Penn State’s successful ground game against Purdue stems from bye week

Three weeks ago, Penn State football coach Matt Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser expressed frustration with the team's offense, particularly the running game. The Nittany Lions had a difficult time against Michigan in the subsequent game before taking a two-week bye. The coaches utilized this time to push the offensive line to be more physical and experiment with different running back combinations.

Their efforts paid off, as Penn State ran for 269 yards in their 31-17 win over Purdue. Offensive coordinator Mouser admitted that he felt desperate when the team was not meeting expectations. The Nittany Lions' physical and effective running performance was a result of their concentrated efforts during the bye week. Running back Cam Wallace, who impressed the coaches in practice, started in the game and rushed for 135 yards, his career high.

The improved performance of the offensive line was also noteworthy, ranking as the best game of the season for the unit. Penn State's next match is against a tougher Washington defense, but Campbell hopes that the team's simplified offense and physical approach will lead to another successful game.