Way too early Top 25 predictions already setting Penn State up for disappointment

Penn State football suffered a bad case of way too high preseason hype in 2025. Ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll and having extremely high expectations given the returners and talent on the roster, the Nittany Lions hit the floor face first.

Now with a new head coach in place, a roster slowly piecing together thanks to the Transfer Portal and improved Class of 2026 recruitment, there's a glimmer of hope for what the 2026-27 season might bring for Penn State. The key word there is "might."

On3 dropped its "Way-Too-Early" Top 25 predictions for 2026, and the Nittany Lions are quickly getting into a position that can set them up for failure.

They were ranked 14th with very familiar faces from the 2025-26 College Football Playoff littering the top of the pool: Ohio State, Georgia, Indiana, Oregon, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Miami, and Oklahoma. Ole Miss and Alabama also earned spots on the Top 25, but fell behind Penn State at No. 15 and No. 17, respectively.

On3's Way-Too-Early Top 25 predictions is like playing with fire for Penn State

Penn State needs a turnaround, and its 2026 schedule gives Campbell a good shot at doing so early. The Nittany Lions face Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, USC, and Wisconsin at home and Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern, and Washington on the road.

Out of these Big Ten opponents, three are ranked in on3's early projection and one is ranked higher than Penn State. The Wolverines sit at No. 11, the Huskies sit at No. 18, and the Trojans are right behind at No. 19.

Even though the blue and white aren't ranked in the top 12, being that close on the bubble is a difficult place to be. Fourteenth still puts up some level of expectation. If Penn State was ranked 17th or lower, it gives it more breathing room.

Having hope for what the 2026 season can be is one thing. Expecting a dominant year for the Nittany Lions is another. In other words, there's a fine line between hope and expectations. After all, even if they do prove themselves in the regular season, the likelihood of having to face the Buckeyes, Hoosiers, or Ducks at some point is almost guaranteed. Can Campbell break Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin's ceiling? Or is the line between hope and expectation blurring enough where Penn State might be set up to fail?