siale Taupaki

  • DT Siale Taupaki recorded a solo tackle for loss in the second quarter, moving his career total to four TFLs.

 

Zion Tracy

  • CB Zion Tracy notched four tackles in the first half and finished the game with 5 stops, tying his career high for the seventh time. It last happened against Marshall last game out.

 

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

 

Team

  • The opening drive of the second half ended with a blocked Temple field goal by CB Daryus Dixson. It marks the first blocked field goal since the 2025 season when Xavier Gilliam blocked an attempt at Iowa.

 

Ryan Barker

  • K Ryan Barker made two field goals on the day, a 31-yard attempt in the second quarter and a 36-yard attempt in the third quarter.
  • Barker is now 36-of-41 on career field goal attempts. He is three makes behind Matt Bahr (39; 1976-78), Robbie Gould (39; 2001-04) and Tyler Davis (39; 2015-17) for eighth all-time at PSU.
  • 87.8 career field goal percentage is best all-time at Penn State (min. 25 attempts).
  • 101-of-103 on career extra points. He surpassed Al Vitiello for sole possession of ninth most made extra points in PSU history. He is now eight behind Sam Ficken (109; 2011-14)
  • His 98.1 career extra-point percentage ranks 7th at PSU…Massimo Manca (98.9; 1982, 84-86) is sixth.
  • Barker finished the day with 209 career points.

 

Nathan Tiyce

  • P Nathan Tiyce landed a punt at the Temple 3 in the first quarter. It was his ninth career punt inside the 20 and his seventh punt inside the 10.

 

Daryus Dixson

  • CB Daryus Dixson blocked a field goal in the third quarter. It was his first career blocked kick and PSU’s first since Xavier Gilliam at Iowa in 2025.