Wisconsin Badgers
Penn State
Badgers open Big Ten play at No. 13 Penn State
September 23, 2026 | Football
Wisconsin heads to Happy Valley on Saturday
MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin football team (2-1) opens Big Ten play against No. 13 Penn State (3-0) on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. CT. The Badgers’ 22nd all-time meeting with the Nittany Lions will be available to stream on Peacock.
Last Saturday, Wisconsin earned a dominant 54-10 victory over Eastern Michigan (1-3) at Camp Randall Stadium. With the win, Wisconsin has outscored opponents 90-19 through two games at home this season. The Badgers saw success in all aspects of the game, including two rushing touchdowns, three passing touchdowns, a fumble recovery for a touchdown, and a blocked field goal return.
The Nittany Lions are currently ranked No. 13 in the AP Poll after an undefeated non-conference slate in which they outscored opponents 127-22. Penn State most recently defeated Buffalo 55-13 at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19.
'RELL IS A RECORD BREAKER
WR Tyrell Henry had a record-breaking performance on Saturday. The fifth-year wideout hauled in a school-record 14 receptions for 160 yards against Eastern Michigan. Henry also secured a 13-yard touchdown, his first of the season.
HISTORIC DAY AT THE HELM
QB Colton Joseph had a historic day of his own, tallying a program-record 302 first-half passing yards. Joseph ended the day with 408 total yards and four touchdowns, including his first rushing score of the season. The senior will look to build off this performance in his first Big Ten game.
TRIO OF TURNOVERS
The Badgers’ defense was on display against Eastern Michigan, recovering a fumble for a touchdown and picking off EMU’s Noah Kim twice. LB Mason Posa grabbed his first career interception, and Wisconsin’s first takeaway of the season in the second quarter. S Matt Jung picked off Kim on the following drive. LB Cooper Catalano opened the second half with a 10-yard scoop-and-score after OLB Sebastian Cheeks forced an Eagles fumble.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday’s matchup marks the first conference game of the season for both teams. The last time Wisconsin played Penn State was at Camp Randall on Oct. 26 2024, a game the Nittany Lions won 28-13. The Badgers are 9-12 in the series overall, and 3-5 when playing in State College. The last time they won at Penn State was Oct. 4, 2003.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - WR CHRIS BROOKS JR.
Senior WR Chris Brooks Jr. has made a name for himself throughout September, logging 168 receiving yards in the first three games of the season and scoring touchdowns in back-to-back games against Western Illinois and Eastern Michigan. But for Brooks, this season’s success isn’t just about an impressive highlight reel; it’s about recognizing the sacrifice and dedication that came before it.
“Last week against Western Illinois I got the first of my touchdowns, so to come back and get my second in just as many weeks, it’s really cool,” says Brooks. “It’s a testimony to all the work that I put in and I’m just happy that opportunity came, and I made the most of it.”
He credits his dad for always pushing him, and ultimately getting him to this point.
“My dad definitely is my role model,” he says. “He shows me that life is going to throw a lot of things at you but it’s about how you respond to them. It’s about having humility to grow and learn from them, and always work toward being better.”
A former NFL player, Brooks Sr. has also had an impact on the way his son sees the game. Brooks’ standout blocking has been key to his success as a receiver, and says it’s his dad who helped him to hone the skill.
“He’s a big reason why I view blocking the way I do,” says Brooks. “He always told me that you gotta be explosive in a multitude of ways, and you don’t get the ball if you don’t block. It’s about what you are doing when you aren’t getting the ball, and that is something that I take very seriously.”
It’s a selfless sentiment that illustrates Brooks’ broader perspective about what it means to represent Wisconsin.
“Being a Badger means a lot of things to me,” he says. “It’s doing the hard things without necessarily looking for the rewards. It’s about being gritty and working as hard as you can without the recognition.”
