SEATTLE, Wash. – Penn State football (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) earns second consecutive conference victory with 28-25 win at Washington (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten). A 21-point second quarter, highlighted by three explosive plays, powered the Nittany Lions to the road victory.
A balanced effort from the offense and defense allowed Penn State to leave Washington with a win. The Nittany Lions defense held the Huskies from reaching the end zone until late in the third frame while the offense tallied four touchdowns including three 20-plus-yard scores to generate their lead. The Penn State offense combined for 414 yards, marking their fifth 400-plus-yard outing of the campaign.
Redshirt senior Rocco Becht compiled 250 yards of total offense including 240 through the air. The Floridanative completed 16-of-27 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns in addition to tallying 10 rushing yards. Becht recorded his fourth game of the season with two-plus passing touchdowns and 25th of his career. He also tallied his 36th career 200-yard passing performance and seventh of the season.
Redshirt senior Chase Sowell was Becht’s top target, hauling in four catches for 125 yards and one touchdown. Senior Benjamin Brahmer followed with 36 yards on five catches, junior Brett Eskildsen was right behind with 35 yards on two reception and redshirt freshman Zay Robinson tallied 30 yards on two catches including one touchdown grab for 24 yards. Senior Carson Hansen led the Nittany Lions on the ground with a season-high 119 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown. Redshirt junior Cam Wallace tallied 56 yards on seven carries and a score.
Redshirt junior Tony Rojas and senior Kooper Ebel led the charge defensively with eight tackles each, with Rojas tallying one tackle for loss and Ebel contributing a half tackle for loss. Sophomore Alexander McPherson posted four tackles and one tackle for loss while freshman Josiah Zayas had four tackles and a half tackle for loss. Sophomore Yvan Kemajou and redshirt junior Ty Blanding combined for a sack. Redshirt sophomore Ibn McDaniels recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Huskies got on the board on their opening drive. Washington capped a 14-play, 65-yard drive with a 29-yard field goal by Tyler Robles. The Huskies moved into PSU territory with the help of a 15-yard run by Jayden Limar and a 10-yard scramble by Demond Williams Jr. However, after Washington moved the ball to the PSU 12, the Nittany Lions clamped down, forcing two incompletions and stopping a run for a one-yard gain.
The Nittany Lions answered with a seven-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 12-yard touchdown rush by Hansen. Becht connected on all four of his passes for a total of 50 yards, while Hansen added a 20-yard rush. The Nittany Lions converted five first downs in just seven plays in the opening sequence to take a 7-3 lead with 4:35 remaining in the first frame.
After Penn State forced a three-and-out, the Nittany Lions marched down the field again on a drive highlighted by a 32-yard completion to Sowell on third-and-nine and a fourth-and-one conversion on a run by Becht. The drive was completed by a 24-yard touchdown pass to Robinson on third-and-10.
Penn State’s defense notched its third consecutive three-and-out, forcing the Huskies to punt out of their own end zone. Hansen opened the ensuing drive with a 10-yard run, and Becht followed with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Sowell to make it 21-3 with 10:03 remaining in the half after just two plays.
Washington trimmed its deficit in the second quarter. An eight-play, 62-yard drive ended in a 31-yard field goal by Robles. A 27-yard run by Limar helped Washington to move the ball to the PSU 9. However, a tackle for loss by Tony Rojas and a key tackle by Josiah Zayas were followed by a sack by Ty Blanding and Yvan Kemajou to force a field goal. PSU still led, 21-6, with 5:13 to go in the half.
The Nittany Lions answered with an explosive drive. A 75-yard scoring drive included a 24-yard pass from Becht to Brahmer before Wallace broke off a 46-yard touchdown run. Penn State extended its lead to 28-6.
Washington had an opportunity to add points to the board as time drained from the clock, but the Penn State defense halted its efforts. Jamison Patton broke up the third-and-two pass that forced the Huskies’ punting unit to return to the field. The Nittany Lions ran out the remaining two minutes of the quarter on offense, with an opportunity to maintain the ball at the beginning of the second half.
Penn State could not convert a first down on its opening sequence, forcing Nathan Tiyce to punt. The Nittany Lions defense did not allow the Huskies into the end zone on their next drive, forcing a 47-yard kick for Washington to narrow its deficit to 28-9 with 10:27 remaining in the third stanza.
A one-handed 36-yard catch for Sowell on third-and-nine was not enough for Penn State to add more points to the board, resulting in a turnover on downs. Washington utilized the opportunity, finding the end zone for the first time in the contest. The Huskies capped their seven-play drive covering 60 yards with a four-yard touchdown catch, making the score 28-17 with 3:39 remaining in the quarter.
The Nittany Lions did not have a response, punting after just three plays. Washington crossed over the midfield line on the ensuing possession, but a holding call moved them back across the other direction. McDaniels intercepted a third-and-long throw to allow the offense to return to the field at the PSU 25. Penn State was unable to generate momentum on the ground, triggering Tiyce’s fourth punt of the day.
Washington made use of the opportunity and tacked on its third unanswered score. The Huskies utilized a balance attack, consisting of a 23-yard rush and a 21-yard pass, to find the end zone. The drive was finished off with a six-yard pass from Williams Jr. to Dezmen Roebuck to narrow the score. Washington was successful on its two-point conversion attempt to get within three points at 28-25.
Hansen’s 36-yard rush arranged Penn State’s red zone attack, setting the offense up at the Washington 22. A penalty issued to the Huskies pushed PSU to the 12-yard line. Penn State managed to convert on third and fourth down to run the clock and finalize a 28-25 PSU win.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and tickets for the 2026 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.GoPSUsports.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.