UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State football team can take a deep breath. Not only did the Nittany Lions get their record to .500, but they also won their first Big Ten Conference game of the 2026 season, defeating Purdue 31-17 at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State (4-4, 1-4 Big Ten) entered the game 0-4 in the Big Ten, with losses to Wisconsin, Northwestern, USC and Michigan. The Nittany Lions recorded their 12th straight win against the Boilermakers and lead the all-time series 18-3 with one tie.
THE GAME: Purdue received the opening kickoff but couldn’t establish momentum after driving 30 yards in six plays. Penn State didn’t take long to take a 7-0 lead. After a Purdue punt, the Nittany Lions took it 96 yards in 12 plays in 6:06. Penn State used the No Huddle with quarterback Rocco Becht in shotgun formation. On second down, running back Carson Hansen took off for a 42-yard run to the Purdue 33-yard line. Becht connected with tight end Ben Brahmer for 13 yards to give Penn State a first and goal at the Boilermakers’ 7-yard line. Two plays later, Becht tossed a touchdown pass to tight end Andrew Rappleyea.
Purdue (3-5, 2-3 Big Ten) responded with a 4-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The decisive play was a 33-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Browne to wide receiver Xavier Townsend.
However, Penn State put together a 4-play, 75-yard drive of its own to take a 14-7 lead. The drive took 2:19. The key play in the scoring possession was a 48-yard run by Wallace to the Purdue 18-yard line. Two plays later, Becht fooled the Boilermakers defense and ran to his left for a 6-yard touchdown.
Purdue tied the score at 14 when the Boilermakers’ Jalil Hall returned a blocked punt 31 yards for the touchdown. The Nittany Lions set up for the punt at the Purdue 49.
But it wasn’t long before Penn State took the lead for good to end the scoring of the first half. On their ensuing possession, the Nittany Lions marched 65 yards in 15 plays, taking up 7:04 before running back Carson Hanson ran it in from the 1-yard line for the score. Ryan Barker kicked his third extra point to make it 21-14. The longest play of the drive was a 17-yard reception by Rappleyea.
Barker kicked a 44-yard field goal to extend the lead to 24-14 in the third quarter. The field goal was made possible when Jamison Patton intercepted a pass and returned it 13 yards to the Purdue 47.
Penn State mounted a 10-play, 85-yard scoring drive that culminated with a 2-yard touchdown run by Wallace. Purdue completed the scoring when Jacobo Echeverria Lozano kicked a 49-yard field goal with 6:08 remaining in the fourth quarter.
THE NUMBERS: Penn State’s dominant effort was highlighted by its total yards. The Nittany Lions had 457 total yards and held Purdue to 175 yards. Penn State erupted for 269 rushing yards on 51 carries. Wallaced led the way with 135 yards on 22 carries. Hansen had 96 yards on 17 carries. Becht completed 16 passes in 24 attempts for 175 yards with one touchdown. Brahmer had a team-high 58 yards receiving on four catches. Rappleyea caught four passes for 45 yards with a score.
Defensively, Josiah Zayas led the Nittany Lions with five tackles (three solo). Yvan Kemajou had three tackles, including a sack. Justin Denson Jr. led Purdue with 15 tackles, including six solo. Jojo Hayden had 10 total tackles.
The Nittany Lions had 22 first downs, compared to nine for the Boilermakers. Penn State limited Purdue to just 33 rushing yards, while forcing two turnovers. The Nittany Lions will need to work on penalties, as they committed six for 65 yards.
Another telling number was time of possession. Penn State held on to the ball for 43:27.
Attendance was 102,041.
THE NEXT GAME: Penn State will fly to Seattle to play Washington in a Big Ten clash on Saturday, Nov. 7. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. The game will be televised on FS1.
