Penn State Improves to 2-0 with Victory Over Temple
Tagged under: Gameday Hub, News, Penn State, Temple
Jacob Steinberg | September 13, 2026
Philadelphia– “A win is a win” is the best phrase to sum up Penn State’s 27-9 victory over Temple in week 2 of College Football. After starting off slow in the opening half, the Nittany Lions were able to expose the Owl’s passing defense and put the game out of reach by the fourth quarter.
The defense remained locked in, as they finally surrendered their first touchdown of the season, and the offense saw its potent potential from Rocco Becht to Koby Howard and company.
Penn State immediately went to work with a 56-yard pass and catch from Becht to his sophomore receiver Howard on the games opening play. Temple got flagged for a face mask, putting the ball on the Owl’s 9-yard just 12 seconds in. However, the defense for Temple shined early as Curly Ordonez sacked the Penn State quarterback, forcing Matt Campbell to settle for a field goal. The ever-so reliable Ryan Barker missed his first attempt of the season from 33-yards out. On Temple’s first series, they went three-and-out which only happened twice in the game-Penn State forced five three-and-outs in the victory over Marshall. Likewise, Penn State was unable to move the ball, resulting in another punt, something the Nittany Lions did five times in the season opener.
Following four runs in a row on Temple’s second drive, Tony Rojas intercepted the pass from Jaxon Smolik, setting up the Lions in great territory. Penn State had the ball inside the opposition’s 15-yard line, but once again the offense was unable to capitalize. Campbell drew up three straight runs with James Peoples and Carson Hansen, resulting in a fourth down from the 2-yard line. This time the offense stayed out, but Becht was unable to hit the open Andrew Rappleyea, resulting in a turnover on downs, the first turnover on the Penn State offense this season. Seven minutes in, Penn State found themselves inside the Temple 5-yard line twice, but were unable to come away with any points.
From their own two, Temple came out hot on the games sixth possession. Smolik completed two passes in a row, then exploded for a 47-yard run before being tackled by Zion Tracy at Penn State’s 29-yard line. Keveun Mason ran for 5-yards before Smolik got sacked by sophomore Yvan Kemajou. This was the third sack of the season for the Penn State defense and the lone one in this matchup. On third-and-12, Smolik found his senior tight end, Peter Clark, for a 13-yard pickup to put Temple inside the red zone.
The first quarter came to a close with Temple and Penn State scoreless.
Temple opened up the second quarter with four consecutive runs all with Mason- gains of eight, five, minus one, zero yards. Temple Owls Head Coach K.C. Keeler decided to take the points as his kicker Carl Hardin knocked in the 24-yard attempt to make it 3-0 Owls.
Penn State responds with their own field goal tying the game up at three. The running game for the Nittany Lions started to open up as Campbell ran with Hansen three straight times. He has now led the team in rushing yards and attempts in back-to-back weeks, signifying that the senior will be getting majority of the reps this season.
Following Baker’s 31-yard field goal, Smolik completed a 15-yard pass followed up by a Mason 14-yard run to set up Temple near midfield. But a rare chop block penalty pushed the Owl’s back 15-yards, resulting in another Dante Atton punt, just his second of the half.
Penn State only needed one minute and 49 seconds to take the lead. After marching all the way from their own 17-yard line to Temple’s 48, the Nittany Lions were set up to put points on the board. Peoples had a 12-yard rush to put the offense at the 32-yard line where Matt Campbell used his first time out.
Becht found Benjamin Brahmer for a nine-yard catch, but Campbell refused to call for time. Instead, Penn State went to scramble mode, and lucky for them the defense too was in scramble mode. Becht found his Brahmer again, this time for a touchdown to put the road team up 10-3 heading into half. The senior tight end received one touchdown a week ago, and already has left his mark on this contest.
Penn State goes up 10-3 after the first half.
The third quarter is Penn State’s happy place. They were able to run up the score against Marshall, putting up 14-points in the third a week ago, and this week the coaching staff was able to make the necessary adjustments to help Penn State put the game on ice.
The quarter started with a nice drive by Temple. Smolik then Mason combined for rushes of 37-yards to get to near midfield. But the offense went pass of zero yards, incompletion, incompletion, and were set up in a dangerous spot. Keeler decided to roll out the field goal team, setting up Hardin from 52-yards out. This kick is tied for the longest in his career, but it got blocked. Blocked by the sophomore Darius Dixson to keep Temple from inching closer on the scoreboard.
Penn State took this opportunity to add to their lead. The offense went near perfect, Becht threw for 33-yards and the tandem of Hansen and Peoples rushed for 19 before setting up Penn State in the red zone once again. And this time the offense was able to put up six points, where Becht found Chase Sowell on a wide receiver screen for a touchdown. Penn State goes up 14, leading Temple 17-3.
The Nittany Lions have now scored 17 unanswered points, and to make matters worse, Temple went three-and-out to give the ball right back to the hot Penn State offense.
The offense was in a groove, going for 62-yards on 11 plays while eating up over six minutes of game time. Hansen, Peoples, and Howard all got touches on the ground and Zay Robinson got in on the action with a 22-yard catch and run. Following a penalty and some short runs, Barker was sent for another try. He knocked home the 39-yard field goal, putting up Penn State 20-3.
Penn State has now went on a 20-0 scoring run to put them up 20-3 at the end of the third.
Once again, the fourth quarter was a time where Penn State could relax just a little bit. Already up 17, they forced another punt by the Owls, the fourth of the game. Penn State took over at their own 15-yard line, and marched down the field for an 85-yard drive.
The offense rotated between passing and running to eat up even more of the clock. Hansen ran for 14-yards, brining his total to 84 on the afternoon. Becht got everyone involved, finding Brett Eskildsen, Howard, and Sowell, before targeting Brahmer again for his second touchdown of the game. Penn State now goes up 27-3.
Becht ends week 2 with 268-passing yards on 21 completions. Peoples ran for 42-yards, Brahmer caught for 79-yards and two touchdowns, Howard added with 68, Sowell found the end zone and had 58 yards, and Robinson received 34-yards.
Temple’s final drive was by far their best, going 75-yards over a 12 play series. The highlight was a 39-yard pass and catch from backup quarterback Ajani Sheppard to Jayce Freeman. Two plays later, Sheppard did what he does best, rushing for a score to put an end to Penn States 27 unanswered points.
Smolik only there for 59-yards, but did run for 71-yards. Mason had 76-yards on 14 carries, and Freeman was the leading receiver for Temple with his lone 39-yard catch.
Defensively for Penn State, Tony Rojas had an interception, his fifth in his Penn State career. Kemajou picked up the only sack for the Nittany Lions, but the entire group was able to create pressure on Temple’s quarterbacks.
What is better than a win on Saturday? Seeing number 1 ranked Ohio State blow a huge lead to Texas, and number 6 ranked Oregon getting upset by Oklahoma State. Michigan did win to improve to 2-0, but it is a good sight seeing the top contenders in the Big Ten falling in the same week.
Unfortunately, Matt Campbell announced that defensive player Max Granville is out for the season after suffering an injury during practice last week.
Penn State will return home on Saturday to take on Buffalo (1-1). Penn State should have another easy victory. They need to continue figuring out their run game, because once Hansen and Peoples begin to dominate at the line, the passing game will open up. The defense-have not been tested much-looks good early on the season.
Penn State takes care of Temple, winning 27-9, and improve to 2-0 on the young season.
