Penn State's offense underwent a change under head coach Matt Campbell, who brought the Iowa State offense, which scored 3.6 points per game more than Iowa State, to State College. The team will rely on running back James Peoples for the run-game.
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht looks to throw a pass on the run during the Blue-White Spring game at Beaver Stadium. | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images Penn State's offense will look different to Penn State fans this season, but Iowa State fans clearly will recognize it.
Matt Campbell has not been shy about essentially transporting his entire offense from Ames to State College. , 17 spots behind Penn State. The Nittany Lions averaged 3.6 points per game more than Iowa State, which ranked ninth in the Big 12 in total offense and 11th in scoring . Penn State Nittany Lions running back James Peoples runs with the ball during the Blue-White Spring game at Beaver Stadium.
| Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Imagesduring spring drills, most notably Ohio State transfer James Peoples, who was a critical transfer signee. Penn State has a power game with Iowa State transfer Carson Hansen, but Peoples represents the run-game element Campbell wanted to expand upon at Penn State.
“The biggest strides I think I’ve taken is just being explosive, being a guy that the team needs, the offense needs to get this thing going,” Peoples said. “It really is dictated off how you play, how to get the offense juice. I feel like, in that regard, I’ve been doing a good job. ” Penn State's backfield situation is compelling, with Hansen, Peoples and returning Nittany Lion Quinton Martin Jr. offering a variety of skills.
Peoples could be the primary by the Big Ten schedule. And if Martin finds a consistent gear, he'll be tough to keep off the field. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser has a run-first ethos that he spins into deep passing shots. It's not a new theory; former coordinator Andy Kotelnicki tried to operate like that as well.
But he had Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton for two of their four years. Mouser has a reliable back in Hansen, untapped potential in Peoples and Martin and a scheme that has to deploy them properly. The run game will be the bedrock of Penn State's 2026 offense, which means the backs must produce. Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Koby Howard gains yards after a catch during the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at Yankee Stadium.
| Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesPenn State's receivers job in February. Penn State hasn't had a true No. 1 receiver since Jahan Dotson and trudged through the past two seasons with a rotating cast of NFL free agents, as assistant head coach So no matter how much Campbell points to his receivers' successes at Iowa State, some scars still need to heal. It didn't help that top Iowa State transfers Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen didn't practice much during the spring.
Yes, that opened reps for other newcomers, notably Karon Brookins, and returners like Koby Howard and Lyrick Samuel. But this remains a developmental group. The most fascinating receiver is Sowell, who is playing for his fourth school. Once cut by Deion Sanders at Colorado, Sowell rebuilt his game at East Carolina and Iowa State before joining Campbell at Penn State.
He has overcome multiple injuries and a winding career arc for this very season. If Sowell becomes a 60-catch star, Penn State's offense might be one to watch. Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht throws a pass during the Blue-White Spring game at Beaver Stadium. | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images Hoping for a Fernando Mendoza-style renaissance might be wishful thinking regarding Penn State's starter.
History does not suggest that Becht, with a career completion rate of 60.7 percent, is poised to make the kind of leap to Mendoza's 72-percent hit rate season en route to the Heisman Trophy.and his callouses. He threw at least eight interceptions a season in three years at Iowa State. They don't faze him. In fact, Becht threw two that led to touchdowns against UCF in 2024, then led the Cyclones to a come-from-behind victory.
“He's one of the greatest leaders I've ever been around,” Campbell said. “This poor guy had to play with a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. He had to get shot up every Tuesday and Wednesday just to practice the last four weeks, and the guy gave us every chance to win every one of those games, every step of the way. as competitive as any football player I've been around.
” That's the quarterback Penn State will need when they're trailing at Michigan or Washington or tied with USC in the White Out. Becht's going to fail but he also isn't afraid of it. Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Andrew Rappleyea scores a touchdown against the Clemson Tigers during the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
| Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images During one spring practice open to the media in April, three of the team's six tight ends were not in uniform. It wasn't the best sign for a position group that Mouser plans to use liberally. Penn State's offense will run plenty of two- and three-tight end sets, as long as those tight ends are healthy. Andrew Rappleyea missed spring drills, as did Iowa State transfer Gabe Burkle, about whom Campbell has raved.
That Benjamin Brahmer had a healthy spring, coming off a 37-catch season at Iowa State, was important. The rest of the room needs to make a quick recovery. Penn State Nittany Lions offensive linesman Malachi Goodman during a warmup against the Villanova Wildcats at Beaver Stadium. | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images The next live snap Malachi Goodman plays will be his first.
And it likely will be as the starting left tackle Sept. 5 against Marshall. Goodman was theBut Goodman finished spring drills as the likely left-side starter, next to former Iowa State guard Trevor Buhr. Goodman madethis spring and has the frame and personality to be a wall to Becht's blind side, offensive line coach Ryan Clanton said. Penn State desperately needs to keep Becht healthy this season.
Quarterback depth is spare, which makes Goodman one of Penn State's most important offensive players. Mark Wogenrich is the editor and publisher of Penn State on SI, the site for Nittany Lions sports on the Sports Illustrated network. He has covered Penn State sports for more than two decades across three coaching staffs, three Rose Bowls and one College Football Playoff appearance.
Penn State Nittany Lions Matt Campbell Iowa State Offense James Peoples Running Game Power Game Carson Hansen Quinton Martin Jr. Taylor Mouser Offensive Coordinator
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