Allow me to engage in a conspiracy theory here while I cope with the debacle that is the 2026 Penn State football team. Almost 20 years ago, in 2007, the world of college football went belly up with crazy weekend after crazy weekend. Top 10 teams losing left and right. The curse of number 2. A promising Penn State season getting derailed.
Fast-forward to 2026. Pandemonium is striking all of college football. Five top 10 teams lost in the same weekend, three of which against teams outside the top 10,
two of which to unranked teams. Teams we expected to be playoff contenders are either hanging by a thread, or out of it altogether. The craziness that is college football is dialed up to 11 right now.
And what’s Penn State doing? Seemingly repeating its own 2007 madness, but in a different way:
- Let one slip away they had no business losing? Check.
- Get manhandled by a team they’re historically better than? Check.
- Lose in the most disgusting fashion to Michigan? Check.
- Waste a perfect opportunity in the Whiteout? Check.
- Have a quarterback who seems incredibly adept at finding new and excruciating ways to lose? Check
So the question is, can Penn State run the table the rest of the way to match the 2007 team’s record? That, we will have to see.
As per the game, it started with Penn State having all the momentum, but none of the points. The first quarter ended 3-0 for Penn State. Ryan Barker kicked a 24-yard field goal for the only score.
Penn State ate up clock for most of the half, but couldn’t finish drives of their own, leading to a 3-0 halftime score. The Michigan offense couldn’t do anything, and the Wolverines made a change at halftime. In came Tommy Carr, and the offense suddenly could move.
Michigan took control in the third quarter. Bryson Kuzdzal ran 43 yards for a touchdown, and Michigan led 7-3. Jordan Marshall then scored on a 1-yard run. Michigan led 14-3 after three quarters.
Penn State fought back in the fourth quarter. Carson Hansen ran for a 2-yard touchdown. Penn State then went for two points, and Rocco Becht threw to Benjamin Brahmer for the conversion. Michigan still led 14-11. Tommy Carr answered with a 12-yard touchdown run, and Michigan led 21-11. Becht then threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Chase Sowell with 1:16 left. Penn State could not score again, and the game ended 21-18.
It goes without saying, that maybe, even with a better offense, the conversation is different if Penn State didn’t spot Michigan three turnovers. And, it goes without saying, that if the Nittany Lions are still trotting out Rocco Becht out there, Alex Manske may not be a real option for 2026. Otherwise, there’s no logical reason to watch your own ship sink and do nothing to stop it.
Penn State goes into a bye, and with it, the anticipated return of Koby Howard follows. Will his presence be enough to get Penn State out of the rut, and salvage what’s left of the season? We’ll have to see.
I will end with this. As frustrating as this season has been, and as stubborn as Matt Campbell seems from he outside looking in, and as tempting as it is to point to him, and only him, for how the team is looking right now, let’s remember a few things:
- He started with both arms tied behind his back due to when he was hired.
- Half the starting team was out at one point or another in both the spring and the fall, due to injury.
- His biggest weapon on offense got hurt before Big Ten play started.
- He had two recruits in the 2026 class, one of which already switched positions.
- No matter how bad we may want it today, he is not getting fired.
I don’t know what the future holds, but hey, if my conspiracy theory is right, that season after 2007 was pretty good, wasn’t it?
