No. 9 Youngstown State football didn't just beat Duquesne. The Penguins hung 70 points on the Dukes and put together one of the most eye-popping offensive performances of the young FCS season.
Now, No. 9 Youngstown State takes that momentum into a massive Missouri Valley Football Conference opener against No. 3 South Dakota State on Saturday, Sept. 19.
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At the center of it all is reigning Walter Payton Award winner Beau Brungard, who accounted for eight (yes, eight!) touchdowns against Duquesne and continues to rewrite the Penguins record book.
So, with the Penguins entering conference play at 2-1 and suddenly generating plenty of attention, here's what you need to know about Youngstown State football.
A 70-Point Penguin Party!
Eight possessions. Eight touchdowns.
Youngstown State's 70-13 win over Duquesne was about as dominant as a Saturday afternoon can get.
The Penguins scored touchdowns on their first eight possessions and finished with 603 yards of offense. Their 70 points were the second-most in program history, while their seven touchdown passes set a Youngstown State single-game record.
And QB Beau Brungard was responsible for nearly all of it.
The senior quarterback completed 20 of 23 passes for 290 yards and six touchdowns while rushing 14 times for 111 yards and two more scores.
His six touchdown passes set a Youngstown State single-game record, breaking the previous mark of five. His eight touchdowns accounted for were also a program record.
The performance earned Brungard Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week and MVFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Meet The Penguin Running The Show
The Duquesne performance may have put quarterback Beau Brungard back in the national spotlight, but this is hardly a surprise for Youngstown State fans.
Brungard won the 2025 Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the FCS after producing one of the biggest statistical seasons in the country.
He threw for 3,234 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for another 1,468 yards and 27 scores in 2025. That's 4,702 yards of offense and 53 combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
And he's continued piling up numbers in 2026.
The Duquesne game marked the 13th 100-yard rushing performance of Brungard's career and the 12th time he has thrown and rushed for at least 100 yards in the same game.
Saturday's game at No. 3 South Dakota State is expected to be his 28th consecutive start at quarterback.
Penguins Stick Together: "I'm Here To Win As A Team"
The individual numbers are ridiculous, but Brungard made his reason for returning to Youngstown clear after the Duquesne win.
"The whole crux of why I came back was to win a championship for this city, for this team," Brungard told the Tribune Chronicle.
The reigning Walter Payton Award winner followed that by pointing to the players around him and downplaying the importance of his individual records.
"I'm here to win as a team," he said.
Now comes an opportunity to begin chasing exactly that.
Youngstown State opens MVFC play Saturday in Brookings against one of the biggest names in the FCS.
It Takes A Pack: Other Penguins To Know
Stopping Beau Brungard is just part of the problem. Youngstown State has several other weapons that defenses have to account for.
WR Lynn Wyche-El: Enters the South Dakota State game with 18 receptions for 229 yards and four touchdowns. He's caught at least one touchdown in each of Youngstown State's first three games and had five catches for 77 yards and two scores against Duquesne.
RB Jaden Gilbert: Has been another versatile weapon, rushing for 129 yards and two touchdowns while adding eight receptions for 58 yards and two more scores.
DL Michael Wells: Recorded 10.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss in 2025 and entered this season on the Buck Buchanan Award watch list. He's the first Youngstown State defender to appear on the watch list since Derek Rivers in 2016.
The Penguins also entered 2026 with plenty of new faces. Four of their top seven pass catchers through three games weren't with the program last season, while 14 players have already made their first career starts for Youngstown State this year.
Are These Penguins For Real?
Well, we're about to learn a lot more.
Youngstown State is 2-1 through three games:
Aug. 27: Youngstown State 43, Mercyhurst 10
Sept. 5: Kentucky 45, Youngstown State 13
Sept. 12: Youngstown State 70, Duquesne 13
The Penguins' only loss came on the road against SEC opponent Kentucky, and the latest AFCA FCS Coaches Poll has Youngstown State ranked No. 9 in the country.
The offense has certainly looked the part against FCS competition.
But Saturday is different.
A Pack Of Penguins Vs. A Bunch Of Jackrabbits
No. 9 Youngstown State vs. No. 3 South Dakota State is the big one for the Penguins.
Putting up 70 points made everyone notice the Penguins. Taking down No. 3 South Dakota State in Brookings would give everyone a reason to keep watching.
No. 9 Youngstown State and No. 3 South Dakota State are both 2-1 entering Saturday's matchup at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
The Jackrabbits have dominated the recent series, holding a 19-7 all-time advantage against the Penguins. South Dakota State beat Youngstown State 35-30 last season, and YSU is just 3-8 all-time in Brookings.
This one also marks the beginning of MVFC play for Youngstown State.
For a team with championship aspirations and the reigning Walter Payton Award winner at quarterback, it's a chance to make an early statement in one of the deepest conferences in the FCS.
Kickoff between Youngstown State and South Dakota State is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Youngstown State Football 2026 Schedule
Aug. 27: Youngstown State 43, Mercyhurst 10
Sept. 5: Kentucky 45, Youngstown State 13
Sept. 12: Youngstown State 70, Duquesne 13
Sept. 19: at South Dakota State
Sept. 26: vs. South Dakota
Oct. 3: at Southern Illinois
Oct. 10: at Indiana State
Oct. 17: vs. Northern Iowa
Oct. 31: vs. North Dakota
Nov. 7: at Murray State
Nov. 14: vs. Illinois State
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