BSD Mailbag: 7.27.26

Who is your player to watch this season? -BW042

I’ll give one for each side of the ball. My pick for the defense is cornerback Daryus Dixson. He impressed as a true freshman and things really started to click for him toward the end of the season, culminating with his standout performance in the Pinstripe Bowl. He can elevate to All-American status during his time at Penn State as long as he continues to develop. Hopefully, he proves to be a true shut-down corner in 2026.

For offense, I’ll go with running back James Peoples. The Ohio State transfer seems to be the most versatile running back on the roster. He has the power to pick up tough yards between the tackles, but also has the speed to create explosive plays when given space. He’s also an asset out of the passing game, and should mesh well with Rocco Becht‘s playing style. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he leads the team in carries this fall.

It’s never too early for a prediction thread — what’s your prediction for 2026 PSU football’s W-L record? -Smee

I’ve been all over the place as the season approaches, so I reserve the right to change my answer for the record roundtable at the end of the summer. I’ll say 9-3 for now, but feel like it could reasonably be anywhere between 7-5 and 11-1. The schedule is not terribly daunting with no Ohio State, Oregon or Indiana. There’s also talent spread throughout the roster, and we know Matt Campbell gets the most out of his players. However, there could also be some growing pains with so many new faces adjusting to the Big Ten. My biggest reason for concern is not knowing what can be expected from both lines. If they both turn out to be the team’s biggest weaknesses, then Penn State will drop a few that you may not expect heading into the season.

Rocco Becht’s career passing yardage looks like this: 2022 – 65 yds; 2023 – 3,120 yds; 2024 – 3,505 yds; 2025 – 2,584 yds. How many does he end up with this season at Penn State? -Smee

I think it will be closer to his ’25 number (2,584) than his career-high in ’24 (3,505) for two reasons:

-It will be much more difficult to move the ball through the air against Big 10 defenses compared to Big 12 defenses.

-The staff sure sound like they are committed to a run-heavy identity, so I am expecting plenty of carries for James Peoples, Quinton Martin and Carson Hansen.

What’s your favorite beer to buy in the stadium? -Smee

Unfortunately, I had to stop drinking beer about a year-and-a-half ago after it started causing issues with my sinuses much more often than not. It’s a shame, as one of my favorite warm weather activities was to enjoy a nice cold draft on a patio. Oh well.

If I still were a beer drinker, I would be all about enjoying some stouts on a blustery day in Beaver Stadium.

Assuming these are the only PSU team championships that happen for 1 decade, which would you rather:

1. Football wins championship, or

2. Wrestling, men & women basketball win NCAA championship in same season. -salmonmousse

Wrestling, men & women basketball win NCAA championship in same season. -salmonmousse

Great question! I had to really consider what an absolute blast it would be to watch two teams make simultaneous long tourney runs (and end up on top!). That would make for such an unforgettable few weeks for Nittany Lions fans. However, I have to take the football championship. Penn State Football has been by far my favorite overall regardless of sport, league, level, etc. I can’t even tell you the last time I missed a game, and usually have a mid-week repeat viewing. The closest I’ve come to experiencing that moment was ’94, but I was a pre-teen and fairly new Penn State fan, so I’m not sure how much I properly appreciated it (I also thought that Penn State would go undefeated most years moving forward at the time). After so many years of extreme high and extreme lows, and everything in the middle, I just want that one experience of enjoying a national championship season for the Nittany Lions on the gridiron.

There seems to be much talk about more conference realignment this summer with a potential bipartisan bill making it’s way in Congress and the president willing to sign it which would prevent such a thing. So far, the B1G and SEC are against it while other conferences are for it. How does this all end? –LarzLion

I’ll keep this brief as it’s something that could hold endless speculation. I just don’t see the bill passing in its current state without support from the two biggest conferences that contain nearly all of the biggest brands in the sport. It would need to change in a way where they would pick up support from the Big 10 and SEC, but likely lose support from the other conferences by doing so. There are also some parts of the bill that will assuredly be scrapped – like forcing teams to play regional rivals (meaning, yes, the government could force Penn State to play Pitt each fall) and the “Lane Kiffin Rule” that would not permit a coach to leave their team before the season in finished.

My best assumption is that this bill does not get passed, but crazier things have happened…

Do you prefer to vacation at the big and busy places (Myrtle Beach, Gatlinburg, and Disney) or the lesser known places like Knoebel’s Grove, Cherokee, and Oak Island Beach)? -Gerry Dincher

My preferences have evolved over time. As a kid, I was all about the overcrowded touristy beach towns with putt-putt and fried seafood places on every corner. When I was in my 20s into my 30s, I enjoyed exploring a large city I had never been to before. Now I just want a quiet spot where I can enjoy some sights and move at my own pace. This year’s plan is to head to a dog-friendly lake house where we can spend time hiking and kayaking, and find some good dinner spots in the evening. The biggest perk of a vacation for me now is not being burdened with work or home projects, so I have a strong preference for peaceful travel spots.