UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 13/14 Penn State hosts Wisconsin for its Big Ten opener and Homecoming game. It is also Penn State's helmet stripe game. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. on Peacock from West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. The 2026 Penn State Football season is presented by PSECU.
SERIES HISTORY: Penn State faces Wisconsin for the 22nd time in program history. The Nittany Lions hold a 12-9 advantage in the series and have won each of the last six matchups. In 2024, Penn State recorded a 28-13 win at Wisconsin and outscored the Badgers, 21-3 in the second half. Drew Allar and Beau Pribula each threw a touchdown pass, while Kaytron Allen rushed for 86 yards and a score. Jaylen Reed added a 19-yard pick-six.
HOMECOMING: The Nittany Lions are set to host their 106th homecoming game and fifth helmet stripe game. Penn State holds a 75-25-5 record in front of the alumni crowd, including wins in 16 of the last 20 games.
EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE: Penn State tallied seven plays of 20+ yards against Buffalo, including four passes and three rushes. PSU brought its season total to 19 plays of 20+ yards (16 passing, three rushing). Penn State's day against Buffalo included a 70-yard touchdown pass from Rocco Becht to Koby Howard, a 61-yard run by Quinton Martin Jr. and a 59-yard touchdown run by Cam Wallace. Howard ranks third in the FBS averaging 28.67 yards per reception this season.
SUFFOCATING DEFENSE: Penn State limited Buffalo to 173 total yards and 60 passing yards last Saturday, while forcing two takeaways. The Nittany Lions held Buffalo to three or less plays on 12 of their 15 drives. In the first half, eight of Buffalo's 10 drives resulted in a three-and-out or a turnover. The Bulls were held to 1-of-15 on third down conversions.
THE OPPOSITION: Wisconsin improved to 2-1 on the season with a 54-10 victory over Eastern Michigan last Saturday. The Badgers tallied 28 points in the second quarter to break the game open and ended the game on a walk-off 55-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown. The Badgers collected 479 yards. Colton Joseph threw for 362 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 46 yards and a score. Tyrell Henry caught 14 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. Wisconsin totaled seven tackles for loss and three takeaways.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
10,000 - With 212 passing yards against Buffalo, Rocco Becht went over the 10,000 career passing yards mark. With 10,025 passing yards, he ranks second among current FBS quarterbacks.
573 - Penn State's 573 total yards against Buffalo was its most since 718 yards against Kent State in 2024. PSU's 304 rushing yards against the Bulls was also its most since 309 yards vs. Kent State in 2024.
30 - Koby Howard had a 70-yard touchdown catch and another 31-yard grab against Buffalo. He has a 30+ yard catch in each of the first three games this season and 10 of his 19 career catches are 20+ yards.
4 - Four different Nittany Lions (Carson Hansen, Koby Howard, James Peoples, Cam Wallace) scored on rushing touchdowns against Buffalo, marking first time PSU had four players with rushing touchdowns since UMass in 2023.
2 - Marcus Neal forced two fumbles and recovered another against Buffalo. He became PSU's fourth player since 1995 to have at least two forced fumbles and a recovery in the same game.
SERIES HISTORY VS. WISCONSIN
- The Nittany Lions will meet the Badgers for the 22nd time in program history.
- Penn State holds a 12-9 advantage in the series including a 5-3 record in home games.
- The Nittany Lions have won each of the last six matchups, including a 28-13 win at Wisconsin in 2024.
- Penn State outscored Wisconsin, 21-3, in the second half.
- Drew Allar threw for 148 yards and a touchdown.
- In the second half, Beau Pribula threw for 98 yards and a score.
- Kaytron Allen rushed for 86 yards and a 24-yard touchdown.
- Jaylen Reed returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown.
- Alonzo Ford Jr. tallied two tackles for loss.
SUCCESS ON HOMECOMING
- The Nittany Lions own a 75-25-5 record in 105 games in front of the alumni crowd since their 14-7 victory over Dartmouth in the first Homecoming game on Oct. 9, 1920.
- In 2025, Penn State fell 22-21 against Northwestern
- Penn State has won 10 out of its last 13 Homecoming tilts, defeating Illinois (2024), UMass (2023), Minnesota (2022), Purdue (2019), Rutgers (2017), Maryland (2016), Indiana (2015), Michigan (2013), Northwestern (2012) and Purdue (2011).
- The Nittany Lions have claimed 16 of their last 20 contests in front of the alumni crowd.
BUFFALO NOTES
- Penn State went undefeated against its regular season non-conference opponents for the 22nd time since becoming a member of the Big Ten.
- Penn State’s 573 total yards are its most in a game since 2024 against Kent State (718) and PSU’s 304 rushing yards are its most in a game since 2024 against Kent State (309).
- Penn State had four players with a rushing touchdown (Carson Hansen, Koby Howard, James Peoples, Cam Wallace) for the first time since 2023 against UMass (Drew Allar, Kaytron Allen, Trey Potts, Beau Pribula).
- On a 35-yard completion to Chase Sowell in the third quarter, QB Rocco Becht went over 10,000 career passing yards.
- Howard (70-yard rec TD, 20-yard rush TD) became PSU’s first non-running back to have both a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game since Tyler Warren against Purdue in 2024 and the first wide receiver to do so since KJ Hamler at Pitt in 2018.
- Penn State held Buffalo to three or less plays on 12 of their 15 drives. Eight of Buffalo’s 10 first half drives resulted in a three-and-out or a turnover.
- S Marcus Neal Jr. became Penn State’s fourth player since 1995 to have at least two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in the same game, joining Maurice Evans (2 FF, 1 FR at Indiana, 2007), Marquis Wilson (2 FF, 1 FR vs. Indiana, 2019) and Lamont Wade (3 FF, 1 FR at Ohio State, 2019).
- PR Zay Robinson tallied 109 punt return yards on eight punt returns. Robinson’s 109 punt return yards are the most by a PSU player since Daequan Hardy (129) against UMass in 2023 and his eight punt returns are the most by a PSU player since Calvin Lowry (9) against Kent State in 2003.