Since Penn State football doesn't have the most riveting or threatening schedule in the Big Ten in 2026, it seems like a very easy path for head coach Matt Campbell to rack up a good number of wins and potentially hit a double-digit win season in year one.
Whether the schedule can actually get the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff is a different conversation, but regardless of what the postseason looks like for the blue and white, they still have a schedule they should appreciate as they get their bearings in this new chapter.
That's not the only thing Penn State must be wary of when it comes to this schedule, though.
Not everything will go right for Campbell during his first season. There will be blips along the way that he will have to sort out. The biggest tests are USC, Michigan, and Washington, which is where most minds go when thinking of where things can go awry for the Nittany Lions.
That's not what Brad Crawford of CBS Sports is thinking, though.
"Penn State is the only Big Ten team that avoids Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon. Once the Nittany Lions get through USC and Michigan in October, their only marquee game the rest of the way comes at Washington on Nov. 7. The Nittany Lions should be heavy favorites throughout the closing stretch," he wrote.
That sounds fantastic for Campbell, being a favorite for almost all matchups in 2026 and not having to deal with the mental challenges that come with facing the top three teams in the conference.
But, there's a trap.
CBS Sports thinks Rutgers is Penn State's "biggest trap game" of 2026
In Crawford's assessment of Big Ten teams' schedules and which game can cause unexpected trouble, he went with Rutgers for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions and Scarlet Knights face each other in Week 12 of the season at Beaver Stadium. This is Penn State's final home game of the season, which means it will also be Senior Day for the graduating Nittany Lions.
An easy opponent with a celebratory atmosphere after a long season of other easy opponents could be the cherry on top. Or, as Crawford noted, it could have other implications.
"Maintaining an edge against overmatched opponents is rarely automatic," he wrote. "Penn State must create its own urgency each week, especially if playoff positioning becomes the dominant storyline."
In 2025, the Nittany Lions were expected to have the upper hand heading into nearly every single contest before they crashed and burned quickly early in the season. The easy opponents, like UCLA and Northwestern, were strikes two and three for former head coach James Franklin. The unexpected downturn acts almost as a precautionary tale for Campbell to not get too comfortable.
By the time Week 12 hits, Penn State could be in legitimate CFP conversations depending on if it faces and wins vs. ranked opponents (likely USC, Michigan, and Washington). A loss against a weaker squad, such as Rutgers, can put a sour aftertaste in the Nittany Lions' mouths as they watch their postseason hopes disappear.
Sustaining momentum with a schedule like this won't be easy.
After the non-conference slate of Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo, Penn State has a couple softballs (Wisconsin and Northwestern) to warm up to its first major game in Week 6. When the Trojans come to town, that's when the energy amps up and there will be more momentum for Campbell to ride on. After Week 7 at Michigan, another huge 2026 contest for them, the Nittany Lions get some bye week rest.
Coming off the bye and stalled momentum, they get another transition game in Purdue to warmup for Washington in Week 10. They finish off the season with Minnesota, Rutgers, and Maryland.
Campbell can't lose sight of the season. Every week has to be a battle, even if it looks like a breeze on paper for Penn State to get by. There's no "getting by," though. The Nittany Lions must prove themselves as worthy competitors, even if that means dominating against every weaker opponent throughout the season.
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