No. 13 Penn State is without wide receiver Koby Howard for the foreseeable future with a potential gameday return in Week 7 when the Nittany Lions (3-0) take on Michigan.
Howard leads in the team in receiving yards (344) and average yards per game (114.7) by quite a bit as Chase Sowell has the second-most in both categories with 126 and 42.0, respectively. He's been a favorite target of quarterback Rocco Becht's, alongside receiver Brett Eskildsen and tight end Benjamin Brahmer.
Now, with Howard out for some time and a Big Ten schedule on the horizon, Becht and the rest of Penn State's offense needs some other guys to help fill Howard's role.
The Nittany Lions need more than just pass catchers to show up on Saturday
1. Wide receiver Chase Sowell
Wisconsin allowed 239 passing yards against Notre Dame, 148 against Western Illinois, and 154 against Eastern Michigan. The 28th-ranked passing offense (Penn State) going up against a Badgers team that ranks 46th in passing yards allowed will be interesting to see, but seeing that the Power Four team on their schedule is what gave them the most trouble should put the Nittany Lions more at ease.
Sowell has had the second-best production from that receiver room so far this year, though he's trailing well behind what Howard's doing. Right now, he's pretty much neck-and-neck with Brett Eskildsen, but his yards per catch (15.8) look much better than Eskildsen's 9.2 when assessing which wideout Becht should prioritize without Howard there to carry the workload.
Yes, there are the three tight ends Becht can (and will) target throughout the game, but the pass game can't sit back and rely on just them. That work must be shared with at least one receiver. If Eskildsen ends up having the hot hand, then great; but Sowell looks like the best bet for Week 4.
2. Running backs Quinton Martin Jr. and Carson Hansen
These two are taking up one spot on this list because having one become a sudden breakout star in one week is unlikely. This is a duo that needs to collectively take on a bigger role on Saturday.
Wisconsin's rushing defense is ranked 49th in the NCAA. The Badgers, in three contests, have allowed 327 total rushing yards, 3.27 yards per rush, and 109.0 yards per game. They opened their season against Notre Dame then faced Western Illinois and Eastern Michigan, and had their best performance in run defense in Week 3.
It will be a test for Martin and Hansen — and that running back room in general. Penn State has the 38th overall rushing offense in the NCAA and the 13th-most yards accumulated on the ground so far in 2026. Without Howard as the spark plug of the pass game, the Nittany Lion need an extra boost from the run, and Week 4 is a perfect opportunity for that room to prove it can collectively be a stable source of production against better defenses.
3. Left tackle Malachi Goodman
Howard's absence isn't affecting this too much, but in order for Becht to have a good amount of time in the pocket knowing the breakout Nittany Lion wideout isn't there, Goodman has to be on point in Saturday's contest.
Edge rusher Sebastian Cheeks will be a handful, and limiting his effects on the quarterback is what will help kickstart the pass game. In three games, Cheeks has put up nine total tackles (two tackles for loss), two sacks, two forced fumbles, and one pass defended. His two sacks and tackles for loss came against Notre Dame in Week 1 and Eastern Michigan in Week 3. He also defended a pass against the Fighting Irish.
He's been a promising piece to this Wisconsin defense, and Goodman will have to control it in order to give Becht time and not have him scrambling out of the pocket unnecessarily. He's allowed zero quarterback hits and zero sacks so far this season, but Cheeks will be his first Power Four and Big Ten test.
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