The Matt Campbell era at Penn State begins with a season-opening rout of Marshall

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — It’s hard to imagine a better start to Matt Campbell’s time as head coach at Penn State.

Everything clicked for the Nittany Lions in a 45-0 shoutout of Marshall, highlighted by an incredible performance from sophomore wide receiver Koby Howard.

Penn State’s (1-0) first game under defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn was a big one, as the Thundering Herd (0-1) unable to get anything going in their first matchup against Penn State since 1930.

“So much credit goes to Coach Lynn and that defensive style,” Campbell said postgame. “I think the ability to try to be multiple in terms of what we showed them, but simple in terms of our ability to execute, especially in Game 1, and I think that really evolved over the last two weeks. I just thought our guys were really keyed in.”

The wide receiver position has been a serious point of contention for Penn State in recent years. From zero catches in a College Football Playoff semifinal loss in 2024 to only one receiver surpassing 500 yards last season, it has been a rough go lately at the position.

Howard, fifth-year Chase Sowell and junior Brett Eskildsen provided hope that those struggles might be behind them.

Howard led with 161 receiving yards, 123 in the first half. He’s the first Penn State wide receiver with 150 yards in a single game since Parker Washington had 179 against Ohio State in 2022.

The Penn State returnee was named an MVP of fall camp by offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser this week, an honor he lived up to on Saturday. Howard played in nine games as a true freshman last season and totaled 133 yards, a mark he surpassed in his first appearance of 2026.

“The first guy in the facility catching the jugs is Koby Howard, and that’s been that way since spring ball,” Campbell said. “That’s been that way almost every day in the summer, and that hasn’t wavered as we’ve gone into the start of the season. And I think Koby’s work ethic allows him to have real confidence.”

Eskildsen, who is known as the speedster of the group, had a score of his own, taking a screen 25 yards to the end zone in the first quarter. Sowell was the one who got things started, however, with the first two catches of the game belonging to him.

Zay Robinson got in on the action as well, as the redshirt freshman had a 39-yard touchdown to open the second half.

The receivers’ strong day helped quarterback Rocco Becht finish his Penn State debut, which concluded with eight minutes left in the third quarter. Becht threw for 272 yards, four touchdowns, and had a 72% completion percentage.

“I thought Rocco was really efficient today in terms of, you were getting eight, nine guys in the box,” Campbell said. “You were getting a lot of pressure, kind of didn’t know exactly what to expect. I thought he was outstanding today.”

As the video board announced Penn State’s Week 1 starters, a surprising name was included among the defensive backs — true freshman cornerback Josiah Zayas.

It was expected that senior Zion Tracy, who Campbell referred to as one of the best players he’s ever coached this spring, would start as the slot cornerback. Instead, it was Zayas, who’s earned plenty of praise since his arrival in the spring.

Zayas finished his Nittany Lions debut with two solo tackles for loss, making him one of just three defensive players to have a tackle for loss on Saturday. He did have one rookie slip-up — a holding penalty to extend a Marshall drive — but it was a solid first appearance overall for the true freshman.

“Some freshmen hit that freshman wall and can’t get past it,” cornerback Daryus Dixson said. “I feel like he’s been elevating himself since Day 1 of fall camp, just trying to learn the playbook more and trying to find ways to really help us in any type of way he can.”

Penn State heads to Philly to face Temple at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday (noon, ESPN). The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series 40-4-1, with the squads last facing in 2016 at Beaver Stadium, where Penn State won, 34-27.