Wisconsin Badgers at Penn State Nittany Lions

Injuries noted

Wisconsin Badgers: Cai Bates (out) — Cornerback; listed out.; Jaylon Domingeaux (out) — Wide receiver; listed out.; Michael Roeske (out) — Offensive lineman; listed out.; Xavier Ukponu (out) — Defensive tackle; listed out.; Bryan Jackson II (questionable) — Running back; remained questionable.; Emerson Mandell (questionable) — Right guard; remained questionable.; Ryan Schwendeman (questionable) — Tight end; remained questionable.; Abu Sama III (probable) — Running back; upgraded from questionable to probable after missing the Eastern Michigan game with a reported shoulder issue.; Malachi Coleman (probable) — Wide receiver; upgraded from questionable to probable after missing time following a reported head injury against Western Illinois.; Mason Posa (probable) — Linebacker; remained probable while recovering from a toe injury.; Eugene Hilton Jr. (probable) — Wide receiver; remained probable.; Danny O'Neil (probable) — Quarterback; remained probable on the updated report.; Kevin Heywood (probable) — Right tackle; remained probable.

Penn State Nittany Lions: Koby Howard (out) — Wide receiver; listed out with an undisclosed injury.; LaVar Arrington II (out) — Defensive end; listed out.; Joshua Johnson (out) — Cornerback; listed out.; Max Granville (out) — Defensive end; listed out.; Cam Smith (out) — Linebacker; downgraded from questionable to out during the reporting week.; Christian Askew (out) — Cornerback; downgraded from questionable to out during the reporting week.; Tyler Armstead (out) — Cornerback; listed out.; Mason Robinson (out) — Defensive end; listed out.; Dayshaun Burnett (out) — Defensive end; listed out. Onward State supplies the roster spelling Burnett.; Will Tompkins (out) — Offensive lineman; listed out.; Cooper Alexander (out) — Tight end; listed out.; Brock Riker (questionable) — Offensive lineman/center; remained questionable.; Dominic Rulli (questionable) — Offensive lineman/center; remained questionable.; Ethan Black (questionable) — Wide receiver; remained questionable.; Andrew Rappleyea (questionable) — Tight end; remained questionable after being banged up against Buffalo.; Omarion Davis (probable) — Safety; listed probable.

QUARTERBACK

• Colton Joseph is WIS's projected starter

  8.85 Y/A

  Colton Joseph is WIS's projected starting quarterback. Wisconsin's official game-week preview identified Joseph as the quarterback at the helm and said he would enter his first Big Ten game, but it did not contain an explicit starter announcement. 2026 line: 752 passing yards, 63.5% completions, 8.85 yards per attempt, 5-2 TD-INT over 3 games.

• Rocco Becht is PSU's projected starter

  11.73 Y/A

  Rocco Becht is PSU's projected starting quarterback. Penn State's current-week coach conference discussed the offense's established rhythm with Becht entering Wisconsin week, but the retrieved sources did not explicitly publish a game-specific starter declaration. 2026 line: 751 passing yards, 70.3% completions, 11.73 yards per attempt, 9-0 TD-INT over 3 games.

TRENCHES

• PSU: 199 rushing yards per game to WIS's 138.7

  60.3 YPG

  Penn State is running for 199 a game through three games, up from 174.4 last season. Wisconsin is at 138.7, up from 116.7. Both have climbed, but Penn State was the stronger ground team last season too, so its edge looks real. At home, Penn State is likely to dictate the game on the ground, which can shorten it and favors lower totals.

PACE & SCRIPT

• WIS @ PSU carries a 43.5 market total

  43.5

  The current fanduel total is 43.5, 11 points below the 54.5 median across 41 games with posted totals on this slate.

• PSU: 7.3 points allowed per game to WIS's 20

  12.7 PPG

  Penn State has allowed 7.3 points a game through three games, a steep drop from 20.5 last season. Wisconsin is at 20, near its 21.6 from a year ago. Three games of elite defense usually come partly from weak opponents, so Penn State's number is the one likely to rise. At home against a Wisconsin offense it likely hasn't yet faced the equal of, it should still be the side dictating a low-scoring game.

MISMATCH

• PSU: 7.3 points allowed a game to WIS's 20

  7.3 VS 20

  Penn State has allowed 7.3 points a game through 3 games, far below 20.5 last season. Wisconsin allows 20, near its 21.6 from last year, so that one looks steady. Penn State's number almost certainly reflects early opponents and should rise against a Big Ten offense. Expect Wisconsin to score more than Penn State's early opponents did, even if the Nittany Lions' defense stays the stronger unit.

COVERAGE

• PSU: 90 passing yards allowed per game to WIS's 180.3

  90.3 YPG

  Penn State has allowed just 90 passing yards a game over 3 games, half of Wisconsin's 180.3. A number that low over three games often means opponents gave up on the pass or were run-heavy by design, and the sheet doesn't say which. If Wisconsin leans on the ground game, Penn State's pass defense may never really get tested, so the more useful number here is what Wisconsin allows through the air.

REPLACEMENT

• Mason Robinson (DE) is out for PSU

  OUT

  Defensive end; listed out. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25) Two More Players Downgraded To Out For Penn State Football Against Wisconsin On Thursday Availability Report (2026-09-24)

• Will Tompkins (OL) is out for PSU

  OUT

  Offensive lineman; listed out. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25) Two More Players Downgraded To Out For Penn State Football Against Wisconsin On Thursday Availability Report (2026-09-24)

• Cooper Alexander (TE) is out for PSU

  OUT

  Tight end; listed out. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25) Two More Players Downgraded To Out For Penn State Football Against Wisconsin On Thursday Availability Report (2026-09-24)

• Cai Bates (CB) is out for WIS

  OUT

  Cornerback; listed out. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25)

• Jaylon Domingeaux (WR) is out for WIS

  OUT

  Wide receiver; listed out. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25)

• Michael Roeske (OL) is out for WIS

  OUT

  Offensive lineman; listed out. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25)

• Xavier Ukponu (DL) is out for WIS

  OUT

  Defensive tackle; listed out. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25)

• Koby Howard (WR) is out for PSU

  OUT

  Wide receiver; listed out with an undisclosed injury. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25)

• LaVar Arrington II (DE) is out for PSU

  OUT

  Defensive end; listed out. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25) Two More Players Downgraded To Out For Penn State Football Against Wisconsin On Thursday Availability Report (2026-09-24)

• Joshua Johnson (CB) is out for PSU

  OUT

  Cornerback; listed out. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25) Two More Players Downgraded To Out For Penn State Football Against Wisconsin On Thursday Availability Report (2026-09-24)

• Max Granville (DE) is out for PSU

  OUT

  Defensive end; listed out. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25) Two More Players Downgraded To Out For Penn State Football Against Wisconsin On Thursday Availability Report (2026-09-24)

• Cam Smith (LB) is out for PSU

  OUT

  Linebacker; downgraded from questionable to out during the reporting week. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25) Two More Players Downgraded To Out For Penn State Football Against Wisconsin On Thursday Availability Report (2026-09-24)

• Christian Askew (S) is out for PSU

  OUT

  Cornerback; downgraded from questionable to out during the reporting week. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25) Two More Players Downgraded To Out For Penn State Football Against Wisconsin On Thursday Availability Report (2026-09-24)

• Tyler Armstead (CB) is out for PSU

  OUT

  Cornerback; listed out. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25) Two More Players Downgraded To Out For Penn State Football Against Wisconsin On Thursday Availability Report (2026-09-24)

• Dayshaun Burnett (DE) is out for PSU

  OUT

  Defensive end; listed out. Onward State supplies the roster spelling Burnett. Wisconsin's Abu Sama, Malachi Coleman upgraded for Big Ten opener at Penn State (2026-09-25) Two More Players Downgraded To Out For Penn State Football Against Wisconsin On Thursday Availability Report (2026-09-24)