Penn State football will be an intriguing team to watch in 2026, as predicting their success this season is more challenging than most teams. Matt Campbell took over as head coach and he revamped the roster. Huge way after a lot of transfer portal activity during the offseason. To some, Penn State may look like Iowa State because of the number of players who followed Campbell and many of his staff to Happy Valley. The new-look Nittany Lions could benefit from an influx of Iowa State players and coaches to form their identity quickly, but Penn State could also benefit from a schedule if its goal is a quick bounce-back season.
Penn State’s 2026 schedule noticeably misses matchups with the three Big Ten teams that have competed in the College Football Playoff the past two seasons (Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon State), but that doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges this fall. Penn State has two road trips against Michigan and Washington heading to tough venues that could present potential issues for Friday night’s game at Northwestern’s brand-new stadium. Penn State will also host USC this fall, setting the stage for the most interesting game on Penn State’s 2026 schedule. But is this the most interesting matchup?
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Here’s a ranking of Penn State’s schedule, based on the level of interest each game generates, starting with the least interesting games on the schedule.
12. Buffalo, September 19
Of the three non-division games on the September schedule, Game 3 against Buffalo later this month appears to be the least interesting of them all. When this game begins, Penn State’s new look should be in place before conference play begins, and there may be a lack of real storylines to watch in this game.
11. Purdue University, October 31
The ten least interesting games on Penn State’s schedule are Halloween’s home game against lowly Purdue. Penn State is coming off a bye week, so there might be some interest in seeing how Matt Campbell gets his team out of its bye for the first time, but that’s probably all there will be to explore in this game. At least there should be some interesting costumes in the stands at Beaver Stadium.
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10. November 28, Maryland
If history is any indication, Penn State’s final game of the season could end up at the bottom of the year’s interest sheet. Penn State has a recent history of beating the Terrapins at the end of the regular season, but we’ll see if that trend continues. The variable here is that Penn State could be competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff. If this is the case, then the interest in this game will be greatly increased.
9. Marshall, September 5
The season opener capped off the Matt Campbell era of Penn State football. As Campbell’s season opener and head coach’s debut in Happy Valley, the game generated immediate interest. Penn State will have a new look, an overhaul of the roster, and new faces in key roles on the roster. This could be a great tone-setting opportunity for the new-look Nittany Lions.
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8. Sept. 12 at Temple
After starting the season at home, Matt Campbell took the team on the road for the first time in Week 2. Penn State travels 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 lineup play on the road. There should be a healthy Penn State team in the stands, though, bringing some white energy to Philadelphia.
7. Rutgers University, November 21
The late-season game against Rutgers has tended to be a tough one in past years, and that may still be the case this fall. But this game in particular has sparked some interest because if all goes well so far this season, Penn State could be in a position to push for a spot in the College Football Playoff. This will be the last home game of the regular season.
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6. Minnesota, November 14
At this point in the season, Penn State may have finished its toughest game on the schedule, so it will be about finding a way to end 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 Governors’ victory bell just around the corner.
5. Wisconsin, September 26
Penn State opens Big Ten play at home and the Wisconsin Badgers are in town. Both programs, under new head coaches Matt Campbell and Luke Fickell, are looking for a tone-setter heading into the Big Ten game against Penn State in hopes of a much-needed bounce-back season in Madison. Both programs could use a win here in Big Ten play to get things rolling.
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4. October 2, Northwestern University
Call it a revenge game if you will, although this year’s Penn State team will be much different than the one that lost to the Wildcats at home last season (which led directly to an in-season coaching change, triggering massive revisions to the 2026 schedule). What’s interesting about this game is that it’s Penn State’s first road Big Ten game and the grand opening of Evanston’s new Ryan Field. The game was moved to Friday night to draw more attention to Northwestern’s first game in its new football home in several years.
3. November 7 in Washington
Some may say this will be Penn State’s toughest road test of the season, and there’s good reason for that stance. Starting in November, a cross-country trip to the Pacific Northwest to play Washington in one of the Big Ten’s most challenging road environments will be quite a test for the Nittany Lions. Penn State has never lost to Washington, but the trip to Seattle won’t be easy.
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2. University of Southern California, October 10
You could argue that the home game against USC is the most interesting game. On a schedule, maybe. That will be the case when this game comes around. The Trojans have made additions to their recruiting roster and worked their way through the transfer portal to land a team that many believe is ready for the 2026 College Football Playoff. But it’s a great option for Penn State’s whiteout and will be the most anticipated home game for fans. This could also be a major swing game for Penn State’s College Football Playoff hopes.
1. Michigan, October 17
A road trip to Michigan will always be on my calendar as it has been a real roadblock for Penn State over the years. Michigan State is a team I’m really interested in this season because Kyle Whittingham took over the program and immediately gained some credibility and respect, and the Wolverines have a roster that’s ready to go. A tough game for Penn State. Michigan’s defense is going to cause problems, and we’ll see how much quarterback Bryce Underwood improves in year two.
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This game, along with the USC game the week before, will be a true litmus test for this year’s Penn State team. A road win in Ann Arbor would be huge for the Nittany Lions, while sweeps of USC and Michigan would likely push Penn State directly into the Big Ten title game.
Here’s Penn State’s complete 2026 football schedule. Check out Penn State’s schedule rankings based on difficulty level.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State’s 2026 schedule ranked from least interesting to most interesting games
