Penn State football will spend the weekend recruiting, resting and possibly even resetting.

The Nittany Lions and head coach Matt Campbell and staff will try to take advantage of their only off week of the season. Their next game will be on Halloween against the Purdue Boilermakers in Beaver Stadium (4:15 p.m., Big Ten Network).

They certainly will hope to create much-needed positivity and improvement after their disappointing 3-4 start, including the 21-18 defeat at Michigan on Oct. 17 − their fourth straight in Big Ten action.

The Lions have lost each of their conference games after beginning the 2026 season with three decisive non-conference victories.

Stunningly enough, they're in the middle of a four-game Big Ten losing streak for the second straight season. Last year, they lost six straight under fired head coach James Franklin and interim leader Terry Smith before winning at Michigan State.

Now, PSU must try to fix its inept running game and inconsistent defense to regroup, get their first league win and make a late push for the postseason.

They also hope to get a recalibrated version of senior quarterback Rocco Becht, whose thrown five interceptions and just four touchdowns in Big Ten games. Becht entered the season as the most experienced and winningest returning QB in the nation.

Campbell, though, reiterated this week how Becht will remain his starter over redshirt freshman Alex Manske, the top backup who had open heart surgery last winter and missed spring practice.

For Manske, "we have great belief that he's going to have a bright future," Campbell said. "His time will come, and when that time comes, we'll be excited for that opportunity. But obviously, that time is not right now."