The 2026 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents Pennsylvania State University in the Big Ten Conference during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Nittany Lions are led by head coach Matt Campbell, who is in his 1st year with the team. They play their home games at Beaver Stadium located in College Township, Pennsylvania with a University Park mailing address.
Schedule
Rankings
Preseason Big Ten media poll
Game summaries vs Marshall
Statistics MRSH PSU First downs 11 25 Plays–yards 54–147 72–487 Rushes–yards 26–44 45–163 Passing yards 103 324 Passing: –– 19–28–1 20–27–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 23:47 36:13 Team Category Player Statistics Marshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 17/25, 102 yards Rushing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 13 carries, 30 yards Receiving Toby Payne 8 receptions, 55 yards Penn State Passing Rocco Becht 13/18, 271 yards, 4 TD Rushing Carson Hansen 11 carries, 48 yards Receiving Koby Howard 6 receptions, 161 yards, TD
at Temple
Statistics PSUTEM First downs 23 14 Plays–yards 61–416 55–283 Rushes–yards 34–148 33–176 Passing yards 268 107 Passing: –– 21–27–0 13–22–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 28:49 31:11 Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Rocco Becht 21/27, 268 yards, 3 TD Rushing Carson Hansen 19 carries, 84 yards Receiving Benjamin Brahmer 5 receptions, 79 yards, 2 TD Temple Passing Jaxon Smolik 10/16, 59 yards, INT Rushing Keveun Mason 14 carries, 76 yards Receiving Jayce Freeman 1 reception, 39 yards
vs Buffalo
Statistics BUFF PSU First downs 13 25 Plays–yards 63–173 67–573 Rushes–yards 38–113 41–304 Passing yards 60 269 Passing: –– 10–25–0 15–26–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 28:37 31:23 Team Category Player Statistics Buffalo Passing Jason Wright 10/25, 60 yards Rushing James McNeil Jr. 20 carries, 80 yards, TD Receiving Chance Morrow 2 receptions, 31 yards Penn State Passing Rocco Becht 11/19, 212 yards, 2 TD Rushing Quinton Martin Jr. 10 carries, 100 yards Receiving Koby Howard 3 receptions, 115 yards, TD
vs Wisconsin
Statistics WIS PSU First downs 18 12 Plays–yards 66–355 65–233 Rushes–yards 28–120 36–119 Passing yards 235 114 Passing: –– 18–38–3 12–29–1 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 29:34 30:26 Team Category Player Statistics Wisconsin Passing Colton Joseph 18/38, 235 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Darrion Dupree 8 carries, 52 yards Receiving Jacob Harris 5 receptions, 105 yards, TD Penn State Passing Rocco Becht 12/29, 114 yards, INT Rushing James Peoples 14 carries, 67 yards Receiving Chase Sowell 6 receptions, 70 yards
at Northwestern
Statistics PSUNU First downs 20 25 Plays–yards 63–291 69–506 Rushes–yards 22–48 55–413 Passing yards 243 93 Passing: –– 26–41–2 10–14–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 23:55 36:05 Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Rocco Becht 26/41, 243 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Carson Hansen 4 carries, 19 yards, TD Receiving Chase Sowell 5 receptions, 68 yards, TD Northwestern Passing Aidan Chiles 10/14, 93 yards Rushing Caleb Komolafe 25 carries, 188 yards, TD Receiving Griffin Wilde 2 receptions, 36 yards
vs No. 19 USC
Personnel Roster
Transfers Outgoing Bekkem KritzaQBAlabama A&MAntoine Belgrave-ShorterSArizona StateJ'ven WilliamsOTCharlotteElliot Washington IICBClemsonSam SiafaDLDelawareOwen WafleDLDukeEagan BoyerOTFloridaTJ Shanahan Jr.IOLFloridaA. J. HarrisCBIndianaAlex BirchmeierIOLLibertyJosiah BrownWRLIUBrady O'HaraIOLMonmouthKing MackSNC StateDaKaari NelsonLBNC StateJaylen HarveyEDGENorth CarolinaEnai WhiteDLOklahoma StateAndrew OleshTEOregonAnthony SpecaLBPurdueAnthony IveyWRSan Jose StateJabree ColemanRBSouth CarolinaKaden SaundersWRSouthern MissMatt OuttenWRSyracuseKaleb ArtisDLTempleKolin DinkinsSTempleJoey SchlafferTETempleJaxon SmolikQBTempleAmare CampbellLBTennesseeChaz ColemanDETennesseeXavier GilliamDLTennesseeDejuan LaneSTennesseeKari JacksonLBToledoCorey SmithRBToledoZuriah FisherDEUSCRandy AdirikaDLVirginia TechTyseer DenmarkWRVirginia TechJeff Exinor Jr.WRVirginia TechEthan GrunkemeyerQBVirginia TechCortez HarrisEDGEVirginia TechMatt HendersonTEVirginia TechDaniel JenningsEDGEVirginia TechLuke ReynoldsTEVirginia TechMichael Troutman IIIIOLVirginia TechMylachi WilliamsEDGEVirginia TechKenny Woseley Jr.CBVirginia TechKeon WylieLBVirginia TechTikey HayesRBUnknownLamont Payne Jr.SUnknown
Incoming Omarion DavisSBoston CollegeConnor BarryQBChristopher NewportAlexander McPhersonEDGEColoradoKeith Jones Jr.WRGrambling StateCooper AlexanderTEIowa StateCaleb BaconLBIowa StateRocco BechtQBIowa StateBenjamin BrahmerTEIowa StateCael BrezinaLBIowa StateKaron BrookinsWRIowa StateTrevor BuhrIOLIowa StateGabe BurkleTEIowa StateAlijah CarnellDLIowa StateJeremiah CooperSIowa StateKooper EbelLBIowa StateBrett EskildsenWRIowa StateIkenna EzeoguDLIowa StateCarson HansenRBIowa StateVaea IkakoulaIOLIowa StateJohn KlostermanLBIowa StateKuol Kuol IIOTIowa StateAlex ManskeQBIowa StateMarcus Neal Jr.SIowa StateJamison PattonSIowa StateZay RobinsonWRIowa StateChase SowellWRIowa StateHunter SowellSIowa StateWill TompkinsOTIowa StateNathan TiycePMississippi StateJames PeoplesRBOhio StateArmstrong NnodimDLOklahoma StateIbn McDanielsCBSyracuseBrock RikerIOLTexas StateTyshon HuffIOLTiffinSiale TaupakiDLUCLAKeanu WilliamsDLUCLADallas VakalahiDLUtahChris FileppoSWest Virginia
References