PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - No. 18/17 Penn State meets Temple for its first road contest of the 2026 campaign. Kickoff is set for noon on ESPN2 from Lincoln Financial Field.
SERIES HISTORY: Penn State meets Temple for the 46th time in program history. The Nittany Lions hold a 40-4-1 advantage in the series against their sixth-most frequent opponent. Penn State has won 32 of the last 33 matchups, including a 34-27 victory in 2016. PSU returns to Lincoln Financial Field for the first time since 2015 when it fell 27-10 against Temple.
PENN STATE VS. PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOLS: Penn State is 171-96-12 all-time against current FBS and FCS Pennsylvania programs. The Nittany Lions have won five-straight games against Pennsylvania opponents. Penn State has won 19-straight home games against Pennsylvania programs, dating back to a 42-3 win over Temple on September 16, 1989. PSU picked up a 52-6 win over Villanova in 2025.
SHARING IS CARING: Redshirt senior Rocco Becht had an impressive Nittany Lion debut, throwing for 271 yards, including six completions of 20+ yards, and four touchdowns. His four passing touchdowns were a career high and were distributed to four different receivers, Koby Howard (42 yards), Brett Eskildsen (25), Benjamin Brahmer (8) and Zay Robinson (39). PSU had four different receivers catch a touchdown pass in a game for the first time since 2024 against Purdue.
PITCHING A SHUTOUT: The Penn State defense posted the Nittany Lions' first shutout in a season opener since 2017 against Akron. It marked the first shutout in a head coach's debut game since 1915 (Dick Harlow, 26-0 vs. Westminster). Penn State is the only FBS team with a shutout in each of the last six seasons. PSU limited Marshall to 147 total yards and 44 rushing yards, while allowing just 11 first downs and forcing two takeaways.
THE OPPOSITION: Temple opened its 2026 season with a 38-14 win over Rhode Island last Saturday. The Owls closed out the game with 21 unanswered points. Temple gained 369 total yards, including 227 on the ground. Keveun Mason rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns and a long run of 38 yards. Ajani Sheppered threw for 85 yards, while Jaxon Smolik threw for 57 yards and a touchdown. Tyree Alualu (63 yards) and Jamarcus Pierre (35) had pick-sixes and Bryson Goodwin recovered a fumble.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
171 - Penn State is 171-96-12 all-time against current FBS and FCS Pennsylvania programs.
161 - Koby Howard caught a career-best six passes for a career-high 161 yards. His day included catches of 42 (TD), 23, 42 and 26 yards. Seven of Howard's 13 career catches have gone for 20+ yards.
46 - Penn State and Temple will play their 46th all-time matchup. Temple is PSU's sixth-most frequent opponent, behind only Pitt (100), Syracuse (71), WVU (68), Maryland (48) and Penn (47).
9 - The Nittany Lions recorded nine tackles for loss against Marshall, including three by Caleb Bacon and two by Tony Rojas.
6 - Penn State is the only FBS team with a shutout in each of the last six seasons.
SERIES HISTORY VS. TEMPLE
- The Nittany Lions will meet the Owls for the 46th time in program history. Penn State holds a 40-4-1 advantage in the series.
- Temple is Penn State's sixth-most frequent opponent, behind only Pitt (100 matchups), Syracuse (71), West Virginia (68), Maryland (48) and Penn (47).
- The Nittany Lions have won 32 of the last 33 matchups, including a 34-27 win in 2016.
- Penn State returns to play Temple in Lincoln Financial Field for the first time since 2015, when PSU fell 27-10.
- In 2016, Trace McSorley threw for 287 yards and a touchdown, while Chris Godwin caught seven passes for 117 yards and a score.
- Saquon Barkley ran for 68 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown with 7:20 left in the fourth quarter to put PSU ahead, 34-24.
IN-STATE FOES
- Penn State is 171-96-12 all-time against current FBS and FCS Pennsylvania programs.
- The Nittany Lions have won five straight games against Pennsylvania opponents.
- Penn State has won 19 straight home games against Pennsylvania programs, dating back to a 42-3 win over Temple on September 16, 1989.
- All-Time records against Pennsylvania teams include Bucknell (28-10), Lafayette (10-5-1), Lehigh (16-6-1), Penn (18-25-4), Pitt (53-43-4), Temple (40-4-1) and Villanova (6-3-1).
MARSHALL NOTES
- Matt Campbell earned his first win as head coach. Penn State head coaches are 12-4-1 in their debut games.
- Penn State’s 45-0 win is the third-largest margin of victory in a head coach’s debut game behind only Dan Reed (60-0 vs. Dickinson Seminary, 1903) and Jack Hollenback (58-0 vs. Harrisburg AC, 1910).
- Penn State recorded a shutout in a head coach’s debut game for the first time since 1915 (Dick Harlow, 26-0 win vs. Westminster).
- CB Josiah Zayas became the first true freshman to start on defense in a season opener for Penn State since CB John Reid (2015 at Temple).
- Penn State had four different receivers (Koby Howard, Brett Eskildsen, Benjamin Brahmer, Zay Robinson) with a touchdown catch in a game for the first time since 2024 against Purdue.
- QB Rocco Becht threw for 271 yards, including five completions of 20+ yards, and a career-high four touchdowns.
- Howard hauled in a career-best six receptions for a career-high 161 yards and a touchdown. Howard’s 161 receiving yards are the most in a game by a Nittany Lion since Tyler Warren’s 224 yards at USC in 2024. Howard had catches of 42 (TD), 23, 42 and 26 yards.
- Penn State recorded its first shutout in a season opener since 2017 against Akron (52-0).
- DE Caleb Bacon recorded three tackles for loss (one sack) and was named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week.