Penn State has a glorified preseason with three non-conference games against Group of Six programs to begin the 2026 season. There’s one left as Buffalo visits Beaver Stadium on Saturday in Week 3, but then in Week 4, the season finally begins in earnest as the Nittany Lions welcome Wisconsin.
Unfortunately, it will be buried in the afternoon slate of college football with a 5:00 p.m. ET kickoff and streaming on Peacock, as announced on Monday.
The matchup is undoubtedly impactful in the Big Ten, as Penn State seemingly has an opening to the top of the conference with Oregon’s struggles, Ohio State’s Week 2 loss to Texas, and its own easy schedule. However, it could also signal that Wisconsin’s offseason upgrades have paid off, elevating Luke Fickell’s floundering program back to the conference’s middle class.
On top of all of that, it’s Matt Campbell's first game in the Big Ten, the first real test of the new-look Nittany Lions, and frankly, it’s not getting the respect it deserves.
Matt Campbell deserves better than a 5:00 p.m. kickoff on Peacock
In Week 4, the game of the weekend in the Big Ten is undoubtedly Oregon’s trip down to LA to face USC. The game will air on NBC in the primetime window and rightfully have the spotlight. Big Noon Kickoff is heading back to Columbus for Ohio State’s Big Ten home opener against Illinois, and the mid-afternoon CBS spotlight game is Iowa at Michigan.
It’s a bit difficult to argue against any of those games getting top billing over Wisconsin and Penn State, mostly because of Wisconsin’s recent ineptitude. Still, the look-ahead lines for Penn State/Wisconsin have the Nittany Lions as a 5.5-point home favorite over the Badgers, while Ohio State appears poised to be a two-touchdown favorite over Illinois at home.
That’s a significant difference in the spread and expected competitiveness of both games. Now, of course, that reflects how much better power-rating systems and sportsbooks view Ohio State. Even after a loss to Texas on Saturday, the Buckeyes are a real national championship threat, while Penn State has considerable question marks hanging over the program after a major offseason remodel.
But even through that lens, wouldn’t Campbell, a well-known and well-respected head coach from his 10-year tenure at Iowa State, making his first foray into the Big Ten for what is anticipated to be a competitive game, warrant more intrigue than what is likely another lopsided Ohio State win?
This sounds like sour grapes, and it is. Ohio State fans may revel in this; Michigan fans too, because their programs are simply bigger national draws than Penn State is. But even so, isn’t there a better slot for this game to be played in than tucked into a late afternoon slate, staggering the afternoon and primetime kickoffs and exclusively streaming on Peacock?
There just has to be, because Campbell’s Big Ten debut deserved better.
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