The Penn State Nittany Lions are getting ready for another week of business, and this time against the Michigan Wolverines. The Nittany Lions are really struggling right now, and while they are likely eliminated from any chance at being ranked or making the playoffs, a win here would still help with building confidence in Matt Campbell’s program and give the Penn State their first conference win of the 2026 season.
Luckily for the Nittany Lions, the Wolverines are not playing their best football either, making it a winnable game for Penn State, though it is on the road. That being said, let’s look at a few different players to watch for the Nittany Lions. This includes both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
Penn State Players To Watch Against Michigan
Rocco Becht, QB
This list would include Koby Howard, but his status for Saturday’s game remains uncertain. Starting with Rocco Becht, how he performs determines how close the Nittany Lions can keep it. If Becht plays well, they could win, but if not, they could lose. Becht needs to be more accurate and not afraid to throw the ball down the field. The Wolverines’ defense is good, but the Nittany Lions offense can be if they do not play afraid.
Carson Hansen, RB
As for Carson Hansen, things need to turn around, and it has to happen quickly. All season long, Hansen has really struggled, and the running game has limited the offense and forced way too much pressure on Becht. It is also the offensive line, but if Hansen and the running game do not work, then the Wolverines could dominate from start to finish. If he does finally pop off or even just be consistent, do not be surprised if the Nittany Lions pull off the road win because this would be the first time they run well all season, and the Wolverines’ offense is struggling tremendously.
Chase Sowell, WR
In the absence of Howard, wide receiver Chase Sowell has shown some flashes of what he can do against the USC Trojans. Sowell caught four passes for 95 yards, and if he can put up that performance again, the Nittany Lions could win, as the Wolverines have really struggled offensively.
The Entire Defensive Line
This brings the next point: the defensive line. While this does not mention a specific player, the defensive line as a whole needs to be paid attention to. The pass rush really struggled against the Trojans, and they got run all over on by the Northwestern Wildcats the week prior. With the Wolverines struggling on offense, there is no excuse for the Nittany Lions not to play well, and if the defensive line plays well, they could win the game. That is a big if, but the defensive line is so important because this is one of the weaker offensive teams they will play.
The Last Word
This Nittany Lions football team is battling some incredible adversity, but they almost beat the Trojans. They will have the opportunity to make a statement win this week on the road in Ann Arbor. These are the players to watch on Saturday, and if they do what needs to get done, the Nittany Lions have a real shot at winning the game and avoiding falling to a losing record. Do you think these are the players to watch, and will the defensive line do their job?
Main Image: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
