Penn State is set to open a new era in familiar territory: ranked in the preseason AP Poll.
The Nittany Lions landed at No. 18 in the first AP rankings of the year, giving them a spot in the preseason top 25 for the fourth straight season. It also means Penn State will be ranked when it takes the field for the first time under Matt Campbell.
Penn State checks in as the seventh-highest Big Ten team in the poll, trailing No. 1 Ohio State, No.
2 Oregon, No. 6 Indiana, No.
14 USC, No. 16 Michigan and No.
17 Washington. The Nittany Lions were slotted just behind Washington and ahead of the rest of the conference field.
The schedule lines up with plenty of ranked opponents in front of Penn State. The Nittany Lions will meet the three teams directly above them - USC, Michigan and Washington - but avoid the top three Big Ten teams in Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana.
Penn State was ranked No. 17 in the coaches poll released in early August, so the AP result keeps the program in the same general neighborhood heading into the season.
That’s a different look from where things ended a year ago. Penn State finished unranked after beginning last season at No. 2, then moved on from James Franklin after six games. The Nittany Lions still closed with a 7-6 record and a Pinstripe Bowl win over Clemson.
Campbell arrives after Iowa State went 8-4 last season but did not play in a bowl game. The Cyclones started 2025 at No. 22 in the AP Poll before dropping out of the top 25 by season’s end.
In Other News...
Penn State Faces A Lineup Dilemma No Other Wrestling Power Has
Penn States fall lineup puzzle has landed in the middle of its deepest weight classes, and 157 pounds is suddenly one of the most intriguing decisions on the roster. The Nittany Lions have enough high-end talent to make the choice complicated, with Tyler Kasak coming off a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships and freshman PJ Duke arriving with the kind of reputation that has already pushed him to No. 1 in the preseason rankings at the weight.
The challenge for the coaching staff is that this is not a simple matter of sliding someone elsewhere and opening a spot. Penn State has limited flexibility to shuffle wrestlers into other classes, and the situation could become even more crowded if Levi Haines returns. For a program that usually has more answers than questions by this point in the year, this is the rare case where its depth is creating a decision it cannot easily avoid. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Are About To See A Different Beaver Stadium
Beaver Stadium is in the middle of a massive transformation, and Penn State fans are going to notice the changes well before kickoff. The $700 million renovation is replacing temporary steel bleachers with permanent concrete upper-bowl seating, while also adding more club space, luxury suites and loge boxes as the stadium is reshaped for the long haul. Athletic director Pat Kraft said the project remains on schedule, which is a key point for a fan base that has watched the venue evolve in real time.
The bigger question now is what the finished building will feel like on Saturdays in Happy Valley. The renovation is designed to increase the stadiums height and capacity, and the final number could put Beaver Stadium in rare air among college football venues. For Penn State, it is not just about modern amenities or premium seating. It is about whether one of the sports most intimidating settings is about to become even more imposing. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Suddenly Has An Early Recruiting Concern Fans Will Notice
Penn States early recruiting picture picked up an unexpected wrinkle when 2028 commit Deonte Flemings Jr. said he is planning game day visits to several other programs. For a staff in the middle of fall camp, that is the kind of development fans notice quickly, especially with the Nittany Lions sorting through position changes and player evaluations as they build toward the season.
The timing adds another layer to a week that has already included Peyton Falzones move from quarterback to tight end, James Peoples drawing attention for his blocking, Drew Allar making his first NFL preseason appearance and Kooper Ebel landing on the Butkus Award watch list. Flemings situation does not change Penn States on-field preparations, but it does give the recruiting side of the program an early storyline to monitor. [Read more 🡒]