No. 16 Penn State vs. Temple Preview & Prediction
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New-look Penn State began the 2026 season with a commanding 45-0 shutout win over Marshall last week. Now, the Nittany Lions will make their first road trip to in-state foe Temple. The Owls also had a commanding 38-14 win over FCS Rhoad Island in Week 1.
Penn State had 487 yards and held Marshall to just 147 yards. Quarterback Rocco Becht looked like a veteran making his 40th career start by passing for 271 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore wideout Koby Howard had a career outing by catching six passes for 161 yards and one touchdown.
Brett Eskildsen, Zay Robinson, Quinton Martin Jr. and Cam Wallace also scored.
Defensively, edge rusher Caleb Bacon had six tackles, three for a loss and a sack in his Penn State debut. Tony Rojas led the Nittany Lions with seven tackles, two for a loss and a sack. Freshman safety Bryson Williams had the game’s only interception in the fourth quarter.
No. 16 Penn State vs. Temple Preview
Game: No. 16 Penn State Nittany Lions (1-0) @ Temple Owls (1-0)
History: 40-4-1, Penn State
Last Meeting: 34-27, Penn State (2016)
Time: Noon (EST)
Location: Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia, Pa.
TV: ESPN2
Radio: 99.5 FM | 103.7 FM | 1450 AM | Sirius XM 123, 233, XM App
Odds: Penn State -23.5 | O/U: 49.5
Penn State is not only 40-4-1 all-time against Temple, but the Nittany Lions have also won 32 of the last 33 meetings with the Owls. That one loss occurred the last time Penn State traveled to Lincoln Financial Field in 2015, when it lost 27-10.
The last time Penn State won at The Linc was a 14-10 finish in 2011.
Penn State Receives Clearer Injury Outlook
Matt Campbell announced several injury updates on Tuesday, providing more clarity at key positions.
Backup offensive lineman Owen Aliciene and defensive linemen Armstrong Nnodim and Elijah Reeder are questionable to play after missing last week’s game. Campbell said that all three players practiced on Tuesday.
Tight end Gabe Burkle and linebacker Alex Tatsch will be available against Temple. Campbell announced that both players were close to playing last week, but it “just didn’t feel like it was the right decision to do that just because they needed more contact collision in practice.” Burkle was a key contributor to Iowa State’s offense last season with 26 catches for 302 yards and a touchdown. Tatsch played in six games and recorded 14 tackles and one for a loss as a true freshman for Penn State.
“It will be big for us to have both of those guys back on the
football field,” Campbell said.
LaVar Arrington II will be out an estimated four to six weeks due to a knee injury. Campbell said Arrington was injured during the second-to-last week of camp and underwent “clean-up surgery.”
Nickelback Zion Tracy and safety Jeremiah Cooper will continue to work back to full strength. Tracy and Cooper each played against Marshall, but sparingly. The two injuries allowed freshman cornerback Josiah Zayes to make his first career start.
“I don’t know if you could say enough about what [Zayes] did defensively Saturday for a true freshman,” Campbell said. “He certainly didn’t look or feel like that on Saturday.”
Scouting Temple
Temple produced 369 yards of offense and held Rhoad Island to 292 yards in last week’s win. The Owls played both Ajani Sheppard and former Penn State transfer Jaxon Smolik at quarterback. Sheppard went 5-for-10 with 85 yards passing, and Smolik went 4-for-6 with 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 two Owls with a sack. Linebacker Tyree Alualu and safety Jamarcus Pierre each had an interception.
Temple will also play former Penn State transfers Kolin Dinkins, Kaleb Artis, and Joey Schlaffer.
Prediction
Penn State 42, Temple 6
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