Penn State expert previews Big Ten opener in Week 4 vs. Wisconsin
· Yahoo Sports
After a trio of non-conference games, the Wisconsin Badgers must head to Penn State for their first Big Ten battle of the year.
This marks the first true road game for the Badgers in 2026, and while they've looked great in their last two games, both of those were at Camp Randall against less-than-stellar opponents.
Visit newsbetting.cv for more information.
The Nittany Lions come into this one ranked No. 14 and are a perfect 3-0.
Prior to Saturday's battle, Badgers Wire's Jordon Lawrenz had a chance to speak with Nittany Lions Wire's Kevin McGuire to get an extended preview of this Penn State team.
What is your honest assessment of this Penn State team through their first three non-conference games?
I have to say I am feeling pretty good about the defense after the first few games of the year, but I didn't have much concern about that side of the ball going into the season despite the roster overhaul. The offense, to me, has shown some good things with the passing game but has room to improve with its running game. I think the significant blend of Iowa State influence from the coaching staff and the transfer portal has allowed for a pretty quick transition for the team compared to some schools with coaching changes.
What are the biggest things you've learned about the Nittany Lions now that they're off to a 3-0 start?
This team is pretty well prepared from the start of the game and will make adjustments when needed. There was a rough first quarter against Temple, but the leadership of the team, both returning and joining from the transfer portal with an Iowa State connection, does not let that keep them down. The biggest star in the making has been wide receiver Koby Howard, who continues to make us wonder why the previous staff had him buried on the depth chart last season.
What is the area you're most concerned about for this Penn State squad going up against Wisconsin?
Despite the big numbers they put up last week, the Penn State running game is a legitimate concern for me right now as the season gets tougher. It's been a bit slow to take off and has been the biggest negative about the start of the season. For me, the offensive line needs to be better to allow the running game a chance to take off.
This Penn State defense seems legit. Just how good can it be, and do you believe allowing only 22 points in the first three games is sustainable against Big Ten opponents?
I'm not getting too carried away with the play of the defense, as far as the stats go. They will give up more points against Big Ten teams just because the difficulty is about to step up. But it is hard not to like this Penn State defense. Linebacker Tony Rojas is on a mission after having his season cut short last season, and the additions of Iowa State transfers Caleb Bacon and Kooper Ebel have solidified the linebacker unit in the most natural way. Defensive coordinator D'Anton Lyn, a former Penn State standout, seems to have put together a good plan for this group, and it should fare well with the schedule in front of them (no Ohio State, Indiana, or Oregon helps too).
On paper, what's the one thing that stands out about this 2-1 Wisconsin team?
I really took notice of the Wisconsin passing game this past week. Colton Joseph made a big move up the Big Ten passing leaderboard with a big game last weekend, and I thought he was pretty decent against Notre Dame. I will be very interested to see how he handles the environment in a true road game, in a game that will sort of have a primetime atmosphere despite the early evening start time.
How do you see this game playing out if Wisconsin puts together a similar first half as they did against Notre Dame?
If Wisconsin plays the way it did in the first half against Notre Dame, I do think we will see Penn State feel some pressure in the second half. But I also think Penn State has found some ways to come out swinging after halftime, so they won't be rattled too much. This could very well be the first time they go to halftime with the game still up for grabs, so it will be interesting to see how the team responds.
Do you have a final score prediction to share?
I have not come to grips with a final score yet for this week, but I do think this game will be pretty low-scoring. I do think Koby Howard will be the big difference in the game in favor of Penn State.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Jordon Lawrenz on X @jordonlaw_pxp.
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Penn State expert previews Big Ten opener in Week 4 vs. Wisconsin