Penn State football defeats Marshall 45-0 in season opener

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Sep 6, 2026, 2:00 AM

Last updated Sep 6, 2026

Penn State football defeats Marshall 45-0 in season opener
Summary

Penn State opened its 2026 season with a 45-0 victory over Marshall at home in Happy Valley. Head coach Matt Campbell earned his first win with the program in a debut that saw quarterback Rocco Becht throw for 271 yards and four touchdowns. Koby Howard led the receivers with 161 yards and a touchdown catch on six receptions. While the passing game excelled, the running backs struggled to gain momentum, with Carson Hansen finishing as the team’s leading rusher with 48 yards. Defensively, the Nittany Lions held the Thundering Herd scoreless behind a standout performance from Caleb Bacon, who recorded a sack and three tackles for loss. Penn State travels to face the Temple Owls at Lincoln Financial Field on September 12.

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Status Watch
  • Penn State recorded a 45-0 shutout win over Marshall.
  • Rocco Becht finished with 271 passing yards and four touchdowns.
  • Koby Howard paced the offense with 161 receiving yards.
  • Caleb Bacon recorded a sack and three tackles for loss for the Penn State defense.
  • Penn State plays the Temple Owls in Philadelphia on September 12.
Latest Updates
  • 2:00 AMYahoo SportsPenn State postgame report card: Grading Nittany Lions vs. Marshall
What they're saying
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The grades are in for Penn State's season opener for the 2026 season. How did Matt Campbell's debut fare in the postgame report card?

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