Penn State wrestling will be on national television plenty next season, and the Big Ten Network made that clear Wednesday with its 2026-27 broadcast schedule.
The Nittany Lions landed seven TV selections, the most in the conference. Iowa and Michigan were next with six apiece. Every one of the Big Ten’s 14 programs will get at least one national TV appearance during the season.
Penn State’s three home duals selected for national coverage will all take place inside the Jordan Center. The other four televised matches on PSU’s slate are road conference duals. BTN will also carry live coverage of the 2027 Big Ten Championships at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, which will be the first neutral-site championship in conference history.
BTN’s broadcast year begins with Penn State, as the Nittany Lions host West Virginia at noon on Sunday, Dec. 13. That matchup is BTN’s lone broadcast of the fall semester and one of three televised nonconference duals for Penn State.
From there, the Lions’ TV run continues in January with a trip to Rutgers on Saturday, Jan. 9. The opening bout is set for 4 p.m.
Penn State then returns home to face Michigan on Friday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. The road stretch continues at Michigan State on Friday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m., followed by another nationally televised trip to Minnesota on Friday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m.
One of the biggest dates on the schedule comes Friday, Feb. 5, when Penn State hosts Iowa at 8 p.m. The regular-season slate closes Friday, Feb. 12, with the Nittany Lions at Ohio State for a 6 p.m. start.
In Other News...
Cael Sanderson Just Raised A Serious Penn State Wrestling Concern
Cael Sanderson used Penn State wrestlings media day to voice a concern that has lingered around college athletics for some time: whether the rules are being enforced clearly enough for programs to know where they stand. The Penn State coach sounded frustrated by the NCAAs uncertainty, saying the lack of consistent standards can make it hard to tell whether playing by the book could actually leave a team at a disadvantage.
The immediate wrinkle for Penn State involves former wrestler Levi Haines, whose eligibility status remains unclear even as he continues preparing for international freestyle competition. Sanderson pointed to that uncertainty as part of a bigger problem, one that affects not just the Nittany Lions but the broader landscape of college wrestling, where clarity on who can compete and when still seems frustratingly out of reach. [Read more 🡒]
Marylands Next Hire Could Create A New Big Ten Problem For Penn State
Marylands coaching search is suddenly one of the more interesting items on the Big Tens offseason board, and it matters far beyond College Park. After firing Mike Locksley, the Terrapins are expected to explore a wide range of candidates, from rising assistants to proven head coaches, each bringing a different kind of upside and risk. For Penn State, the name attached to Marylands next move could shape how competitive the East side of the league feels in the seasons ahead.
Among the possibilities being discussed are JaMarcus Shephard, Jason Eck, Jake Dickert, Bryant Haines and Billy Napier, a mix that shows Maryland could lean either toward upside or experience. The fit question is the real one here, because a strong hire could help stabilize a program that has struggled for consistency and make the conference landscape a little tougher to navigate. For Penn State, that is the part worth watching: Maryland does not need to become a powerhouse to affect the Nittany Lions, only steady enough to make one more Big Ten game harder than it should be. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Offensive Problems Go Well Beyond The Scoreboard
Penn States 0-4 start in Big Ten play has put the offense under the microscope, but the issues go deeper than a few bad drives or a stagnant scoreboard. The Nittany Lions have been near the bottom of the league in total offense and scoring, with injuries, inexperience and an ineffective running game all feeding into a frustrating stretch that has made every possession feel harder than it should be.
The quarterback situation is part of the picture, too, with Alex Manske unavailable and receiver Koby Howard also among the key players sidelined. Head coach Matt Campbell has said he believes in Manskes future, but has also made clear he is not ready to hand him the job right now, leaving Penn State to keep searching for answers while the offense tries to find some much-needed stability. [Read more 🡒]