In year one, head coach Matt Campbell can go far with Penn State football.
Various analysts have predicted a 9-3 overall record for the Nittany Lions this summer thanks to an easy Big Ten schedule that avoids Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana.
While this is the general record consensus, Campbell has to be wary of letting all three of USC, Michigan, and Washington win their respective battles against the blue and white. If Campbell wants to prove he's not former head coach James Franklin and can compete with the best, he can't go 0-3 against those three teams.
Big Ten QB and HC previews ahead of Penn State's 2026 season
While still a favorable schedule, quarterbacks and head coaches that the Nittany Lions face this season have a lot to prove.
There are a few wild card quarterbacks that Penn State could face when they're on a high note or a low note, such as Purdue's Ryan Browne, and ones who are trending in the right direction in their collegiate careers, like Maryland's Malik Washington. Just how the Nittany Lions' toughest opponents are USC, Michigan, and Washington, so are their quarterbacks. Read the full quarterback ranking here.
Campbell isn't the only head coach with expectations, he just happens to have more time to do so than some of the others. USC's Lincoln Riley is one coach who has loftier expectations on the list simply because he's running out of time to get the Trojans into the College Football Playoff. The other two Penn State face? A non-playoff bowl game suffices, but even that is a long-shot for them. Read the full head coach hot seat ranking here.
OC Taylor Mouser has endless skill players to choose from
Penn State's tight end and running back rooms are stacked, and depth players have stood out to Campbell throughout fall camp.
Benjamin Brahmer, Gabe Burkle, and Andrew Rappleyea are the top three tight ends who will get a majority of the reps this upcoming season. Behind them, Campbell commended Cooper Alexander, Finn Furmanek, and Bobby Mears. He said that quarterbacks Rocco Becht and Alex Manske have good chemistry with that entire tight end room, which should pan out well for the Nittany Lions past the 2026 season.
At running back, Quinton Martin Jr. and Cam Wallace have been fighting for that RB3 role behind Carson Hansen and James Peoples. In a recent media availability, though, Campbell shared that he's been pleased with all four of their fall camp performances. He added that Wallace has taken some first-team reps as well. Expect to see all four backs on the field this season making an impact.
More: Penn State volleyball opens the season with Spike Under the Lights
Penn State women's volleyball is one of four teams participating in Spike Under the Lights. The primetime showdown at AT&T Stadium will feature the Nittany Lions, Nebraska, Florida, and SMU as they face off for a $1 million prize. Unlike other matches, these contests will be a best-of-three series and the results will not count towards their overall season records.
First serve for the No. 10 Nittany Lions at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium is slated for Thursday, Aug. 27 at 9 p.m. ET on TNT Sports. They will match up against No. 17 Florida, the former school of right side hitter Kennedy Martin and newest transfer addition setter Alexis Stucky.
The No. 1 Cornhuskers and No. 11 Mustangs will take the court first at 8 p.m. ET. The final match featuring the two winners of those games will start at 10 p.m. ET.
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