STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Rocco Becht made a significant impact in his debut for No. 18 Penn State, throwing for 271 yards and four touchdowns in a resounding 45-0 victory over Marshall on Saturday. This game marked the beginning of the Matt Campbell era at Penn State, as the team looks to build on its recent history.
Becht, who transferred from Iowa State, demonstrated his command of the offense at Beaver Stadium, achieving his 27th win as a starting quarterback in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). His performance was bolstered by several familiar faces from his time at Iowa State, along with new talent that has emerged following the departure of former head coach James Franklin midway through last season.
One of the standout players was Koby Howard, a holdover from the previous coaching staff, who caught six passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. Becht also connected with Brett Eskildsen, Benjamin Brahmer, and Zay Robinson for touchdown receptions, showcasing the depth of the Nittany Lions’ receiving corps. On the defensive side, new coordinator D’Anton Lynn's unit was impressive, limiting Marshall to a mere 147 yards throughout the game.
The Thundering Herd struggled to find their rhythm, managing to cross midfield only three times during the contest, with one of those drives aided by a facemask penalty against Penn State. In contrast, the Nittany Lions quickly took control of the game, beginning with a 38-yard field goal from Ryan Barker on their first possession.
Becht quickly settled into the game, demonstrating no lingering effects from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. He threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Howard, followed by a short screen pass to Eskildsen, who powered through defenders to extend the lead to 17-0. Becht continued to find success, connecting with Brahmer for an 8-yard touchdown and then hitting Robinson for a 39-yard score, pushing the advantage to 31-0 before halftime.
In addition to Becht's passing prowess, Quinton Martin Jr. and Cam Wallace contributed rushing touchdowns, further solidifying Penn State's dominance in the game. For Marshall, quarterback Carlos Del Río-Wilson completed 17 of 25 passes for 102 yards, but the offense was unable to keep pace with Penn State's explosive play.
The outcome of this game is significant for both teams. Marshall, which was predicted by Sun Belt coaches to finish third in the East Division, showed resilience but ultimately could not match the speed and skill of the Nittany Lions. Meanwhile, Penn State's performance exceeded expectations as they entered the game as more than three-touchdown favorites, committing only four penalties and no turnovers.
Looking ahead, Marshall will host Middle Tennessee State next Saturday, while Penn State is set to visit Temple in their next matchup. Both teams will be eager to build on their respective performances as the season progresses.
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