On Saturday, September 12, the Nittany Lions will be hitting the road as Penn State caters to the Philadelphia portion of its fan base with a trip down the road to face the Temple Owls. The Owls should quietly be dangerous this season in the American Conference chase. Temple steamrolled Rhode Island 38–14 in its opener, and Penn State was close to perfect in Matt Campbell’s debut with a 45–0 domination over Marshall.

Penn State had 487 yards of offense and held Marshall to just 147. Quarterback Rocco Becht looked like a veteran making his 40th career start, passing for 271 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore wideout Koby Howard had a career outing, catching six passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. Brett Eskildsen, Zay Robertson, Quinton Martin Jr., and Cam Wallace also scored. Defensively, edge rusher Caleb Bacon had six tackles, three for loss, and a sack in his Penn State debut. Tony Rojas led the Nittany Lions with seven tackles, two for loss, and a sack. Freshman safety Bryson Williams had the game’s only interception in the fourth quarter.

A Little Bit of History-

Penn State leads this series 40–4–1. The Nittany Lions won 33 in a row after the two tied in 1950. The last time Temple beat Penn State was 1941. Temple heads to Toledo after this matchup before beginning conference play against Army, while Penn State wraps up its non‑conference schedule next week against Buffalo before starting Big Ten play against Wisconsin.

What to Look for With the Owls-

Temple produced 389 yards of offense and held Rhode Island to 292 in last week’s win. The Owls played both Ajani Sheppard and former Nittany Lion transfer Jaxon Smolik at quarterback. Sheppard went 5‑for‑10 for 85 yards passing, and Smolik went 4‑for‑6 for 57 yards and a touchdown.

Running back Keveun Mason was the star of the Owls’ offense with 20 carries for 158 yards and two scores. Sheppard also rushed five times for 23 yards. Linebacker Curly Ordonez led Temple’s defense with eight tackles. Kevin Hornbeak Jr. and Davier Bishop were the only Owls with a sack. Linebacker Tyree Alualu and safety Jamarcus Pierre each had an interception.

Why Penn State Should Win This Matchup-

It didn’t take long for things to click for the Nittany Lions. Penn State wasn’t expected to have many problems with Marshall, but that’s not a bad Sun Belt team and the Nittany Lions ripped through them.

Why Temple Has a Slight Chance-

Penn State transfer Jaxon Smolik gets a shot against his former team, but he has to be sharper. He hit a few downfield plays but completed only five of ten throws against Rhode Island. Washington State transfer Ajani Sheppard could start, but both quarterbacks will see playing time in this matchup.

Who Is the Player of the Game?

Three players come to mind: running back Carson Hansen, tight end Ben Brahmer, and wide receiver Koby Howard.

Hansen rushed for 48 yards on 11 carries against Marshall but didn’t find the end zone. That’s a drastic change from last season, when he rushed for at least 180 yards in five consecutive games to end the year. Expect him to get back on track and top 100 yards for the first time in a Nittany Lions uniform.

Tight end Ben Brahmer could also be a candidate. Temple’s defense may put more attention on Penn State’s wide receivers after Koby Howard’s 161‑yard performance in Week 1. That should open opportunities for the tight ends and senior Brahmer, who scored his first touchdown as a Nittany Lion last week. It was his only catch, but he has the potential to lead Penn State in receiving.

Finally, receiver Koby Howard was the Week 1 star. While Temple leans in his direction, Brett Eskildsen could get loose for 100‑plus receiving yards. He’s the offense’s fastest player and will take advantage of single coverage.

Who Will Be the Game’s Most Underrated Player?

Wide receiver Chase Sowell played in the shadow of teammate Koby Howard against Marshall. He and Rocco Becht connected on the first two passes of the game—both chain movers—but Howard stole the show. Howard will likely draw more attention against Temple, meaning Sowell should get more looks and be more productive.

Defensive end Ikenna Ezeogu, the Iowa State transfer, had two quarterback hurries last week but took a backseat to Caleb Bacon, who caused the most disruption among the edge rushers. Ezeogu is still the veteran leader of the room, and defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn was satisfied with how his defensive ends played. Ezeogu could wreak more havoc in Temple’s backfield.

In his brief second‑half work, Quinton Martin Jr. looked like the most complete back on the roster. Campbell and OC Taylor Mouser have reasons for playing him third in the rotation, but Martin will have the opportunity to change that narrative. This is his first major opportunity.

Who Will Throw for More Yards: Jaxon Smolik or Alex Manske?

Smolik was efficient against Rhode Island, completing 4‑of‑6 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. He also started, which should carry over to Saturday’s game. The starter gets the edge over Manske, who will play but how much is unclear. It’ll be close.

Smolik, splitting reps with Ajani Sheppard, will likely see more passing situations and should throw for more yards than Manske. If Penn State puts the game out of reach by the third quarter again, Manske will probably hand the ball off most of the time. Temple will likely attempt more than the 16 passes it threw in Week one.

Smolik went 4‑for‑6 for 57 yards in the opener. Manske went 6‑for‑8 for 57 as Penn State’s Week 2 backup. Manske might get a first‑half series Saturday—if he does, he could win the bet.

What Will Penn State Fans Be Talking About on Sunday?

Penn State fans will feel a sense of relief. The run game arguably the team’s biggest question mark will look efficient and promising. The fan base will be talking about how complete the offense looks.

There’s skepticism surrounding the run game after averaging just 3.6 yards per carry against Marshall. It wouldn’t be surprising if Penn State prioritizes establishing the run early to prevent this from becoming a real problem. Penn State didn’t run any trick plays in the opener, keeping the playbook simple. Saturday offers an opportunity to get something creative on film for Big Ten opponents to see.

What to Expect in This Matchup-

Expect Temple’s defense to make things tougher for Becht and the Nittany Lions than Marshall did. Also expect Penn State to get more out of its running game in the second half.

Final score prediction: Penn State 42, Temple 6.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.

Let’s go State! Go get another victory. See you next week for more on Penn State and college football.