Matt Campbell, Penn State Move Up Further in AP Poll Rankings

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Matt Campbell and the Penn State Nittany Lions are moving up in the AP Poll once again, moving up one spot from 14th to 13th in the country.

Penn State came away with a 55-13 win over the Buffalo Bulls in Week 3, improving to 3-0 on the season. Quarterback Rocco Becht looked comfortable, completing 11 of 19 passes for 212 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

The run game, which has struggled this season, performed well, with multiple running backs contributing. 

Quinton Martin Jr. had his best game of the season with 100 yards on 10 carries, while Cam Wallace had 77 yards and a touchdown, James Peoples had 59 yards and two touchdowns, Carson Hansen had 37 yards and a touchdown, and wide receiver Koby Howard added 20 yards and a touchdown.

Howard was also impactful in the receiving game with three receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown. He will continue to be a key weapon for Becht and the offense.

The defense had a ton of positive takeaways from the game, as they forced four fumbles, recovered two, and held the Bulls to 60 yards through the air. Kooper Ebel came away with the Nittany Lions' lone sack of the game.

Campbell brought in a ton of talent via the transfer portal in the offseason ahead of his first year as Penn State's head coach. It has translated into instant success, but the Nittany Lions will have a tougher schedule moving forward.

Penn State takes on Wisconsin in Week 4 before playing Northwestern, USC, and Michigan. These games will serve as a major test for how far the Nittany Lions can go in the 2026 season.

Campbell had great success in his previous stop as head coach at Iowa State, leading them to a 72-55 record over a decade and earning three Big 12 Coach of the Year awards.

Campbell and the Nittany Lions are off to a strong start and are ranked 13th in the country. If they can pick up some wins against better opponents in the next few weeks, Penn State could break into the top 10 in the AP Poll.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos