Penn State football isn't the only team that got its preseason ranking this week. The women's volleyball team also earned some national recognition ahead of the 2026 season.
Previously, on the Big Ten Coaches Poll, the Nittany Lions were voted the No. 3 team in the conference despite finishing unranked in the country in 2025. However, with a roster reload, there's a lot of faith in and anticipation for what they can accomplish in 2026.
With more experience on the court and more stability with setter Alexis Stucky, Penn State earned the No. 10 spot on the AVCA Preseason Poll. Only time will tell if the blue and white can truly compete against some of the top teams in the country, such as Nebraska, Tennessee, and Stanford.
Penn State slots in at No. 18 on AP Preseason Poll
It wasn't surprising to see the Nittany Lions slot in at No. 18 in the preseason AP Top 25, but the teams around them definitely reinforced who head coach Matt Campbell's toughest opponents will be.
USC, Michigan, and Washington were all ranked above Penn State at No. 15, 16, and 17, respectively. They're the highest-ranked opponents on the schedule for the Nittany Lions, so proving they can compete with this middle tier of teams is critical if Campbell has any hopes of getting this team back into true national title contention.
Matt Campbell must sort out the Nittany Lions' deep linebacker room
Fall camp has some exciting battles going on, and Penn State's linebacker room is one of them.
Six linebackers all have starter quality, but only two can get those roles. Kooper Ebel, Caleb Bacon, and Cael Brezina are all former Iowa State players, Tony Rojas is the star returner for the Nittany Lions, Alex Tatsch is climbing up the ranks, and Cam Smith is also making a push during camp.
Defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn will have to determine what scheme is best for this team considering how talented that room is. On the other hand, keeping Rojas and Ebel as the main starters who carry the most workload isn't the worst idea considering the others are all eligible to return in 2027.
More: Rocco Becht won't see the inside of a classroom at Penn State this fall
Quarterback Rocco Becht is all-in with the Nittany Lions. This fall, his final NCAA season, is the most important season of his collegiate career and not just for his personal resume.
Penn State must get off to a good start in year one under Campbell, and a huge component of that is its starting quarterback. Becht has already stood out as a locker room guy and embraced the culture Campbell has instilled.
On Thursday, his dedication took yet another step forward. He told media that because he earned his Bachelor's degree in communications already, his academic plan is to take one online class at Penn State. Becht also shared that he has taken leadership courses and will receive a certificate after completing his online course this fall.
Since he isn't pursuing an undergraduate degree still, the move makes sense and isn't uncommon among fifth-year student-athletes, but it's still a comforting fact to know that Becht's primary focus will be his performance on the field.
Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht will be all football this fall. He’s taking one online class at PSU, which starts classes on Monday. He already has his undergrad communications degree from Iowa State. Becht explains the scenario: pic.twitter.com/JCKEyymvjL
— Mike Poorman (@PSUPoorman) August 20, 2026
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