Something about Penn State football running backs wearing No. 26…

Folks, it happened. The Cam Wallace breakout game happened. The Penn State rushing attack breakout game happened. It took eight games, but it happened.

The Nittany Lions thrashed Purdue on the ground with 269 rushing yards and three touchdowns en route to a 31-17 victory for the first Big Ten win of the Matt Campbell era. Nobody delivered more than Wallace.

“It means everything, man. Every day since I’ve been back on the football field, I’ve just been taking advantage of every opportunity I have, and just think of the guys that have been with me through everything I’ve been through,” Wallace said postgame. “I’ve just been putting my foot down, working every day, just waiting on my opportunity. When my number’s called, I’m ready to go.”

And ready to go he was.

Wallace dashed for 135 yards and one touchdown on 22 touches, which comes out to 6.6 yards per play. He even rattled off a 48-yard scamper near the end of the first quarter, his highlight run of the day in a game full of them.

To truly appreciate Wallace’s breakout game, it’s important to recognize his injury history. He suffered a long-term injury with broken bones in both of his legs in Penn State’s 2024 non-conference win over Kent State, which sidelined him until 2025. He got some touches early in the year, but couldn’t work his way into a productive role behind Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen.

That brought Wallace to 2026, where the run game has struggled immensely, to say the least. Purdue might have changed that, and Wallace’s breakout against the Boilermakers was the perfect way to close the door on his injury struggles.

“I knew before tonight … I prepared for this moment. It wasn’t nothing new when this moment came. I was prepared,” Wallace said.

One of Wallace’s closest confidants in the locker room is tight end Andrew Rappleyea. Wallace broke both of his legs against Kent State. Rappleyea tore his ACL the following week.

They were roommates during that injury-plagued 2024 era.

“We were crippled in the house, effed up pretty bad … It was tough. And then to see him trust the process, obviously come back here, make the right decision, and just obviously the running back room has [been through] a bunch of changes,” Rappleyea said. “There were guys getting more snaps than him, just staying ready … I’m so proud of that kid, man. I’m so happy for him.”

Wallace’s involvement against the Boilermakers was a stark contrast to Penn State’s previous approach to Big Ten play, though. Matt Campbell and Savon Huggins ran healthy doses of Carson Hansen and James Peoples through the Nittany Lions’ losing streak.

Wallace saw no snaps against Northwestern and didn’t get any carries in the White Out against USC or the Michigan game. Penn State fans grew increasingly frustrated with the lack of production between Hansen, Peoples, and a minuscule Quinton Martin Jr. appearance against the Wolverines heading into the week off.

“In the bye week, inside runs and scrimmage opportunities, and this guy [Wallace] was the shining star. I said it Wednesday in our team meeting, I said it Thursday, and then you went out to practice again on Thursday and again, he was the shining star,” Campbell said. “To not be the guy playing, and then to come out and demand to play and make us play him … He’s going to play. This guy’s earned the right to get on the field.”

What’s really astounding is just how much Wallace seems to have pulled away from the rest of the group just over the last two weeks. He received five more carries than Hansen against Purdue.

Peoples and Martin didn’t even check into the game at all. They weren’t listed as hurt on the availability reports, either. It was all just Wallace making his case for the RB1 spot that has desperately needed an answer all season long.

“The way that he runs the ball, he’s unlike any other running back, and so when he showed out tonight, he was crying in the locker room after,” Rocco Becht said. “I’m just so proud of that dude. He’s a faithful guy, he’s a humble guy, and he’s a teammate. He just wanted to go out there and help his team win, and that’s what he did tonight.”

Wallace said he cried happy tears in the locker room, relishing in the validation of the work he’s put in, falling into place for a masterwork of pounding the rock.

He never doubted he’d be back in the front seat on the big stage, even with his injuries over the last three years. He stayed ready, maintained his process, and didn’t overthink anything.

Even outside of Wallace, Hansen had a solid game on the ground with 17 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown. He was four yards away from Penn State having two 100+ yard rushers on the day, but he also commended Wallace and the offensive line despite having his best game of the season.

“I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face, to be honest. I was really proud of him and just all the work that he puts in on a daily basis,” Hansen said.

Hansen also said Peoples and Martin took the changes in stride and highlighted the running back room’s togetherness as a strength, even if it’s been competitive through the year so far.

Yet, Wallace’s stellar game is exactly the breakout Penn State has been waiting for. He looked explosive, in control, and showed he can handle a heavy workload.

No matter how low Wallace has felt through his college career, balancing injuries and the road to recovery, his faith in himself never wavered. It paid off on a beautiful Halloween game against Purdue, but he’s focused on channeling that faith and continuing his momentum.

“A lot of people don’t make it out where I’m from. Just to look back at those people back at home, they don’t give up. They’re still going through their struggles back at home,” Wallace said. “While I’m here at Penn State, I’m blessed with this opportunity. Why would I give up? I can be an outlet for them down the road … Just got to keep putting my foot down and move forward.”

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