The college football media day frenzy shifts its focus on the Big Ten this week in Chicago, and Penn State will be in the spotlight on the first day of the event. Head coach Matt Campbell and a handful of player representatives will meet with the media on Tuesday to discuss the upcoming season. Naturally, Penn State’s 2026 season will be worth discussing as it is the first under Campbell and the roster has been completely overhauled with a significant amount of transfer portal activity. So what exactly should be expected of Penn State this season?
While the Penn State media has had opportunities to get to know the new roster a bit, as well as the coaching staff, this will be the first time Campbell and his player representatives will meet the broader Big Ten and national media. With that will come some familiar questions about the direction of the program and the expectations for the 2026 season.
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Here are five questions to ask about Penn State in 2026 that may come up during Big Ten media days this week.
What will define success for Penn State in 2026?
A year ago, Penn State was billed as a Big Ten and national championship favorite, but that obviously did not pan out. Thus, James Franklin was fired and Matt Campbell was hired to get the ship sailing back in the right direction. The national expectations are quite lower for Penn State this year, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore the possibility of playing for a Big Ten title or a spot in the College Football Playoff, right?
It will be interesting to hear how Campbell and his players will define success this season. Expect to hear about team chemistry and player development as they reset the culture of the program more so than hoisting any hardware at the end of the season.
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Is Penn State still a College Football Playoff program?
Penn State is entering this season as a bit of a wild card team because nobody really knows just what the Nittany Lions may be capable of doing this season. Penn State lost a number of players to the transfer portal, many ending up at Virginia Tech with James Franklin, but there could be some stability with the roster thanks to the significant number of players coming over from Iowa State. Key players on the roster will know exactly what the game plan is under Campbell’s staff, and some notable players do return this season, including linebacker Tony Rojas.
With the schedule in front of Penn State in 2026, a good start to the year is entirely within reason, and going 1-1 against Michigan and USC in back-to-back weeks could be enough to keep Penn State in the hunt for a spot in the playoff. And, potentially, the Big Ten championship race. Remember that Penn State does not face Ohio State, Oregon, or Indiana in the regular season this year, but games against Michigan, USC, and Washington could stand in the way of Penn State and any hopes of a spot in the playoff.
Does Penn State have wide receivers?
One of the biggest shortcomings for Penn State over the years that has kept them from taking the next step has been the wide receiver position. This is once again a fair question entering the 2026 season.
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There are some good additions from the transfer portal with Brett Eskildsen and Chase Sowell, but the focus may be more on the younger options continuing to develop. That includes Koby Howard, Amarion Jackson, and Karon Bookins. Wide receivers coach Kashif Moore will take on the responsibility of getting this position to thrive for starting quarterback Rocco Becht to get maximum results.
What’s the biggest concern on defense?
Penn State generally has a good feeling about its defense, but there are some legitimate questions going into 2026. Tony Rojas is returning from a season-ending injury, and Max Granville is coming off a torn ACL. Both players are obvious key cogs for the success of the defense, with Rojas anchoring things in the middle of the field and Granville with a high ceiling and a healthy outlook. Newcomers like Armstrong Nnodim and safety Marcus Neal Jr. will also be notable additions. How quickly will this all come together for new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn?
Who handles the running game’s top role?
Penn State was fortunate to have a dynamic running back duo the last few years with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytorn Allen. Both players have moved on to the NFL, which means it is time to reset the running back position. The 2026 season will likely rely on new additions Carson Hensen, a transfer from Iowa State, and James Peoples (transfer from Ohio State) to fill the void this fall. But the hope is that a player like Quinton Martin Jr. or Cam Wallace emerges as well.
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Kevin McGuire is the lead writer for Nittany Lions Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on BlueSky, Threads or any of these other platforms.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: 5 questions for Penn State at Big Ten football media day
