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· collected 2026-09-05 · by Travis Johnson The Associated Press
Rocco Becht, a transfer from Iowa State who followed coach Matt Campbell to Penn State, threw for 271 yards and four touchdowns in the Nittany Lions' 45-0 win over Marshall. The game marked the beginning of the Campbell era at Penn State. Becht's performance included highlights such as a 42-yard touchdown pass to Koby Howard and a short screen pass to Brett Eskildsen. The Marshall Thundering Herd, picked by Sun Belt coaches to finish third in their conference, was held to just 147 yards overall.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
No. 18 Penn State beat Marshall 45-0, with quarterback Rocco Becht throwing for 271 yards and four touchdowns in his debut at Beaver Stadium. This was Becht's 27th win as a starter, a new record in the FBS. He received help from teammates who transferred with him, including Koby Howard, who caught six passes for 161 yards and one touchdown. The game marked the beginning of the Matt Campbell era, after former coach James Franklin was fired last season. Penn State's defense, led by new coordinator D'Anton Lynn, held Marshall to just 147 yards, limiting them to only three crossings into Penn State territory, including one due to a facemask penalty against the Nittany Lions.
Written for “Penn State Dominates Marshall” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 4955 · logged 2026-09-06
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Rocco Becht threw for 271 yards with four touchdowns and No. 18 Penn State beat Marshall 45-0 to begin the Matt Campbell era on Saturday.
asserted
State → throw → Saturday
Becht, a transfer who followed Campbell from Iowa State to Happy Valley, was in command in his Beaver Stadium debut and secured his FBS-leading 27th win as a starter.
He had plenty of help from familiar teammates who also left the Cyclones, and a host of new ones who stuck around after former coach James Franklin was fired midway through last season.
asserted
Franklin → follow → season
Koby Howard, one of those holdovers who was used sparingly by the previous staff, had six catches for 161 yards with a touchdown.
asserted
who → use → touchdown
Brett Eskildsen, Benjamin Brahmer and Zay Robinson caught touchdown passes, and new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn’s defense held Marshall to just 147 yards.
asserted
defense → catch → yards
The Thundering Herd (0-1) crossed midfield just three times, one thanks to a facemask penalty against Penn State.
asserted
Herd → cross → State
After the Nittany Lions (1-0) took the lead with a 38-yard field goal from Ryan Barker on their opening possession, Becht settled in, showing no ill effects from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder.
asserted
Becht → take → shoulder
Becht took his time in the pocket and found Howard cutting over the middle for a 42-yard touchdown pass, then steered into Marshall territory again before tossing a short screen pass to Eskildsen, who burst through two strong blocks to make it 17-0.
asserted
it → take → blocks
Brahmer hauled in an 8-yard throw that made it 24-0.
asserted
it → haul → throw
Becht went downfield again on his next series, this time to Robinson, who outran Marshall defenders for a 39-yard score.
asserted
who → go → score
Quinton Martin Jr. and Cam Wallace added rushing touchdowns for Penn State.
asserted
Jr. → add → State
Carlos Del Río-Wilson completed 17 of 25 passes for 102 yards for Marshall.
asserted
Wilson → complete → Marshall
The Thundering Herd, picked by Sun Belt coaches to finish third in the conference’s East Division, tackled well and played a mostly clean game.
asserted
Herd → pick → game
They just couldn’t keep up with Penn State’s speed on the outside.
asserted
They → keep → outside
The Nittany Lions entered as more than three-touchdown favorites and looked even better despite all the newness.
asserted
Lions → enter → newness
They committed just four penalties with zero turnovers.
asserted
They → commit → turnovers
Up next
Marshall: Hosts Middle Tennessee State on Saturday.
asserted
Marshall → host → Saturday
Penn State: Visits Temple on Saturday.
asserted
State → visit → Saturday
