Following a 21-18 loss to Michigan in Ann Arbor, Penn State limped into its lone bye week of the 2026 season at 3-4 overall and 0-4 in Big Ten play. With Purdue, Washington, Minnesota, Rutgers, and Maryland left to close out the year, the Nittany Lions should reach bowl eligibility, but that’s far from a guarantee.
With a new-look roster, there have been a few players who have exceeded expectations in Matt Campbell’s first year at the helm; call them pleasant surprises or silver linings. Either way, they’ve been the bright spots in a bleak season.
We can start with the positives, but you don’t get to 0-4 in Big Ten play and stare down the worst season in program history since 2004 without some really significant disappointments. The list of players who have fallen short of expectations could be long, but I’ll keep it to the three most significant letdowns compared to preseason expectations.
Notably excluded from that list is Rocco Becht. That’s partially due to my relatively low expectations of a quarterback whose best year came with two Day 2 NFL Draft picks at wide receiver in 2024 and who never developed his game much across his three years as a starter in Ames.
It’s also due, however, to what Becht has been asked to do for an offense completely devoid of balance. Becht doesn’t have elite traits and isn’t a high-level processor, but he’d be serviceable with a reliable run game to keep the defense honest. In fact, that would accentuate his greatest strengths as an aggressive downfield passer.
Instead, he’s been asked to morph into a high-volume, high-efficiency passer, which, unless he’s throwing to Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel against Big 12 competition, he’s never been.
Exceeded expectations
3. Audavion Collins, CB
Audavion Collins has been a good player for the Penn State defense for multiple seasons now. When he stayed this offseason, it was clear that Terry Smith had one of his two starting outside corners for 2026. However, as a redshirt freshman, Collins has been more than just reliable; he’s been dominant.
Michigan was able to pick on him a bit, but Collins has been targeted 14 times and allowed just four receptions for 28 yards, and he has five pass breakups so far. It would be hard to ask for more. This late-career breakout could thrust Collins into some first-round NFL Draft discussion as well.
2. Josiah Zayas, CB
Even with all the hype that poured out of fall camp about how well Zayas was playing, the expectations of a three-star true freshman were pretty low. Basically, anything he gave this team would be a bonus.
Well, he’s given the team a lot, moving into the starting nickel role as Zion Tracy has moved back to safety, and he’s been splashy with two interceptions. There are still some rough edges to his game in terms of run fits and eye discipline in zone coverage, but that will come. For now, he looks like a foundational piece for a defensive rebuild.
1. Tony Rojas, LB
Rojas was a multi-year starter at the heart of multiple quality defenses. Still, coming off a season-ending injury in 2025, it was hard to know how good he’d be in 2026 as he adjusted to D’Anton Lynn’s system and learned to play alongside Kooper Ebel and Cael Brezina.
Well, Rojas has simply been one of the most impactful defensive players in the country with 55 tackles, five sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. His sideline-to-sideline speed has returned, and he’s by far the team’s most effective blitzer. He’s exceeded the lofty standard that he’s set throughout his career.
Coming up short
3. Benjamin Brahmer, TE
At 6-foot-7 tight end, Brahmer was expected to be a gravitational force in the Penn State passing game, a red zone terror and a mismatch nightmare for defenses. Instead, he’s been a solid pass-catching tight end who has provided little as a blocker for a struggling run game.
Even with star wide receiver Koby Howard out, Brahmer has largely disappeared as a pass catcher in Big Ten play and hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 2. He’s caught 21 of his 33 targets and is averaging a career-low 9.8 yards per reception. Becht has absolutely played a role in his lack of production, but there’s no way to look at Brahmer’s impact this year and not be left wanting more.
2. Yvan Kemajou, DE
Penn State lost Max Granville to another season-ending injury earlier this year. That has absolutely stunted the pass rush, but the coaching staff was betting on both Granville and Kemajou to be effective in their first season as full-time rotational edges for Penn State.
Yet, Kemajou has just 13 QB pressures, 1 sack, and only a 10.4% pass rush win rate. By sacks per game, Penn State ranks No. 113 in the country, and against Michigan, Kemajou played just 21 snaps as Caleb Bacon and Alexander McPherson cut into his workload. Of Kemajou’s 13 pressures, 10 came in the first three games of the year against Group of Six competition.
1. Carson Hansen, RB
Carson Hansen led Iowa State with 952 rushing yards in 2025, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. At Penn State, though, Hansen has never gotten going, averaging 3.9 yards per carry on 72 attempts with four touchdowns for a rushing attack that ranks No. 99 in rushing success rate and No. 107 in EPA/carry.
As frustrating as it is to see Hansen continually barrel forward with zero patience and even less contact balance each week, nobody else in the Penn State backfield has separated themselves. James Peoples has been adequate as a third-down back, but has just as many shortcomings in the patience and vision department, and Quinton Martin is averaging 2.0 yards per carry in Big Ten play.
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