While Penn State’s on-field performance wasn’t up to par Saturday, there was some good halftime news for James Franklin .

Three-star 2026 defensive tackle Tavian Branch committed to the Nittany Lions during Saturday’s break in the action. He was taking an official visit during Penn State’s Week 2 matchup with FIU.

BREAKING: Class of 2026 DL Tavian Branch has Committed to Penn State, he tells me for @rivals

The 6’5 300 DL from Taylor, PA was previously Committed to Rutgers

“Don’t they say, ‘The Best in PA Stay in PA?’” https://t.co/eUCMrys3xG pic.twitter.com/Smc2UXRiZa — Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) September 6, 2025

Branch, from Riverside High School in Pennsylvania, was committed to Big Ten rival Rutgers between June and August but just backed off that pledge at the end o

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