Campbell frames Penn State’s first Big Ten test

01 · The NewsCampbell Frames Penn State’s Big Ten Test

After Penn State beat Buffalo 55-13 on Saturday, coach Matt Campbell opened Wisconsin week Tuesday by praising the Badgers’ offense and the specific problems it creates for the 3-0 Nittany Lions.

Penn State hosts Wisconsin at 5 p.m. ET Saturday, Sept. 26, in its first Big Ten game. The Badgers are 2-1 after losing at Notre Dame and beating Western Illinois and Eastern Michigan.

Campbell previously worked with Wisconsin offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes in the Big 12 and said Grimes has built the Badgers’ offense around its best players.

“We have so much respect for the offensive coordinator at Wisconsin,” Campbell said. “I always felt like it was one of the top offenses that we would go against year in, year out. And I think what makes great offensive coordinators is this unique ability to design an offense around their best players.”

Campbell described Wisconsin’s quarterback as a dynamic athlete who can stretch a defense with designed runs, make plays outside the pocket and deliver every throw. He called running back Abu Sama physical and explosive, with the ability to create in space and break a long run.

That gives Penn State two problems to track: the quarterback run game and Sama when Wisconsin gets him into space. Campbell did not identify the quarterback in his comments.

Penn State’s receivers also earned a strong review. Campbell highlighted Chase Sowell’s consistency and outside playmaking, Zay Robinson and Koby Howard’s work in the slot, and Brett Elskildsen’s early impact. Elskildsen was limited after getting dinged up over the previous two weeks; his injury details and availability are unknown.

Campbell said the tight end room has also started well, despite a couple of plays it wanted back against Buffalo. He pointed to the group’s work with Rocco through the spring and preseason, saying it has continued to build rather than start over.

02 · The StakesThe First Real Test

Penn State’s first conference game now puts its defense and its developing pass-catcher group against the kind of opponent that can test both at once.

03 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching