Since Penn State football's loss on Friday night, a lot of concerns have risen and head coach Matt Campbell's Tuesday press conference didn't help ease any worries.
Not everything has been down in the dumps in Happy Valley, though. Let's take a look at what's happened for the Nittany Lions.
Matt Campbell has a lot of problems to solve
The Nittany Lions fell 0-2 to start Big Ten play after losing to Wisconsin and Northwestern in Weeks 4 and 5, respectively. With the White Out vs. USC on the horizon and Michigan following, hope for this 2026 season is slowly dissipating.
The first is that wide receiver Koby Howard will be out longer than expected. After suffering a lower-body injury in Week 3, Campbell was under the impression that Howard would return around this time of the season in time for at least Week 7 in Ann Arbor. That's no longer the case. In his weekly media availability, he shared that the earliest Howard returns is after the Week 8 bye.
That brings us to out next problem: quarterback Rocco Becht and this weak Penn State offense. The pass game saw some improvements in terms of production (emphasis on "some"), but the run game is very concerning. Campbell said he needs all 10 players around Becht to step up. While that's true, Becht isn't excluded from needing to be better. While we're at it, offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser should also be included.
On Tuesday, Campbell also said that the team as a whole lacks an identity. Fans will have to be patient in this Campbell era before things start clicking.
Gavin McKenna nets first NHL goal as a Toronto Maple Leaf
Former Penn State men's hockey forward Gavin McKenna scored his first goal in the NHL. The Toronto Maple Leaf's first-round pick of this past NHL Draft had a quick shot at Nashville's net towards the end of the second period. Captain Auston Matthews corralled the puck from along the boards and passed it over to McKenna. The former Nittany Lion sniped it and the puck flung straight into the net, bringing Toronto within one of the Preds.
This is McKenna's fourth game in the NHL. His goal is also the first point he's tallied as a professional as well. Toronto ended up defeating Nashville in overtime.
9️⃣2️⃣ with an absolute beauty for his first NHL goal!! 🎯 #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/OY1ziDM26h
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) October 7, 2026
Penn State football still has its in-state gnat
Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi had some things to say about the AP Top 25 Poll and Penn State in his press conference. On Monday, he took a shot at the Nittany Lions, essentially saying they didn't do anything to deserve a spot in the AP Poll.
"You look at the school down the road gets in the Top 25 and what did they really do to get in the Top 25?" Narduzzi told reporters.
The Panthers found themselves in the rankings at No. 25 after Week 5. They've beaten both Syracuse and Virginia Tech in their conference slate to start the season and are undefeated heading into Week 6.
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