Ranking Penn State’s 2026 schedule from least to most interesting game

Penn State football is going to be a fascinating team to watch in 2026 if only because predicting their success is a bit more challenging this season than most. Matt Campbell takes over as head coach, and he has reworked the roster in a. massive way following a large amount of transfer portal activity during the offseason. To some, Penn State may look like Iowa State with the number of players that followed Campbell and many of his staff members to Happy Valley. The new-look Nittany Lions may benefit from the influx of Iowa State players and coaches to form an identity fairly quickly, but Penn State may also benefit from the schedule if it is aiming for a quick rebound season.

Penn State’s schedule for 2026 remarkably misses out on matchups with the three Big Ten teams that participated in the College Football Playoff each of the past two seasons (Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon), but that does not mean there are no challenges to be presented this fall. Penn State takes two road trips into tough venues with Michigan and Washington, and there could be a potential problem with a Friday night game in Northwestern’s brand new stadium. Penn State also hosts USC this fall, which makes a case for the most interesting game on Penn State’s 2026 schedule. But is it the most interesting matchup?

Here is a ranking of Penn State’s schedule based on the amount of interest each game will generate, starting wiht the least interesting games on the schedule.

12. Buffalo, Sept. 19

Of the three non-conference games on the schedule in September, the third one against Buffalo later in the month appears to be the least interesting of the bunch. By the time this game comes up, Penn State’s new look should be falling into place just before conference play opens, and there may be a lack of genuine storylines to care about in this matchup.

11. Purdue, Oct. 31

The least interesting Big Ten game on Penn State’s schedule is a home game against lowly Purdue on Halloween. Penn State will be coming out of a bye week so there could be some interest in seeing how Matt Campbell has his team coming out of the bye for the first time, but that may be just about all there is to explore in this matchup. At least there should be some fun costumes in the stands of Beaver Stadium.

10. at Maryland, Nov. 28

Penn State’s final game of the season could be toward the bottom on the interest meter this year if history is any indication. Penn State has a recent history of blowing out the Terrapins at the end of the regular season, but we will see if that trend continues. The variable here is that Penn State could potentially be fighting for a spot in the College Football Playoff. If it comes to that, then the interest level in this game goes up significantly.

9. Marshall, September 5

The season opener breaks in the Matt Campbell era of Penn State football. Being the season opener and the head coaching debut in Happy Valley for Campbell gives this game a decent amount of interest right off the bat. Penn State will have a drastically new look with an overhauled roster and new faces in key roles all across the roster. This could be a good tone-setting opportunity for the new-look Nittany Lions.

8. at Temple, Sept. 12

Immediately after kicking off the season at home, Matt Campbell take shis team on the road for the first time in Week 2. Penn State makes the trip to Philadelphia to take on the Temple Owls in what should be a favorable matchup. But similar to the first game of the season, this is the first chance to see this new-look roster play on the road. There should be a healthy Penn State contingent in the stands to bring a whiteout energy to Philly, though.

7. Rutgers, Nov. 21

Thes elate-season games against Rutgers have tended to be slogfests the last few years, and that could still be the case again this fall. But this game in particular draws some interest because Penn State could be in a position to make a push for a spot in the College Football Playoff if things go well this season up to this point. This will be the final home game of the regular season.

6. Minnesota, Nov. 14

At this point in the season, Penn State will likely have played through its toughest games on the schedule, so this will be about finding a way to finish off the regular season with some momentum. The Gophers are always a bit of a wild card opponent, so Penn State will have to be on its toes in this home game with the Governor’s Victory Bell on the line.

5. Wisconsin, Sept. 26

Penn State opens Big Ten play at home with the Wisconsin Badgers coming to town. Both programs are in search of a tone-setter in Big Ten play with Penn State under new head coach Matt Campbell and Luke Fickell looking to get a much-needed rebound season going in Madison. Both programs could use a win in Big Ten play here to get things off on the right foot.

4. at Northwestern, Oct. 2

Call it a revenge game if you wish, although this year’s Penn State team will be much different than the one that lost to the Wildcats at home last season (which directly led to the in-season coaching change that ignited a massive reworking of the program for 2026). What makes this game interesting is that it is Penn State’s first road Big Ten game, and it is the grand opening of the brand new Ryan Field in Evanston. The game was moved to Friday night to draw a little more attention to the first game Northwestern will play in its new football home for the first time in a couple of years.

3. at Washington, Nov. 7

Some might argue this will be Penn State’s toughest road test of the season, and there is a valid case to be made for that stance. A cross-country trip to the Pacific Northwest to play Washington in one of the more challenging road environments the Big Ten has to offer will be quite a test for the Nittany Lions to start off November. Penn State has never lost to Washington, but a trip to Seattle will not be easy.

2. USC, Oct. 10

You could make a case for a home game against USC as the most interesting game. onthe schedule, and perhaps that could. bethe case by the time this game comes around. The Trojans have loaded up the roster on the recruiting trail and have worked the transfer portal to have a team many feel is ready for a push to the College Football Playoff in 2026. But this is a slam-dunk option for Penn State’s whiteout game and will be the home game with the most anticipation among fans. This could be a big swing game for Penn State’s College Football Playoff hopes as well.

1. at Michigan, Oct. 17

The road trip to Michigan is always going to be circled on my calendar, because it has been a true hurdle for Penn State over the years. Michigan is a team I am genuinely curious about this season as Kyle Whittingham takes over the program to command some instant credibility and respect, and the Wolverines’ roster was already going to make for. atough matchup for Penn State. The Michigan defense will pose problems, and we will see how much quarterback Bryce Underwood improves in his second year.

This game, and the USC game the week before, will be the true litmus test for this year’s Penn State squad. A road win in Ann Arbor would be massive for the Nittany Lions, and a sweep of USC and Michigan would likely thrust Penn State squarely into the Big Ten championship hunt.

Here is Penn State’s full 2026 football schedule. Check out the ranking of Penn State’s schedule based on degree of difficulty.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Ranking Penn State’s 2026 schedule from least to most interesting game

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