Penn State head coach Matt Campbell made a bold move to fill his roster with 24 transfers from Iowa State. The plan was to patch holes quickly. Now, the team has given up 413 rushing yards in a single loss. This number shows the defense is not ready for the Big Ten. The reality of the conference hit hard on Friday night.
The Nittany Lions started the season with a 3-0 record against weaker teams. That run ended with a blowout loss to Northwestern. The team also blew a 17-point lead against Wisconsin. These are not the powerhouses everyone expected them to beat. The College Football Playoff hopes are gone for this year. CBS Sports‘ Brad Crawford noted the Beaver Stadium crowd might not even be loud for the next game. The fans are losing faith fast.
The Transfer Gamble Fails
Coach Campbell brought in 24 players from Iowa State to act as quick fixes. He hoped these transfers would help the team survive the Big Ten schedule. The Big 12 is a good league, but it is not the Big Ten. Iowa State finished 8-4 last year. They could not beat the top teams in their own conference. Now those same players are struggling against better competition. Compared to the Big 12, the Big Ten represents a far stronger conference overall. The gap in talent is too wide to bridge with short-term moves.
According to CBS Sports, the Iowa State transfers are “beginning to be exposed” during Big Ten play. This is the first time the weaknesses are showing up clearly. The defense gave up 413 rushing yards against Northwestern. That is a huge number that no coach wants to see. In several categories, the offense remains stuck in the back half of the conference. Campbell never anticipated conducting broad referendums during Week 6. Yet we find ourselves preceding the narrative-defining clash with USC that was planned.
What Campbell Said About the Roster
Coach Campbell knows the team needs to get better fast. He told reporters earlier in the season that “we’re trying to get everyone on the roster ready to play.” He wants all his players to step up. But the results on the field tell a different story. The team has gone 3-2 overall but is 0-2 in the Big Ten. They have no wins against conference opponents yet. The pressure is mounting on the first-year coach to fix these problems.
Campbell has to “evaluate a lot of things” before the next game. This includes the defense that let in 413 yards. It also includes the offense that cannot score enough points. The team needs to find a way to stop the run and move the ball. If they cannot do this against USC, the season could end in disappointment. The game on Saturday is a chance to turn things around. It is a test of whether the roster can handle the pressure.
The USC Test Looms
Penn State will host No. 19 USC on Saturday. This game was expected to be a critical moment for the season. The schedule includes USC, which is among the limited ranked teams. If Penn State loses, the season is likely over. If they win, they can save face and build some momentum. Lincoln Riley, the USC coach, has a talent advantage but struggles on the road in the Big Ten. This is a perfect test for both coaches. Riley needs to pass this test to keep his job. Campbell needs a win to prove his roster can compete.
Anger at the state of the program is justified among the fans. They expected better after the coaching change. For the Nittany Lions, the game against USC could be the ideal get-well tonic. Both coaches are under heavy fire, making it going to be a fascinating game. We are all waiting to see how they respond. The team needs to show they can play with confidence and skill. The 413 rushing yards against Northwestern must not happen again. The defense has to find a way to stop the run. The offense has to find a way to score. The season hangs in the balance.
