Penn State football finally got its first Big Ten win of the 2026 season and first victory since Sept. 19 vs. Buffalo. The Nittany Lions (4-4, 1-4 Big Ten) pulled out their 31-17 win on Saturday over Purdue without two of their top receivers: Koby Howard and Chase Sowell.
Non-conference play was the last time Howard was out on the field for the blue and white. He suffered a lower body injury in that Week 3 contest vs. the Bulls and was initially expected to return to action around Week 6 or 7. Howard's return date was pushed back past the bye week, though, and head coach Matt Campbell said he was hopeful for the wideout to be back for Week 9 vs. the Boilermakers. Once more, Howard's return got bumped back.
Howard was listed as questionable heading into Saturday's game.
As for Sowell, his name popping up on the midweek injury report was surprising. He had a few injury scares against USC and Michigan before the bye, but returned to the game both times it happened. There weren't any serious concerns over Sowell's availability up until Week 9, which raised even more questions about how quarterback Rocco Becht could get the pass game going without at least one of these wide receivers.
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