Big Ten Media Days are almost here, and Penn State is set to take the stage on Tuesday, July 8. That means the spotlight is about to swing toward a new era in Happy Valley, with plenty of questions waiting for head coach Matt Campbell, quarterback Rocco Becht, and the rest of the Nittany Lions.
The biggest talking points are easy to spot. Fall camp position battles will matter.
So will what Year 1 looks like under Campbell. Becht’s role leading the offense will draw attention, too, along with the broader question of how Penn State gets off to a strong start in this new chapter.
There’s uncertainty around how the season will unfold and how Campbell will shape the program over time, but there’s also clear excitement about the new faces on the field and on the staff.
That new-look Penn State setup is already creating buzz beyond campus, too. Over the weekend, former Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar signed his rookie contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The third-round pick, No. 78 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, now has his NFL home and will continue working with quarterbacks coach Tom Arth.
Allar and Arth already know each other well, dating back to their time in Ohio when Allar was a high school freshman. For now, the relationship is built on trust and work ethic, and the Steelers will find out whether that familiarity helps Allar keep climbing toward his potential.
Penn State’s former players are also making noise in other places. Second-year tight end Tyler Warren was the highest-ranked former Nittany Lion in Pro Football Focus’ list of the top 32 tight ends heading into the season. Warren landed in the top 10 with names like Kansas City’s Travis Kelce, Buffalo Bills’ Dalton Kincaid, and Arizona Cardinals’ Trey McBride.
The rest of the former Penn State tight ends at Tight End University included Brenton Strange at No. 11, Juwan Johnson at No.
18, Pat Freiermuth at No. 20, Mike Gesicki at No. 26, and Theo Johnson at No.
Back in State College, one transfer is positioned to make a real name for himself. Campbell brought in a large batch of transfers this offseason, with most of them coming from Iowa State, and much of the attention has gone to the offense.
Becht, tight end Benjamin Brahmer, and running back Carson Hansen have all been part of that conversation. But safety Jeremiah Cooper is the defensive addition worth keeping an eye on.
Cooper may not be the most talked-about safety on the roster, but he has a chance to rise fast. In The Big Ten Huddle’s preseason Top 100 rankings, he was the highest-ranked Penn State player and the only one in the top half of the list, checking in at No. 22.
He also enters his final season of eligibility, which makes him a one-and-done for Penn State. Still, he has a chance to leave a strong mark and give Campbell something to build on going forward.
Not every player on the roster is in that same position. For those eligible to return after the 2026 season, several names are already being watched as likely transfer candidates after the year: running back Cam Wallace, quarterback Peyton Falzone, defensive lineman Liam Andrews, offensive tackle Garrett Sexton, and offensive lineman Chimdy Odoh.
The reasoning is straightforward enough. Some players have not produced much.
Others may not fit the staff’s preferred size and measurements. And some simply don’t have the same connections with the coaches that other players do.
In a new era, roster turnover is part of the deal.
Penn State’s first-year schedule also gives Campbell a real opening. Michigan, USC, and Washington are the toughest opponents on the 2026 slate, and the draw sets up a path that could work in his favor.
“The opportunity is there to reach 10 wins if all the new pieces mesh,” Cody Nagel of CBS Sports wrote. “After last year's abrupt end to the James Franklin era, expectations have been reset, but the pieces are in place for a substantial jump in the win column.”
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Penn State Already Has 5 Players Facing Transfer Pressure Under Matt Campbell
Penn States roster turnover did not stop when James Franklin left for Matt Campbell, and the next wave of movement could come after the season rather than during it. The 2026 roster is set for now, but fall camp and the next transfer portal cycle will tell a lot about which players are still in the long-term plans and which ones are already staring at an uphill climb on the depth chart.
A handful of names stand out as the most vulnerable because of where they sit in the roster pecking order, how much eligibility they have left and how well they fit what Campbell and his staff want to build. That includes players such as Chimdy Onoh and Liam Andrews, while the quarterback room and a few other crowded spots could keep the pressure on as Penn State settles into the new era. [Read more 🡒]
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Penn State has leaned on the tradition in some of its biggest moments ever since, including a College Football Playoff win in the 2024-25 season, and the event remains one of the most anticipated dates on the calendar. The record has been strong enough to keep the White Outs reputation intact, and the next chapter keeps building on a tradition that already feels larger than the game itself. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Adds Iowa State Tight End To A Room That Matters
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Alexander appeared in 11 games last season and finished with five catches for 47 yards, but his usage also reflected the kind of workload that can translate well in Happy Valley. His size and experience fit the way Penn State has leaned on the position under coordinator Taylor Mouser, and now the question is how quickly he can turn that profile into a defined role once he gets on campus. [Read more 🡒]