Historical recap: This page preserves the Temple game evidence from September 12. Penn State is now 3-0 after the Buffalo win; use the Buffalo recap and Wisconsin preview for the current team state.
Penn State left Lincoln Financial Field with a 27-9 win over Temple on Saturday, September 12. The result moved the Nittany Lions to 2-0 at that point and turned the old Week 2 preview questions into useful depth-chart evidence before the Buffalo game.
Penn State vs. Temple Final Score and Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Final score | Penn State 27, Temple 9 |
| Date | Saturday, September 12, 2026 |
| Location | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| Penn State record after Temple | 2-0 |
| Temple record | 1-1 |
| Broadcast | ESPN2 |
| Next game at the time | Buffalo, September 19 at noon ET on BTN |
Rocco Becht finished 21-of-27 for 268 yards and three touchdowns, adding 11 rushing yards. He spread the ball around rather than relying on one receiver, and Penn State finished with 416 total yards.
Player Stats That Matter for the Depth Chart
| Player | Temple production | Depth-chart meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Rocco Becht | 21/27, 268 yards, 3 TD | Firmly established QB1 after two starts |
| Benjamin Brahmer | 5 receptions, 79 yards, 2 TD | Tight end remains a red-zone advantage |
| Koby Howard | 3 receptions, 56-yard long catch | Still the primary explosive perimeter threat |
| Carson Hansen | 19 carries, 84 yards | Clear early-down workload leader in the backfield |
| James Peoples | 7 carries, 42 yards | Remains part of the rotation |
| Tony Rojas | 7 tackles and an interception | Central three-down defender and turnover creator |
The official recap and postgame notes are the source of truth for the complete box score. The durable takeaway is that Becht reached three touchdown passes, the tight-end group created red-zone value, and the running game had a clear Hansen workload without eliminating the committee.
What Changed From the Pregame Projection?
Becht is no longer a projection
After the Marshall shutout and Temple road win, Becht was the confirmed 2026 starter, not merely the projected successor. He had seven touchdown passes through two games and a touchdown pass in seven straight games dating back to the prior season, according to Penn State’s postgame notes. The current quarterback depth chart tracks his later starts.
Hansen has the strongest current running-back case
The backfield was still a committee, but Hansen’s 19 carries showed a larger Temple workload than Peoples’ seven. Quinton Martin Jr. remained part of the rotation, and coach Matt Campbell said he expected Martin to become more involved. One game did not establish a permanent carry order.
Howard’s role is stable even without another huge box score
Howard’s 56-yard reception kept his vertical role visible. The Temple game did not erase his 161-yard Marshall opener; it showed that Penn State could win while distributing targets through the middle and red zone. The current receiver depth chart also reflects his later availability.
The defense created the next set of watch points
Rojas’ interception and the pressure created by the front helped hold Temple to nine points. Max Granville’s season-ending injury, confirmed in the Buffalo-week press conference, now makes edge rotation a bigger story than any single Temple snap count.
Historical Context Before the Buffalo Preview
At the time, Penn State’s next opponent was Buffalo on September 19 at noon ET on BTN. That game is now complete: use the Penn State vs. Buffalo recap, the Wisconsin preview, and the current full depth chart for the post-Buffalo state.
Sources
The score, player statistics, and game context were checked against Penn State’s official Temple recap and official postgame notes. The next kickoff and television listing are on the official 2026 schedule.