We have a little under 100 days until Penn State opens its 2026 season.
Is it too early to predict how things are going to go?
Maybe.
But we’re going to do it anyway.
MARSHALL
Penn State never lost an out of conference home game under James Franklin, and I don’t expect them to start now. Marshall went 5-7 last season and is expected to be around the same this year.
The Matt Campbell era will start with a W.
Prediction: Win
AT TEMPLE
The last time Penn State played at Temple, it got embarrassed to the point where the team literally buried the game tape. That 2015 Temple team led by Matt Rhule wound up being one of the best in program history, finishing 10-4. This Temple team will be happy to get back to a bowl game.
The “home field advantage” the Owls might have against another school won’t exist due to Penn State’s large presence in Philadelphia.
Prediction: Win (2-0)
BUFFALO
Buffalo is another group of five team projected to be mediocre. Penn State will start 3-0.
Prediction: Win (3-0)
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin went 4-8 last year, and whether the Badgers are any better in 2026 will depend greatly on QB Colton Joseph, who transferred from Old Dominion. The Badgers will have to be a much better team to go into Happy Valley and get a win, and it’s hard to predict that they will be considering they haven’t had a winning season since 2023.
We’ll know more about Wisconsin after it plays its first three games, starting with Notre Dame Week 1.
Prediction: Win (4-0)
AT NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern isn’t an automatic win, as Penn State learned last season, and the Wildcats will be fired up playing Penn State in the first game at their new stadium. As with Wisconsin, a lot of Northwestern’s success will depend on its new QB, Aiden Chiles, who transferred from Michigan State. Northwestern also has a new offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly, who you may have heard of.
Northwestern also returns players such as receiver Griffin Wilde, who caught 71 passes and eight touchdowns in 2025, and defensive back Robert Fitzgerald, who led the Big Ten with 70 solo tackles last season.
Northwestern is a team that could win 8-9 games if all goes well, and Penn State will get the Wildcats best. This could be a toss up, but for now, PSU’s overall experience gives it a slight edge.
Prediction: Win (5-0)
USC
Another toss-up. In what will likely be Penn State’s White Out game, USC should come to town as Penn State’s first top 25 opponent. Led by returning QB Jayden Maiava, USC is a team many experts feel could make it to the College Football Playoff.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.If this game were in, LA, USC would have the edge. But give me Penn State in the White Out.
Prediction: Win (6-0)
AT MICHIGAN
Much as Penn State has an advantage being at home against USC, Michigan has home field advantage hosting Penn State in “The Big House.” Under first-year coach Kyle Whittingham and second-year QB Bryce Underwood, Michigan could well go into this matchup 5-0 and ranked. It’s hard to beat a ranked team on the road.
Prediction: Loss (6–1)
PURDUE
Purdue might finish last in the Big Ten. A trip to Penn State won’t help it avoid that.
Prediction: Win (7-1)
AT WASHINGTON
It’s hard to travel across the country and win, let alone against a top 20 team, which Washington could well be. If this game were at Beaver Stadium, maybe it’s a different story.
Prediction: Loss (7-2)
MINNESOTA
Minnesota probably won’t be a top 25 team, and Penn State will be happy to be back at home.
Prediction: Win (8-2)
RUTGERS
Rutgers winning in Happy Valley? I don’t think so.
Prediction: Win 9-2
AT MARYLAND
Maryland is expected to be a run-of-the-mill program in 2026, and if things go slightly worse than that, Penn State might be the last team Maryland plays in the Mike Locksley era.
Locksley has only beaten Penn State during the COVID season, and it’s hard to see him doing it again six years later.
Prediction: Win
Final Record: 10-2
If Penn State goes 10-2, will it make the College Football Playoff? Maybe. The bad thing about having a schedule that doesn’t include Ohio State, Indiana or Oregon is that there isn’t much room for “signature wins.”
A win over USC would help, as will Penn State’s national reputation. But if this year goes the way I think, Penn State will be sweating come CFP selection day.
Which, of course, is better than playing in the Pinstripe Bowl.
