Penn State’s 2026 football schedule just dropped, and let’s just say: for Matt Campbell, it’s about as favorable an opening slate as a first-year head coach could ask for in the Big Ten. That’s not to say it’s a walk in the park-this is still Power Five football-but compared to the gauntlet Penn State ran in 2025, this year’s path looks a little more manageable.
The three marquee matchups on the schedule? Week 6 at home against USC, Week 7 on the road at Michigan, and Week 10 at Washington. That’s a tough trio, no doubt, but when you stack it up against last year’s stretch that included Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, and a physical Iowa squad, it feels like the Nittany Lions might have caught a break.
Early Momentum Could Be Everything
For Campbell, who takes over a program hungry to get over the hump in the Big Ten, the early part of the season is critical. There’s a real chance Penn State could be undefeated heading into its Week 8 bye.
That’s not a prediction-it’s just a reflection of the schedule. But there’s also a world where they hit that break with one or even two losses, especially with back-to-back battles against USC and Michigan looming in Weeks 6 and 7.
And that Michigan game? Circle it.
Highlight it. Bookmark it.
It’s the one that’s going to tell us a lot about where this team really stands.
A Big Stage in Ann Arbor
The Wolverines have tabbed Penn State as their Homecoming opponent for 2026, setting up a high-stakes showdown in one of college football’s most iconic venues. The game is set for Saturday, Oct. 17, though kickoff time hasn’t been announced yet.
With Ohio State playing at Indiana at noon that day, there’s a strong chance this one lands in the 3:30 p.m. ET slot-or even gets the primetime treatment.
And here’s the kicker: both programs are breaking in new head coaches. Campbell on the Penn State sideline, and Kyle Whittingham now leading the charge at Michigan. That alone adds an extra layer of intrigue to what’s already shaping up to be a pivotal Big Ten clash.
Michigan will be coming off a bye week, giving Whittingham and his staff extra time to prepare. Penn State, on the other hand, will be fresh off what should be a physical test against USC in Happy Valley. That’s not an ideal setup for the Nittany Lions, especially with Michigan Stadium waiting on the other side.
Midseason Measuring Stick
That Week 7 trip to Ann Arbor isn’t just another game-it’s a midseason checkpoint. It’s the last game before Penn State’s bye, and it could serve as a defining moment for Campbell’s first season.
Win it, and the Nittany Lions could be riding a wave of momentum into the back stretch. Lose it, and the pressure ratchets up heading into a tough road trip to Washington just a few weeks later.
So far, Penn State hasn’t announced which games will feature their signature themes-like the White Out, Stripe Out, or their own Homecoming-but those details should surface soon. Michigan, for its part, hasn’t revealed the rest of its themed home games either.
But one thing is already clear: Week 7 is going to be a spotlight moment. Two storied programs, two new head coaches, and one massive opportunity to make a statement in the Big Ten. For Matt Campbell and Penn State, it’s the kind of early-season test that could set the tone for everything that follows.