After months of anticipation, anxiety and questions, Penn State football is finally back. The Nittany Lions made a big statement Saturday when they obliterated the Marshall Thundering Herd 45-0.
There were a lot concerns and uncertainty that the team faced in Week 1, and they responded to just about every one. Penn State played a sound game in all three phases and gave fans some hope for the possibilities that this season could bring.
Matt Campbell and his new team proved that teams in the Big Ten shouldn’t take them lightly. But even after a resounding victory in the season opener, there are still some things we don’t know about Penn State. Here are five storylines that will play out this week and into the team’s Week 2 game against Temple.
Ego Check
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is probably an irrational concern, but there’s a non-zero chance that the Nittany Lions could start feeling good about themselves and let their guard down. They’ll be hearing about how good they are all week long after an unexpected shutout in the season opener, and it’s a situation to monitor.
Expectations were all over the place for this team in the offseason, so it was much easier to just ignore the noise and focus on the guys inside the building. But now everyone has seen Penn State play and knows exactly what the program is capable of. Campbell will need to help his team keep a level head and stay keyed in on the upcoming opponent.
With great power comes great responsibility
With a couple ranked teams having some shaky performances this weekend, there is a chance that Penn State can move up in the AP Poll. If it does happen, the outside pressure from the media and national fans will reach a point that most of this team isn’t used to.
With Iowa State transfers all over the roster, very few impact players here have experience as a member of a ranked team. It will be interesting to see how Campbell and his team navigate this uncharted territory as they continue to build chemistry with each other. Keep an eye on the AP Poll this week to check the national temperature on Penn State.
Run Blocking
If there was any aspect of Penn State’s team that underwhelmed in Week 1, it was the offensive line. They had no problems holding up in pass protection — allowing just one sack on the day — rather they just couldn’t find any juice in the running game.
The efficiency picked up later in the game, but still no running back besides Carson Hansen averaged more than four yards per carry. The offensive line struggled to get any push on Marshall’s front four for much of the game, so eventually offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser adjusted and ran more to the outside.
The run blocking wasn’t bad by any means, but it didn’t stand out either. The interior of this offensive line will have to keep improving as the season goes on for the offense to reach its full potential.
Development of Alex Manske
Typically, sports development is about taking a player’s abilities to the next level, but in quarterback Alex Manske’s case, it’s more about health. After undergoing open-heart surgery in the offseason, nobody would have blamed the redshirt freshman for sitting out a while to ensure he’s back to full health.
But he got right back to the football field as soon as he could, and that persistence paid off on Saturday, when he played in the first game of the season. He looked good in the limited work he got, completing six of his eight pass attempts for 57 yards after relieving starting quarterback Rocco Becht in the second half.
Manske is a candidate to lead the next era of Nittany Lions football after Becht’s eligibility runs out, and performances like Week 1 will only increase his chances. While we put Manske as a storyline for this week, really, he’s a player to watch and analyze for this entire season because of the unique circumstances surrounding him.
Back like he never left
Tony Rojas had his season cut short in 2025 after he tore his ACL, but now he’s back and looking better than ever. He led Penn State with seven tackles against the Thundering Herd and even had a sack in the 45-0 thrashing.
Rojas was having award-winning type of season last year, and he seems set on having the same type of performance in 2026. Just like last year, if the star linebacker can remain on this trajectory, he’s going to give NFL general managers a lot to think about next April.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: 5 things to watch for Penn State football in Week 2 vs. Temple
