Penn State finished its nonconference schedule unbeaten with a 55-13 win over Buffalo on Saturday, September 19. The Nittany Lions moved to 3-0, while Buffalo fell to 1-2. The final score was lopsided, but the game produced several useful Big Ten depth-chart signals instead of just another résumé line.
Penn State vs. Buffalo Final Score and Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Final score | Penn State 55, Buffalo 13 |
| Date | Saturday, September 19, 2026 |
| Location | West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium |
| Penn State record | 3-0 |
| Buffalo record | 1-2 |
| Broadcast | BTN |
| Next game | Wisconsin, September 26 at 5 p.m. ET on Peacock |
Penn State outgained Buffalo 573-173 and held the Bulls to 60 passing yards. The defense forced multiple fumbles, while Buffalo converted only 1 of 15 third downs. Those figures are supported by Penn State’s official postgame notes and the Buffalo game center, not just one recap account.
Player Stats That Change the Board
| Player | Buffalo production | Depth-chart meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Rocco Becht | 11/19, 212 pass yards, 2 TD | Confirmed QB1; 10,000 career passing yards and eight straight games with a TD pass |
| Koby Howard | 115 receiving yards; 70-yard TD catch | Clear explosive WR1 candidate entering Big Ten play |
| Quinton Martin Jr. | 100 rushing yards on 10 carries; 61-yard run | Strongest challenge yet to the early-down RB order |
| James Peoples | 59 rushing yards, 2 TD on 8 carries | Goal-line and change-of-pace role is growing |
| Cam Wallace | 77 rushing yards on 8 carries; 59-yard run | Real rotation value, not a placeholder name |
| Andrew Rappleyea | 3-yard receiving TD before leaving | Productive tight-end option, now on the precautionary injury watch |
The backfield is the clearest update. Hansen still has the Temple workload evidence, but Martin’s 100-yard game, Peoples’ two touchdowns and Wallace’s explosive fourth-quarter run make a single fixed RB1 label less useful. The better current read is a four-back rotation with different scoring, early-down and explosive-play roles.
The Koby Howard Breakout Is Now a Trend, Not a One-Game Spike
Howard followed his 161-yard Marshall opener with 115 yards against Buffalo, including a 70-yard touchdown. Penn State’s official notes say he has produced a 30-plus-yard catch in each of the first three games and has two 100-yard receiving games this season. That is enough evidence to update the receiver page from “breakout watch” to a stable explosive-role description.
Becht’s passing line was efficient without needing a high attempt total. The official recap also notes that he passed 10,000 career yards and has thrown at least one touchdown pass in eight straight games. The next test is whether Wisconsin can force Penn State into more third-down volume and tighter-window throws.
Injury Watch Before Wisconsin
Two first-half exits matter for the next depth-chart update:
- Brock Riker started at center but left after the first two series; Vaea Ikakoula finished the game at center.
- Andrew Rappleyea left after a reception and did not return.
Matt Campbell described both situations as precautionary and said they were “dinged up” rather than declaring either player out. A local postgame report independently matched that description, so the correct editorial wording is precautionary injury watch, not a confirmed absence. The next availability update should come from practice reports or the official game-week status.
Defense and Big Ten Readiness
Penn State held Buffalo to three or fewer plays on 12 of 15 drives. Caleb Bacon forced a fumble recovered by Ike Ezeogu, while Marcus Neal forced and recovered another fumble. The defense also held Buffalo to 2.7 yards per play according to the official team recap.
That strengthens the post-Granville edge-rotation update: Bacon, Ezeogu, Kemajou and the broader front are generating pressure and takeaways without relying on one unavailable player. It also makes the Wisconsin matchup more specific, because Colton Joseph just threw for 362 yards and three touchdowns, plus one rushing touchdown, in Wisconsin’s 54-10 win over Eastern Michigan.
What Is Next: Wisconsin at Penn State
The Big Ten opener is Saturday, September 26, at 5 p.m. ET on Peacock. Penn State is 3-0; Wisconsin is 2-1 after beating Eastern Michigan 54-10. Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph threw for 362 yards, and wide receiver Tyrell Henry set a school record with 14 receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown. That is the first opponent this season with a verified high-volume passing and receiving pairing, so the new Wisconsin preview should become the site’s main pregame entry.
Sources
The score, records, yardage, player lines and takeaways were cross-checked against Penn State’s official 55-13 recap, official postgame notes, and Buffalo’s official game center. The Riker/Rappleyea injury wording was checked against Matt Campbell’s official postgame quotes and a separate local report. Wisconsin’s record, next-game time and player production were checked against the Wisconsin official recap and official game center.