With Penn State on a bye, the spotlight shifted to the rest of the program’s fall and winter landscape - and there was plenty to sort through in Happy Valley.
The football team is sitting at 3-4 after a Week 7 loss at Michigan and is still looking for its first Big Ten win. Men’s hockey has stumbled out of the gate as well, going 0-4 in its first four games before a home series against Canisius and the start of conference play. On the other side of the ledger, women’s volleyball is 13-5 overall and 5-3 in Big Ten action, field hockey has surged to 10-4 with a seven-game winning streak, and women’s ice hockey is above .500 at 5-3 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten.
One of the biggest updates came from the volleyball program, where middle blocker Ryla Jones remains sidelined. After Penn State split its West Coast trip - losing to UCLA before beating USC - head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley said Jones has not been cleared to return. Jones had been expected back this weekend against Oregon and Indiana after suffering a knee injury when she collided with a teammate against Michigan State.
Penn State will now face those ranked opponents without one of its key transfers. Jones came over from Pittsburgh after the 2025-26 season and has posted 55 kills, 45 total blocks - seven solo and 38 assists - along with 21 digs and 10 aces in 37 matches for the Nittany Lions.
The women’s basketball program also put its 2026-27 promotional slate into the public view on Wednesday morning. Penn State opens the season at home against Cleveland State on Nov. 2, following an exhibition game the week before. The schedule includes 14 more promotional games, with nine coming against Big Ten opponents.
Conference home play begins against Purdue on Dec. 29.
The Pride game is set for Rutgers on Jan. 8, 2027, followed by a White Out for Ohio State on Jan. 31, 2027 and a Pink Zone game against Michigan on Feb. 7, 2027.
Penn State closes the season at home against Wisconsin on Feb. 28, 2027, and that night will also serve as Senior Night.
There was also movement off the field in recruiting, as Maryland’s decision to fire Mike Locksley on Wednesday created new openings for Penn State. Matt Campbell’s recruiting efforts, especially in the 2027 class, have not been particularly strong so far. The Nittany Lions currently hold 21 commitments, including six four-star prospects, but wide receiver has remained a tough area in battles against other Power Four programs.
Josh Yourish pointed to four 2027 targets who could fit Penn State’s profile: three-star quarterback William Jackson, three-star defensive lineman Jayden Agberodiola, four-star safety Kenaz Sullivan and four-star wide receiver Myles McAfee.
In Other News...
Penn State May Be Facing Another Costly Recruiting Blow
Penn States 2027 recruiting class has already taken some hits, and the latest concern centers on a prospect who looked relatively firm not long ago. Three-star linebacker Blake Betton, one of Minnesotas top prospects, committed to the Nittany Lions in April and was back on campus for a recent visit, but his name has now surfaced in connection with a possible flip to Wisconsin. His situation comes in the wake of quarterback Will Woods de-commitment and move to Boston College, a reminder that even early pledges can get complicated quickly in the current recruiting climate.
For Penn State, the concern is not just about losing another name, but about how these decisions get shaped by the usual mix of geography, finances and on-field outlook. Linebacker has long been a position the Nittany Lions can sell with confidence, but when a prospect is from farther away and other schools keep pushing, the pull can become hard to ignore. Bettons status is one to watch, and if Penn State is going to steady this class, keeping him in the fold would be a good place to start. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State's Transfer Exodus Is Creating An Uncomfortable Reality
Penn States offseason roster churn under Matt Campbell has become more than a depth-chart issue, because so many of the players who left are now making an impact elsewhere. Forty-nine players entered the transfer portal, and the ripple effects have been impossible to ignore as former Nittany Lions settle into major roles at their new programs. Twelve followed former coach James Franklin to Virginia Tech, while three key players landed with Jim Knowles at Tennessee and helped bolster a defense that now ranks ninth nationally.
The uncomfortable part for Penn State is that this has not looked like a clean reset so much as a reminder of what walked out the door. Several former Nittany Lions are off to standout starts at their new schools, including midseason All-Americans Xavier Gilliam and Luke Reynolds, which only sharpens the sense that this exodus is being felt beyond Happy Valley. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Late QB Push Could Shape Its Next Foundation
Penn States search for its next quarterback in the 2027 class has taken on added urgency after Will Wood flipped his commitment to Boston College. With the current starters moving toward the end of their eligibility, the staff is clearly trying to get ahead of the curve and secure a passer who can become part of the programs next core.
Braylen Warren is the latest name to enter the mix, and the Nittany Lions have extended a scholarship offer to the top-ranked quarterback prospect, even though he is currently committed to Missouri. It is a reminder that Penn State is still active in the early stages of building its future depth chart, and the next move in this recruitment could go a long way toward shaping the foundation of the room for years to come. [Read more 🡒]