Penn State opens Campbell era with 45-0 win over Marshall
Koby Howard and Caleb Bacon were named Penn State’s players of the game as Matt Campbell began his tenure with a shutout victory.
Penn State began the 2026 college football season with a 45-0 victory over Marshall in Matt Campbell’s first match as the Nittany Lions’ head coach.
Koby Howard led Penn State’s offence with six catches for 161 receiving yards and was named the offensive player of the game. He also caught a touchdown pass thrown by redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Manske.
Quarterback Rocco Becht was highlighted for his play as Penn State controlled the opening contest under its new coaching staff. The result marked a strong start for Campbell after the programme appointed him before the season.
Caleb Bacon was named defensive player of the game after leading Penn State in tackles for loss. He also helped contain Marshall dual-threat quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson.
The defensive performance came under new coordinator D’Anton Lynn. The source also noted contributions from returning defender Tony Rojas and three Iowa State linebackers who transferred to Penn State, including Kooper Ebel.
The player assessments were reported by Yahoo Sports in a Nittany Lions Wire feature. The article did not provide a complete statistical account of the match or a numerical total for Bacon’s tackles for loss.
