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Penn State finished its nonconference schedule unbeaten with a 55-13 win over Buffalo on Saturday at Beaver Stadium.
The No. 14 Nittany Lions improved to 3-0 behind another strong performance from quarterback Rocco Becht. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns. The offense also found its rhythm on the ground after struggling to produce big runs through the first two games.
Koby Howard led the way.
The wide receiver finished with 135 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. He caught three passes for 115 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown reception. He also scored on a 20-yard rushing play.
Howard now leads Penn State with 344 receiving yards through three games. His emergence has added another explosive option to an offense that has spread production across several players.
The run game finally breaks open
Quinton Martin Jr. provided another major boost.
Martin entered Saturday after seeing limited opportunities early in the season. He responded with 100 rushing yards on 10 carries. His biggest play came on a 61-yard run that moved Penn State inside the Buffalo 10-yard line.
James Peoples also scored twice on the ground. Carson Hansen and Cam Wallace added rushing touchdowns, giving Penn State five rushing scores in the game.
The Nittany Lions finished with 304 rushing yards and averaged 7.4 yards per carry. Martin, Peoples, Hansen and Wallace each produced a run of at least 15 yards.
That production marked a sharp change from Penn State’s first two games, when the team averaged only 3.9 yards per carry.
Penn State defense controls Buffalo
The defense gave Buffalo little room to respond.
Penn State forced 10 punts and two turnovers. Buffalo managed only 173 total yards and crossed midfield just three times.
Safety Marcus Neal Jr. forced two fumbles and recovered one. Linebacker Kooper Ebel added five tackles and a sack.
Buffalo quarterback Jason Wright completed 10 of 25 passes for 60 yards. The Bulls scored only after Penn State had built a large lead.
Penn State did have some issues with penalties. The Nittany Lions were flagged seven times for 87 yards, giving Campbell another area to address before Big Ten play.
Big Ten play arrives next
Penn State now turns to its conference schedule.
The Nittany Lions host Wisconsin on Sept. 26 at Beaver Stadium. The game will begin at 5 p.m. ET and marks the start of Big Ten play for Campbell’s first Penn State team.
Penn State entered the Buffalo game ranked No. 14 and had already beaten Marshall and Temple. The victory over Buffalo completed the program’s three-game nonconference slate.
The next challenge will come against Wisconsin, with Penn State’s improved rushing attack and deep group of playmakers providing a different test once conference competition begins.
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