Are the last two games a glimpse into the future of what the Penn State football program could look like under head coach Matt Campbell?

I still think we need to see another week of physicality up front on both sides of the ball and success in the run game before we can say with complete confidence that Coach Campbell and his staff have truly turned things around. That said, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like what I’m seeing from the Nittany Lions right now.

As has been the case in recent weeks, it starts with protecting the football and establishing the run.

Penn State rushed for 174 yards against a solid Washington rush defense and put the game away in the fourth quarter with a methodical 14-play, 70-yard drive that drained the final 7:40 off the clock. The biggest play of that possession, and arguably one of the most important plays of the game, was Carson Hansen’s 36-yard run that put them in position to seal the victory.

Hansen has now scored in each of the last five games.

After averaging just 75 rushing yards per game across the four Big Ten contests preceding the Purdue matchup, the Nittany Lions have found their footing on the ground, averaging 221.5 rushing yards over their last two games. Establishing the run has made a significant difference, not only creating balance offensively but also opening up opportunities in the passing game for Rocco Becht.

And speaking of Becht, the veteran quarterback has elevated his play over the past two weeks and is beginning to look every bit the experienced signal-caller Penn State needs him to be.

During that span, he has thrown for 415 yards and three touchdowns while, perhaps most importantly, avoiding turnovers altogether. That’s the kind of formula that consistently wins football games.

Defensively, coordinator D’Anton Lynn has his unit trending in the right direction as well. Two weeks ago, Penn State limited Purdue to just 33 rushing yards and 175 total yards. Last week, the Nittany Lions followed that performance by holding talented dual-threat quarterback Demond Williams Jr. to 172 passing yards.

A lingering concern is the lack of a pass rush, an issue that likely won’t be fully addressed until the transfer portal opens in January. Expect Penn State to be aggressive in pursuing impact defensive linemen.

The challenge becomes considerably tougher this week, however, as Penn State welcomes a physical and disciplined Minnesota defense tonight (7 p.m., FS1). The Golden Gophers rank 31st nationally in total defense, allowing just 322.9 yards per game.

Running the football won’t come easy. Minnesota features a sturdy defensive front and one of the Big Ten’s most productive linebackers in Maverick Baranowski, who leads the team with 71 tackles and excels at attacking downhill against the run.

For Penn State, winning the battle at the line of scrimmage will be the key to the game. Minnesota’s primary objective will be to make the Nittany Lions one-dimensional, forcing them to rely heavily on the passing game, which is when Penn State has been most vulnerable to turnovers.

That said, Becht and the passing attack should still have opportunities to generate big plays. Chase Sowell is a favorable matchup no matter where he lines up. He delivered his second 100-yard receiving performance of the season last week, hauling in four catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.

Remarkably, every one of those receptions resulted in a first down. For the season, Sowell has converted 76 percent of his catches into first downs, the fourth-best mark among FBS players with at least 35 receptions.

Defensively, I believe the Nittany Lions hold a clear advantage in this matchup. Minnesota’s offense has struggled throughout the season, ranking 128th out of 138 FBS teams in total offense. Applying pressure to Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey will be an extremely important.

The Golden Gophers have not run the ball well at all this season, ranking 133rd nationally in rushing offense.

As a result, much of the responsibility for moving the ball falls on Lindsey and Minnesota’s passing attack. While he has shown the ability to make big plays, he’s also made some questionable decisions with the football. Lindsey has completed 180 of 296 passes for 1,797 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

Las Vegas has Penn State as a 9.5-point favorite over Minnesota.

This matchup sets up well for a Penn State defense that has been dominant against the pass. The Nittany Lions lead the Big Ten and rank third nationally in passing defense, allowing just 144.8 yards per game through the air. Given Minnesota’s offensive limitations, PSU’s defense has a real opportunity to create momentum-changing plays and potentially swing the game in its favor.

If Penn State can run the ball half decent to open up the pass game for Becht, the Nittany Lions should have a good chance of winning three in a row.

My pick is: Penn State 27, Minnesota 23.