The Wisconsin Badgers are up against one of their toughest conference opponents on the schedule. A No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions team on the road at Beaver Stadium. Wisconsin will need to have their absolute best performance this season to pull off the upset. It may have gotten a little easier when star wide receiver Koby Howard's injury update took an "uncertain" turn.
Matt Campbell told reporters that Howard was "dinged up" this week and that he wasn't sure the sophomore receiver would be able to go. This would be a decent loss for the Lions, especially considering this was set to be a big game for him after a great start to the year against the non-conference foes.
Howard has already had two games over 100 yards receiving and has three touchdowns through three games. Two as a receiver and one as a runner, making a dash out of the backfield for a 20-yard scamper. All that to say, he's a star and a big-play threat.
Penn State star wide receiver Koby Howard's status is uncertain for Saturday v. Wisconsin. https://t.co/udChOFTkQR https://t.co/WBpuboHBlV
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) September 22, 2026
Koby Howard is in serious risk of missing the Wisconsin game on Saturday
Related: Wisconsin has 3 different curiosities on the 2-deep depth chart ahead of Penn State
Howard is the clear WR1 on the Penn State team, and while there are plenty of other weapons on the roster, the Nittany Lions would have to shift things around. According to Victory Bell Rings, a Penn State FanSided site, "While Howard is the WR1 on this team, he’s primarily been the slot wide receiver in 11-personnel. Considering Penn State is largely a 12-personnel team, he’s also played outside at the X or the Z. Still, when in 11, Penn State won’t have to shuffle much; simply elevate Zay Robinson, who has been dynamic when he’s seen the field, to that starting role in the slot."
The next players up would be Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen, who have already had starting roles. The player who could benefit the most would be true freshman Amarion Jackson, who could slide right into a starting spot.
For the Badgers, this may be a nice gift, as Wisconsin hasn't exactly been shut down in the passing game. While the defense has often had a "bend but not break" mentality, the receivers over the first few weeks have gotten decent chunk gains on them. Especially when Wisconsin can't put pressure on the quarterback.
Against Eastern Michigan, things looked better in this department, but having one less elite receiver on the field is a great thing for the Badgers. And it allows Wisconsin to use the top two corners, Javan Robinson and Bryce West, in other focused ways.. Keeping tabs on the above players.
It still won't be easy against Penn State, especially with an experienced quarterback in Rocco Becht, and there's no guarantee that Howard remains out for Saturday. But if Wisconsin can dodge the Howard bullet, that would go a long way towards a win.
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