Penn State Beats Purdue 31-17 as Cam Wallace Runs for 135 Yards, Ending a Four-Game Skid

Yesterday’s live coverage left Penn State ahead 24-14 late in the third quarter. Here is how it ended: Penn State 31, Purdue 17, on Halloween night at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania.

The win snapped a four-game losing streak and gave Penn State its first Big Ten victory under coach Matt Campbell, according to the Associated Press. The Nittany Lions are 4-4 overall and 1-4 in the Big Ten. Purdue fell to 3-5 and 2-3.

Penn State vs. Purdue: final score by quarter

Quarter scores compiled from Penn State Athletics’ scoring summary.

Who is Cam Wallace?

Redshirt junior running back Cam Wallace made his first career start and ran for a career-high 135 yards on 22 carries, including a 48-yard burst and a 2-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Penn State says it was his first 100-yard game.

AP reported that Wallace missed most of two seasons after breaking bones in both legs. He had just 22 carries for 125 yards this season before Saturday.

“I’ve been through a lot in my career, so everything is just falling into place for the work that I put in,” Wallace said, per AP.

Campbell said Wallace stood out in practice during the bye week. “In the bye week, this guy was the shining star,” he said.

How did the Penn State game today unfold?

• First quarter: Rocco Becht threw a 4-yard touchdown to tight end Andrew Rappleyea, set up by a fake field goal on fourth down. Purdue tied it on Ryan Browne’s 33-yard pass to Xavier Townshend. Becht then ran in from 6 yards out.
• Second quarter: Purdue’s Jalil Hall returned a blocked punt 31 yards for a touchdown to tie it 14-14. Penn State says it was the first special teams touchdown it had allowed in 97 games. Carson Hansen’s 1-yard run made it 21-14 at halftime.
• Third quarter: Jamison Patton intercepted Browne, and Ryan Barker kicked a 44-yard field goal for a 24-14 lead.
• Fourth quarter: Wallace capped an 85-yard drive with his touchdown. Purdue’s Jacobo Echeverria Lozano made a 49-yard field goal, and Jeremiah Cooper’s late interception sealed it.

Penn State’s defense and run game

Penn State ran for 269 yards, its most since 2025, and held the ball for 43:27, according to the school. The Nittany Lions had not topped 100 rushing yards since their Big Ten opener, AP said.

On defense, Penn State held Purdue to 175 total yards and 33 rushing yards. Purdue completed 10 of 29 passes. Defensive end Yvan Kemajou recorded the team’s first sack in conference play, AP reported.

“I knew going into it their front seven is difficult, and that proved to be true tonight,” Purdue coach Barry Odom said, per AP. “We weren’t good enough to overcome that.”

Key stats

• Cam Wallace (PSU): 22 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD
• Carson Hansen (PSU): 17 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD
• Rocco Becht (PSU): 16 of 24, 175 yards, 1 TD; 1 rushing TD
• Benjamin Brahmer (PSU): 58 receiving yards, his 100th career catch
• Ryan Browne (Purdue): 2 interceptions

Penn State has now beaten Purdue 12 straight times, dating back to 2005.

What’s next?

Penn State visits Washington on Saturday, Nov. 7. Purdue hosts Maryland.

FAQ

Earlier coverage: Purdue vs. Penn State: Nittany Lions Lead in Third Quarter as They Try to Snap 4-Game Skid (Oct 31)