Fall sports are officially back in Happy Valley as Penn State football wraps up fall camp, field hockey gets ready to take on a season with new head coach Hannah Prince, and women's volleyball is back on the court in hopes of redeeming itself from the step-back season in 2025.
Field hockey hopes to get back into the Top 10 in 2026, somewhere it hasn't been ranked since the start of the 2023 season at No. 5. The Nittany Lions didn't survive the 2024 season in the Top 25, very quickly dropping out of it after the first three contests. Then in 2025, they managed a No. 16 spot at the highest, but couldn't break into the postseason.
In hopes of having a turnaround in 2026, Prince will have to push the team past its ceiling similar to what head coach Matt Campbell strives to do with the football team.
Penn State football fall camp recap
Campbell's first fall camp has concluded as the college football season Week 0 is underway.
Overall, camp has been a success for the Nittany Lions, but not every player had the best storyline. Former four-star quarterback recruit Peyton Falzone is one of them. The staff transitioned Falzone to tight end this preseason, and without even getting a real shot under center. The position might not stick or Falzone might not be interested in pursuing it after 2026. One thing's for certain: He's not one of the winners of Penn State's fall camp.
Instead, other freshmen found their footing: wide receiver Amarion Jackson, linebacker Cam Smith, left tackle Malachi Goodman, and defensive back Josiah Zayas.
Falzone isn't the only "loser" of this camp, although he's the most prominent. Returners to the NCAA stage are falling behind on the depth chart, and despite Campbell's versatile approach to the offense, quarterback Connor Barry and running back Quinton Martin Jr. they might still be left behind.
Penn State women's volleyball opens season with loss in Spikes Under the Lights tournament
In the Spikes Under the Lights tournament, No. 10 Penn State volleyball matched up against No. 11 SMU. The Mustangs defeated the Nittany Lions 2-0.
The reloaded roster featuring setter Alexis Stucky and outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein needs some time to build chemistry on game day, but it wasn't a bad show out in a tournament that doesn't affect the Nittany Lions' 2026 record.
The best-of-three format and sets that only go to 21 (win by two points) was never going to show exactly what this Penn State squad looks like. Over the match, though, the blue and white found more of a rhythm.
Once we see this team in action in a full match, it'll be easier to judge how well the roster meshes together. Without a lot of time in each set to substitute, getting the right combination on the court is harder. However, it was a good game for head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley to see the big picture of where her team stands heading into the season.
More: Chase Sowell and James Peoples make preseason watch list
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List released and featured two Nittany Lions: running back James Peoples and wide receiver Chase Sowell. Both offensive weapons transferred to Penn State after the 2025 season with Sowell following Campbell over from Iowa State. Peoples played his last two seasons at Ohio State.
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List 📋@James_peoples17 | @SowellChase pic.twitter.com/Mz9NxG96V7
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) August 26, 2026
The award recognizes college football's offensive player of the year who promotes on- and off-the-field success, overcoming adversity, and persistence.
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