With fall camp just a couple days away, the anticipation for the 2026 college football season is ramping up. As for Penn State football, its upcoming season could go in various directions with new head coach Matt Campbell.
The ease of the Nittany Lions' schedule is very well-known by this point, and there are a few games that could give them some trouble. Aside from USC, Michigan, and Washington, the rest of their opponents look very beatable. A lesson from the 2025 season they should remember though is not to underestimate anyone regardless of what the competition looks like on paper.
Momentum will be a huge thing for Penn State this season. It's easy to up the energy on big game weeks, but maintaining that same level of urgency is a different story. Against a schedule like this, the Nittany Lions biggest test might actually be themselves.
There's a good chance they start the year off 5-0 before the Trojans in Week 6, but The Big Ten Huddle threw a bold prediction in the mix that begs to differ.
Among other bold predictions for the conference this season, the Penn State at Northwestern game was one that Nittany Lion fans would hate to happen.
7 of the BOLD Predictions made on last night's episode!
— The Big Ten Huddle 🎙️ (@TheBigTenHuddle) August 3, 2026
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Bold Big Ten predictions feature a Northwestern upset over Penn State in Week 5
Week 5 at the Wildcats is the first game held at the new Ryan Field, which will also be highlighted as a Friday night game on Oct. 2. It's also the Nittany Lions' first Big Ten road game of the season, so there's a few things at play going on for this matchup. A normal game vs. Northwestern wouldn't normally draw in so much attention, but it can hopefully provide an energy boost for a Penn State squad that won't have played a riveting game yet.
The stakes aren't high necessarily, but a loss would leave a sour taste in people's mouths.
In 2025, Week 7 vs. the Wildcats is what sent former head coach James Franklin packing. It was his third consecutive Big Ten defeat of the season (following losses to Oregon and UCLA), which was enough for athletic director Pat Kraft to pull the plug on his tenure and start a fresh chapter for the program. In addition to losing that game, former quarterback Drew Allar sustained a season ending ankle injury. Northwestern was the nail in the coffin for the Nittany Lions' 2025 season.
If Penn State beat the Wildcats, the 2026 matchup wouldn't feel so heavy. Northwestern wants to open its new stadium with a win and Campbell is expected to have a couple bumps in the road. The Wildcats have more momentum and the Nittany Lions have more room this year to run into some unexpected trouble without the repercussions being blown out of proportion.
The last thing Campbell needs, though, is to give fans a reason to think of and compare him to Franklin. A Northwestern upset, regardless of what Penn State's record looks like heading into the game, would certainly give some leeway for criticism and even some worry.
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