There’s no denying the start of the Matt Campbell era hasn’t gone as planned for Penn State football.

However, while many player performances have been disappointing so far, others have helped the Nittany Lions, and it’s important to look at both sides of the coin.

One way to evaluate player performance is through overall ratings in sports video games, such as Electronic Arts’ Madden, FC, and NHL franchises.

In 2025, Electronic Arts added to its illustrious list of sports titles by recreating a college football-based game for the first time since NCAA College Football 2014.

The game is now going strong in its third consecutive year.

Like other sports games, the NCAA College Football series also causes controversy with its player rating system. While no two fans or analysts will ever think exactly the same, it’s hard to ignore some undeserved ratings.

Let’s take a look at some Penn State football players whose ratings need to change, and what they should change to. All ratings reflect the most recent game update from October 13.

Rocco Becht: 83 Overall (Currently 86)

Rocco Becht entered his 2026 graduate season with sky-high expectations, but it’s hard to argue he’s met them so far.

Becht has passed for 1,397 yards and 11 touchdowns in six games for the Nittany Lions. On the surface, the numbers are solid, but nine of Becht’s 11 touchdown passes have come against non-Big Ten opponents.

Becht has thrown only two touchdown passes in three conference games.

For reference, Oregon State quarterback Braden Atkinson has 2,257 passing yards and 21 touchdown passes in the same number of games and is currently only an 83 overall.

While it can certainly be argued that the Pac-12 competition is not on the same level as Penn State’s in the Big Ten, the difference in statistics is so drastic that it’s hard to say that Becht deserves to be any higher than a signal caller like Atkinson.

That’s why I am placing him at an 83 overall rating, a three-point downgrade from his current status.

Brett Eskildsen: 80 Overall (Currently 82)

After a breakout season at Iowa State in 2025, Brett Eskildsen transferred to Happy Valley with high expectations to be a playmaker for the blue and white.

Unfortunately, things haven’t gone to plan for the wide receiver.

In six games for the Nittany Lions, the receiver has 19 receptions for 198 yards and one touchdown, far less production than Penn State had hoped for going into 2026.

While an 82 isn’t groundbreaking, it’s the same as fellow Penn State receiver Koby Howard, who has racked up 12 receptions for 344 yards and two touchdowns in just three games before being sidelined with injury.

If a guy like Howard, who has nearly double Eskildsen’s yards in only half the games, is an 82, they simply cannot be the same rating.

That said, the Penn State offense has started to get Eskildsen involved more often, especially since Howard’s injury, so giving him a minus two feels fair at this point.

Koby Howard: 85 Overall (Currently 82)

Speaking of Howard, he needs an upgrade.

If you can look past the negatives in Penn State’s 3-3 start to the 2026 season, you’ll find their main bright spot: Koby Howard. Penn State is 3-0 with Howard, and 0-3 since he went down with injury.

Howard’s first three games were so electric that he still trails only Chase Sowell for Penn State’s leading receiver, despite playing only half the team’s games.

Howard deserves an upgrade to at least 85 despite the small sample size, as numerous Big Ten receivers rated this high or higher lag behind him in receiving yards despite playing double the matchups.

These include Michigan State’s Chrishon McCray, Nebraska’s Nyziah Hunter, and Oregon’s Jeremiah McClellan.

If Howard can maintain his tremendous production after returning from injury, he’ll be rated even higher in future updates.

Tony Rojas: 89 Overall (85 Currently)

Another undeniable bright spot during Penn State’s rough start has certainly been linebacker Tony Rojas.

After missing a majority of the 2025 season with injury, Rojas has been the heart and soul of the Penn State defense so far in 2026.

His 44 total tackles in 2026 are 11 more than any other Nittany Lion, so it’s hard to argue he shouldn’t be better rated relative to the rest of the defense.

This proposed 89 overall rating would put Rojas on par with the Big Ten’s highest-rated Mike linebacker, Maryland’s Daniel Wingate.

This feels fair, as Rojas has actually beaten Wingate in tackles to this point, with Wingate at 41 and Rojas at 44. Rojas also far exceeds him in tackles for loss, with 8.5 to Wingate’s 2.5, and has two interceptions to Wingate’s one.