Penn State football may still be more than seven months away from kicking off its first season under new head coach Matt Campbell, but the program is already reshaping its future. The Nittany Lions have made a tweak to their 2027 non-conference schedule, swapping out Delaware in favor of Maine for a September 11 matchup at Beaver Stadium.
This change marks a notable shift, especially considering that Penn State and Delaware had previously met in 2023 - a game that ended in a dominant 63-7 win for the Nittany Lions. That was the first-ever meeting between the two programs, and it was set to be followed by a rematch in 2027. But both sides have now agreed to cancel the game, with Delaware releasing a statement confirming the mutual decision.
When the matchup was originally scheduled back in 2018, Delaware was still competing at the FCS level. Fast forward to now, and the Blue Hens have made the jump to FBS, joining Conference USA and finishing the 2025 season with a 7-6 record, capped off by a bowl victory. Instead of heading to Happy Valley, Delaware will now travel to face Illinois - another Big Ten opponent - on the same weekend.
According to reports, Delaware and Penn State worked together to find a suitable replacement, with Delaware covering the difference in the financial guarantee. That cooperation helped Penn State land a new opponent in Maine, setting up a first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Maine, still competing at the FCS level in the Coastal Athletic Association, is coming off a 6-6 season - their best under head coach Jordan Stevens, who has been at the helm since 2022. The Black Bears now join Syracuse (Sept. 4) and Temple (Sept. 18) as Penn State’s non-conference opponents in 2027, with all three games set to be played at Beaver Stadium.
As always, those three non-conference tilts will serve as the lead-in to a grueling Big Ten slate. Penn State plays nine conference games each year, and while the full 2026 Big Ten schedule is still a week away from being released, we already know the opponents: Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers, USC, Washington, and Wisconsin. That’s a mix of traditional powers and rising programs, and it underscores why scheduling balance in the non-conference portion is so important.
Looking ahead to 2026, Penn State’s non-conference schedule features home games against Marshall (Sept. 5) and Buffalo (Sept. 19), along with a road trip to Temple (Sept. 12).
Then in 2028, the Nittany Lions will host Ball State (Sept. 2) and UMass (Sept. 16), while completing a home-and-home series with Syracuse on the road (Sept. 9).
The broader strategy here is clear: like many Power Five programs, Penn State is being deliberate about crafting a non-conference schedule that sets them up for success. In today’s college football landscape - where a single early-season loss can derail playoff hopes - programs are walking a tightrope between competitive matchups and winnable games.
Under former head coach James Franklin, Penn State handled that balance well. The Nittany Lions won 25 straight regular-season non-conference games, a streak that stretches all the way back to a 2016 road loss at Pittsburgh. At home, they’ve been even more dominant, winning 31 straight non-conference games at Beaver Stadium since a 2013 defeat to Central Florida.
Last season was more of the same. Penn State steamrolled Nevada, Florida International, and Villanova by a combined score of 132-17. That kind of dominance not only builds early-season momentum but also protects the team's playoff positioning heading into the tougher Big Ten schedule.
So while a switch from Delaware to Maine might seem like a minor calendar update, it’s part of a much bigger picture. Penn State is building a schedule that balances preparation, opportunity, and playoff viability - and with a new era under Matt Campbell on the horizon, every move counts.