With the first week of fall camp wrapped up for Penn State football, all eyes are on head coach Matt Campbell, his crew of Iowa State transfers, and various position battles going on this month before Week 1 of the college football season.
A lot of hope has risen for this new chapter in Happy Valley with Campbell in charge. The culture he embodies and has installed since taking the job back in Dec. 2025 is the exact fit the Nittany Lions needed in their new head coach.
Culture paired with a gracious schedule and familiar faces on the roster both in returning players and those who have worked with the coaching staff at previous stops is what analyst Kirk Herbstreit believes to be a recipe for success.
Only time will tell is Campbell was the right guy, but things are already pointing in that direction.
Managing expectations and turning the page
The 2025 season left a bad taste in Penn State's mouth. The Nittany Lions started out as the No. 2 preseason team in the country and ended the season barely making a non-playoff bowl game.
With Campbell now in charge, managing expectations is crucial. Fans can't get too high on Penn State, but they also need to be realistic. The preseason coaches poll did just that by putting the Nittany Lions at No. 17.
Part of that disastrous year in 2025 was a series of losses that were, quite frankly, embarrassing.
The highly anticipated White Out matchup has yet to be determined, but as the Nittany Lions roll out their game themes for the season, they designated their Stripe Out game. The first contest of the season, which is Week 1 vs. Marshall, will have fans flooding into Beaver Stadium in their section's respective color.
The season-opener against a non-confernece opponent is a bold move to theme like this, but it's Campbell's first time leading Penn State as its new head coach and rallying fan support can be critical. Also, the last Stripe Out game was former head coach James Franklin's last game he coached for the Nittany Lions (Week 7 vs. Northwestern). An early win in front of the blue and white faithful at the Stripe Out could be symbolic if Campbell kicks off the 2026 season as expected.
Speaking of the Wildcats, a bold Big Ten prediction favoring Northwestern to upset Penn State came in. As said before, losing to the Wildcats in Week 7 in 2025 was the final straw for athletic director Pat Kraft. Though Northwestern wants to come out of its first-ever game at the new Ryan Field with a win, Campbell has want to prove he's not Franklin even more.
Penn State volleyball is back, better, and reloaded
The 2025 season for Penn State women's volleyball didn't go as expected. With setter Izzy Stark leaving the program, having not even played in a single game for the Nittany Lions her sophomore year, and the offense not having the level of experience necessary to compete at a high level, Penn State fought against itself in many matches.
This 2026 season already feels and looks different. The Nittany Lions added setter Alexis Stucky from Florida, reuniting her with rightside hitter Kennedy Martin, and have other more experienced hitters up at the net in Caroline Jurevicius and and Emmi Sellman.
Martin and Stucky are the ones to watch on the court this season still. The duo is back together, both entering their final NCAA season, and that pre-existing chemistry on the court is undeniable. Both were named to the Big Ten Preseason All-Conference Team with Martin being a unanimous selection.
Penn State also ranked third in the Preseason Coaches Poll. It finished seventh in the Big Ten in 2025, so to sit behind No. 1 Nebraska and No. 2 Wisconsin who made it very far in the tournament is noteworthy.
More: Zakee Wheatley off to a great start in the NFL
Former Nittany Lion defensive back Zakee Wheatley had his NFL debut in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night.
Wheatley was drafted by the Carolina Panthers 151st overall, going in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He had a five-year career at Penn State where he totaled 223 tackles, six interceptions, six passes defended, five tackles for loss, three forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and one sack.
In the Panthers' 33-30 win over Arizona on Thursday, Wheatley logged eight tackles and one forced fumble.
Former Nittany Lion Zakee Wheatley led the Carolina Panthers with 8 tackles and a forced fumble in his NFL debut during Thursday’s Hall of Fame game. #WeAre #PennState pic.twitter.com/0OjFKwgAce
— Basic Blues Nation (@basicblues) August 7, 2026
Though it's only the preseason and roster cuts are still on the horizon, Wheatley is certainly giving Carolina's coaching staff something to think about as he fights for a roster spot.
There are currently six safeties on the Panthers' roster, including another former Penn Stater, Nick Scott, who's going into year nine in the NFL.
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