Penn State Climbs Up AP Poll Rankings for Second Straight Week
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The Penn State Nittany Lions are off to a 2-0 start in the 2026 season after a 27-9 win over Temple in Week 2.
With their latest win, Matt Campbell's group moved from the 16th-ranked program to 14th and is proving they can compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Campbell has had great success in his career as a coach, spending five years at Toledo, leading them to a 35-15 record and earning the MAC Coach of the Year award. He then went to Iowa State and spent a decade there, finishing with a 72-55 record and winning three Big 12 Coach of the Year awards.
Campbell is having the same impact in his first season with the Nittany Lions, as he added a ton of talent via the transfer portal, which has helped them get off to a 2-0 start.
Quarterback Rocco Becht played well in Week 2, completing 21 of 27 passes for 268 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He found Benjamin Brahmer for 79 yards and two touchdowns, while Chase Sowell caught the other touchdown and had 58 yards.
Koby Howard was the other factor in the receiving game, with 68 yards on three receptions.
In the run game, Carson Hansen led the way for Penn State with 84 yards on 19 carries, with James Peoples adding 42 yards on seven carries.
The defensive side of the ball was also impressive for the Nittany Lions, with Tony Rojas coming away with an interception and Yvan Kemajou posting a sack.
This has been a great turnaround for Penn State, as they went 7-6 in the 2025 season despite expectations of reaching the College Football Playoff. The changes to the coaching staff and the new players on the roster have made a significant difference to the team.
Campbell has done a fantastic job over the first two weeks and will look to maintain the momentum in Week 3 against the Buffalo Bulls. If the Nittany Lions continue to play at this level, they could earn a spot in the College Football Playoff this season.
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