2026 Penn State Football Preview
Jake Wimberly
Abby Boyd Contributing-
What’s to like:
Penn State continues to field one of the better defenses in college football. The Nittany Lions have consistently developed talent on that side of the ball, and that should once again be the foundation of the team. Their ability to stop the run, pressure quarterbacks, and limit big plays has kept Penn State among the conference's top programs.
There is also plenty to like about the receiving corps. Penn State has more depth and talent at wide receiver than it has in recent seasons, giving the offense more opportunities to create explosive plays. If the passing game continues to develop, it should provide better balance alongside an already reliable defense.
What’s not to like:
One of the biggest storylines entering the season is the arrival of new head coach Matt Campbell. While Campbell has proven he can build successful programs, taking over a team with championship expectations presents a different challenge. Learning a new system and adjusting to a different coaching style may take some time.
Penn State also continues to face questions about winning the biggest games on its schedule. The Nittany Lions have consistently been one of the better teams in the conference, but taking the next step means finding more success against other championship contenders. Until that happens consistently, it will remain one of the biggest questions surrounding the program.
What does the Hourglass say?
Penn State- Big Ten (11-1)
Power ranking 90.84.
2026 Penn State Analytics
National recruiting rating (three year metric): #11- inside the boundary of a National Championship Roster.
National Coaching Ranking:
Matt Campbell- 13th in Power 5 and 6th in the Big Ten.
2026 coaching value= 37.5 (average 2026 Power 5 coaching value=21.93) Dan Lanning is ranked higher of the pack for coaches in the Power 5.
Quarterback Play: Rocco Becht- ranked 18th in the Power 4, 6th in the Big Ten; 2026 QB value= 40.7 (Power 4 average- 26.43).
Impact Ball Catcher Metric: Penn State has an Impact Ball Catcher Metric of 3. This puts the Lions at the upper tier for the Big Ten in this metric.
Final Thoughts:
Penn State begins a new chapter in 2026 with Matt Campbell leading a roster that has enough talent to compete for a Big Ten title. The defense remains one of the team's biggest strengths, and the offense has more playmakers than it has had in recent years. How quickly the coaching transition takes hold and how the team performs in its biggest games will shape the season.
2026 Schedule analysis:
Projected Hourglass W/L record: Games in red denote games that could be a one possession game or even a different outcome than projection.
9/5/26 Marshall- Win
9/12/26 At Temple- Win
9/19/26 Buffalo- Win
9/26/26 Penn State- Win
10/2/26 At Northwestern- Win
10/10/26 USC- Loss
10/17/26 At Michigan- Win
10/31/26 Purdue- Win
11/7/26 At Washington- Win
11/14/26 Minnesota- Win
11/21/26 Rutgers- Win
11/28/26 At Maryland- Win
