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Penn State Collapses in 4th Quarter, Losing to Wisconsin in Big Ten Debut

The Nittany Lions blew a 10-point lead with a scoreless fourth quarter against the Badgers.
Mark Wogenrich|
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht (3) gestures from the line of scrimmage against the Wisconsin Badgers at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht (3) gestures from the line of scrimmage against the Wisconsin Badgers at Beaver Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Penn State Nittany Lions

STATE COLLEGE | Penn State gave up a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and a 72-yard touchdown to a 265-pound tight end, culminating in a stunning 24-20 loss to Wisconsin at Beaver Stadium on Saturday.

The Nittany Lions (3-1) found a way to lose despite taking a 17-0 lead and making three interceptions, including a pick-6 and what seemed to be a game-changer in the fourth quarter. But the offense manufactured nothing in the second half, committing its first turnover of the season and going 3-and-out on four consecutive series.

Wisconsin scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns in the comeback led by quarter Colton Joseph, who hit tight end Jacob Harris for the biggest play against the Nittany Lions this season. Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht ended the game with two incomplete passes in the end zone, the last a ball over the back line on a Hail Mary.

Score update: Wisconsin 24, Penn State 20 (4th quarter)

Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph hit tight end Jacob Harris for a stunning 72-yard touchdown against a fractured Penn State secondary, giving the Badgers their first lead of the night with 1:13 remaining.

Harris (6-6, 265 pounds) got loose across the middle and stiff-armed a Penn State cornerback on his way to the most shocking touchdown of the Nittany Lions season.

Score update: Penn State 20, Wisconsin 17 (4th quarter)

Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph has nine lives, that's for sure. After a dismal fourth-quarter interception, Joseph led a superb 75-yard touchdown drive, capping it with a deft throw to receiver Eugene Hilton Jr. in the back corner of the end zone. Hilton beat Penn State safety Marcus Neal Jr. on the route, getting two feet down before the pylon.

But Penn State's offense set up the drive by going 3-and-out after the defense's third interception of the game.

Fourth quarter update

Tony Rojas made Penn State's third interception of the game, easily corralling an underthrown ball by Wisconsin's Colton Joseph. And the Nittany Lions' offense did nothing with it.

Penn State went 3-and-out, using just 67 seconds of clock before punting. Quarterback Rocco Becht went for the home run on first down but underthrew Brett Eskildsen, who could not adjust for the catch. Becht then mishandled a second-down snap and threw the ball away on third down.

Penn State's offense has just 74 total yards in the second half and is 4-for-9 passing.

Score update: Penn State 20, Wisconsin 10 (3rd quarter)

Quarterback Rocco Becht converted two third-down runs, including a 19-yard blitz escape on 3rd-and-9, leading to a 37-yard Ryan Barker field goal. Penn State needed Becht's legs on the drive, as the offense isn't moving otherwise.

Becht also scrambled out of the pocket on a 3rd-and-7, finding Chase Sowell on a cross-body throw for a first down. Penn State threw only one after that, with Quinton Martin getting stuffed. Right now, Penn State's offense is straining for any kind of rhythm outside of Becht's timely plays.

Score update: Penn State 17, Wisconsin 10 (3rd quarter)

Penn State's first turnover of the season led to a Wisconsin field goal, a solid result considering the situation. Wisconsin's Charles Perkins, a 333-pound defensive tackle, intercepted a ball tipped at the line of scrimmage, setting up the Badgers' offense at the 22-yard line.

Penn State's defense got a stop, though, with cornerback Jahmir Joseph coming off a block to make a key third-down tackle. Penn State's offense has not had a drive longer than 38 yards today.

Penn State-Wisconsin first-half thoughts

Halftime observations from Beaver Stadium, where Penn State has a 17-7 lead:

The explosive plays have come from Penn State's defense today. Freshman cornerback Josiah Zayas has a 51-yard interception return for a touchdown, and fellow corner Daryus Dixson grabbed a pick on the next series. Penn State has scored 14 points via turnovers and is plus-7 on the season.

The Nittany Lions aren't sure what to do without Koby Howard. Quarterback Rocco Becht and is receivers aren't looped in, and Brahmer has completed passes to just two players: tight end Ben Brahmer and Chase Sowell. Becht has not been sharp (5-for-11, 59 yards) and threw four straight incompletions at one point. The Nittany Lions have just two more yards of offense (126) than Wisconsin.

Penn State played four running backs in the first half, with James Peoples having the most fire (7 carries, 44 yards). The run game hasn't been terribly physical, particularly on a red-zone possession that ended with a field goal. Becht took two straight draws to score a rushing touchdown, but this run game doesn't have the pop it did against Buffalo.

Both coaches evidently wanted to get into halftime. Penn State's Matt Campbell was content running out the clock, and Wisconsin's Luke Fickell said, "Fine," choosing not to call timeouts on the final series. He also let Penn State skip punting at the end of the half by not calling timeout.

Score update: Penn State 17, Wisconsin 7 (2nd quarter)

After throwing interceptions on consecutive series, Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph collected himself to lead an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, which he capped with a 7-yard score.

Joseph tucked the ball on a well blocked zone read and bounced off one tackle to score. It was by far his best drive, which included a 3rd-and-7 conversion, a 4th-and-1 conversion and a leaping 22-yard reception by Jacob Harris.

Joseph also led most of the drive without running back Abu Sama III, who gained 17 yards on third-and-long to extend the drive. The touchdown was the first Penn State has allowed in the first half this season.

Score update: Penn State 17, Wisconsin 0 (2nd quarter)

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Quarterback Rocco Becht scored on a 3rd-and-3 draw, punctuating a red-zone drive with an important touchdown. Cornerback Daryus Dixson set up the offense at the 11-yard line with Penn State's second interception of the game.

The Nittany Lions did not throw in the red zone, scoring on runs by James Peoples and Becht on second and third down. Becht ran both draws out of spread formations, giving himself more room than some of the jumbo packages the Nittany Lions used on their previous red-zone series.

Oh, and Wisconsin QB Colton Joseph is in panic mode. He had plenty of time on that third-down throw and just sailed a ball into Dixson's arms.

Score update: Penn State 10, Wisconsin 0 (2nd quarter)

Freshman cornerback Josiah Zayas picked off Wisconsin's Colton Joseph on a simple third-down swing route and had half an empty field in front of him. Zayas went 51 yards for the pick-6, giving the Nittany Lions a 10-0 lead.

It was an exceptional play of anticipation by Zayas, aided by linebacker Kooper Ebel disrupting Joseph's throwing-lane vision. And the play wound up a Beaver Stadium crowd that has been a little antsy about the offense.

End first quarter: Penn State 3, Wisconsin 0

Penn State scored on one of its three first-quarter drives, getting a disappointing 21-yard field goal after having first-and-goal at the Wisconsin 8-yard line. Quarterback Rocco Becht doesn't have his best stuff yet, going 4-for-9 for 42 yards in the quarter.

He dropped a smooth ball to tight end Ben Brahmer on the scoring drive but threw four incomplete passes after that, including misfires on second and third down to end the quarter. But Penn State's defense has been superb, holding Wisconsin to 14 yards of offense in the first.

Score update: Penn State 3, Wisconsin 0 (1st quarter)

Another unsatisfying red-zone possession for Penn State, which had first-and-goal at the Wisconsin 8-yard line but settled for a 21-yard Ryan Barker field goal. The key play was second-and-goal from inside the 2-yard line. Penn State went with its jumbo package (four tight ends) and Quinton Martin Jr in the backfield, but the back got clogged for a 2-yard loss. He had absolutely nowhere to go.

On third down, Wisconsin linebacker Tyreese Fearby made a nice stretch play, breaking up a Rocco Becht pass intended for Chase Sowell in the end zone. Becht also fumbled a snap on the series. So far this season, Penn State has had at least one first-quarter red-zone drive end with a field-goal attempt in every game.

Suffocating start for Penn State's defense

Buried at its own 8-yard line on its first possession, Wisconsin could not got out of the hole. After an offensive pass-interference penalty on first down for an illegal block, Penn State drove the Badgers backward.

Running back Abu Sama III was stuffed on first-and-14, and quarterback Colton Joseph dropped the second-down snap with the Penn State student section breathing down his neck. Penn State's third-down defense (four end) flushed Joseph from the end zone, nearly forcing a safety, for the three-and-out.

Penn State-Wisconsin pregame updates

Penn State students cheer during the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bulls at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State students cheer during the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bulls at Beaver Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Center Brock Riker and tight end Andrew Rappleyea were announced in Penn State's starting lineup after being listed as questionble on the Big Ten availability report. Rappleyea's availability is critical as the Nittany Lions work without Howard. Expect plenty of targets to the tight ends.

Running back Carson Hansen will start for the fourth straight game, though the rep count will be something to watch at the position, especially after Quinton Martin Jr. ran for 100 yards last week at Buffalo. Without Howard, Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen were announced as the starting receivers, though Zay Robinson will certainly up his snap count.

Defensively, Penn State's starting lineup saw no changes, with Siale Taupaki and Keanu Williams at tackle, Ike Ezeogu and Yvan Kemajou on the edge and Kooper Ebel and Tony Rojas at linebacker. Marcus Neal Jr. leads the secondary after being Pro Football Focus' highest-rated safety nationally last week against Buffalo.

Virginia Tech 21, Boston College 14

Sep 26, 2026; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin shakes hands with Boston College he
Sep 26, 2026; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin shakes hands with Boston College head coach Bill O'Brien after the game at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Edward Finan-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

James Franklin's Virginia Tech Hokies rallied from a 14-6 second-half deficit to beat Bill O'Brien's Boston College Eagles on the road Saturday. The game marked the first between former Penn State head coaches with other teams in more than 100 years.

Penn State vs. Wisconsin injury, availability updates

Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Koby Howard (6) scores a touchdown against the Buffalo Bulls at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Koby Howard (6) scores a touchdown against the Buffalo Bulls at Beaver Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Koby Howard, Penn State's leading receiver, will not play Saturday against Wisconsin, which could have a major impact on the Nittany Lions' offense. But watch for Zay Robinson potentially to emerge in Howard's absence.

Howard is among 11 Nittany Lions listed as out on the Big Ten availability report. The key players of the group are defensive ends Max Granville (out for the season) and LaVar Arrington II, linebacker Cam Smith and cornerback Tyler Armstead, who worked with the second team in Penn State's Week 3 win over Buffalo.

Two Penn State starters are listed as questionable, and their availability will have a major effect on the offense. Tight end Andrew Rappleyea left the Buffalo game with an injury and did not practice early in the week. Center Brock Riker played two series against Buffalo but should be ready for Saturday, according to Campbell.

The two key injury notes for Wisconsin involve running back Abu Sama III and receiver Malachi Coleman. Both are listed as probable, according to Badgers coach Luke Fickell.

Campbell's staff is plenty familiar with Sama, as he rushed for 732 yards at Iowa State last season. Sama did not play for Wisconsin last week against Eastern Michigan but told reporters in Madison that he'll be ready Saturday. Penn State's defense will be ready as well.

Goodman was Wisconsin's leading receiver in its Week 1 loss to Notre Dame, catching four passes for 71 yards and the team's only touchdown. He did not make a reception in Week 2 vs. Western Illinois and did not play last week against Eastern Michigan. Goodman is playing for his third Big Ten team, having been with Nebraska from 2023-24 and Minnesota last season.

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Mark Wogenrich
MARK WOGENRICH

Mark Wogenrich is the editor and publisher of Penn State on SI, the site for Nittany Lions sports on the Sports Illustrated network. He has covered Penn State sports for more than two decades across three coaching staffs, three Rose Bowls and one College Football Playoff appearance.

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