Penn State football fired Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin for a reason, so expectations on head coach Matt Campbell are high. In his favor, Campbell was gifted a 2026 regular season schedule that can separate him from any Franklin-esque concerns. A winning record, maybe even a shot at a College Football Playoff appearance, are in the cards for the Nittany Lions in Campbell's first year.
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What makes the 2026 schedule indicative of success is the lack of Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana — Penn State's three biggest games of 2025, one of which sent the Nittany Lions on a downward spiral. Avoiding this trio is definitely a plus for Campbell, but that doesn't mean he won't have to prove himself against other threats in the Big Ten.
CBS Sports' Will Backus predicted Michigan being Penn State's matchup circled on its calendar. He wrote:
"Expectations will be high in Matt Campbell's first year. Penn State expects to compete. That's why it fired coach James Franklin, who did a really good job, but ultimately failed consistently compete for titles. While Campbell will get some leeway, he's going to need to be at least competitive against the Big Ten's top tier."
Dates have yet to be determined for the Nittany Lions' Big Ten slate, but their opponents are set. The Wolverines are the next top competitor in the conference aside from the three that the blue and white lost to in 2025. According to FOX Sports, college football analyst RJ Young made a bold prediction that Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham will bring the Wolverines to the CFP. If the Nittany Lions want to prove themselves, they have to compete with the best given to them in their schedule.
Aside from Michigan, Penn State also faces USC and Washington. All four of these squads made On3's "way too early" Top 25 predictions for 2026. The Buckeyes, Hoosiers, and Ducks were the only Big Ten teams in the top 10. The Wolverines were predicted to land at No. 11, the Nittany Lions at No. 14, the Huskies at No. 18, and the Trojans at No. 19.