Penn State heads into Saturday’s Big Ten opener against Wisconsin without an official weekly depth chart, and that’s left the door open for Lions247 to fill in the blanks with its own projection.
That approach has become part of the routine under first-year head coach Matt Campbell, who brought plenty of Iowa State with him to Penn State - players, assistant coaches, staffers and pieces of the playbook - but not the Cyclones’ weekly depth-chart habit. In 2025, Iowa State included an official depth chart in its game notes every week. Penn State is doing things differently in 2026, and the Nittany Lions are 3-0 entering the matchup with the Badgers at Beaver Stadium.
Lions247 says its unofficial chart is built from what the staff has seen and from conversations with people inside the program. Tyler Donohue, Daniel Gallen, Tyler Calvaruso, Grace Brennan and the author all contribute to the projection.
The chart is presented as fluid, with “or” designations at spots the staff believes are essentially even. It will be adjusted as the season moves along, and the outlet also plans to revise it during the preseason if it learns of major changes because of performance or absences.
There’s also a new wrinkle tied to Big Ten availability reports for conference games. Players listed as questionable will carry a “Q,” while those listed as probable will be marked “P.” Anyone ruled out has been removed from the depth chart, with notes added where needed.
Lions247 says the projection will continue to evolve, and it’s asking for feedback as the season goes on.
In Other News...
Former Penn State Transfer Miss Is Getting A Real Jets Chance
Malik McClains football path has taken another turn, and this one gives the former Penn State wide receiver a real chance to stick in the NFL. After a college career that never fully took off and a disappointing season in Happy Valley in 2023, McClain signed with the New York Jets and worked his way from the practice squad to the 53-man active roster.
For a player whose college production never matched the early promise, this is the kind of opening that can keep a career moving. McClains path now appears to run primarily through special teams, where roster spots are earned by doing the little things well and making himself useful on game day, a role that could finally give him a foothold at the next level. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Have A New Reason To Dread Wisconsin Week
Penn States Big Ten opener against Wisconsin already had the feel of an early barometer game, and now there is a viewing wrinkle on top of it. The matchup is slated to stream on Peacock, which means fans who want to watch it will need a subscription rather than a standard TV broadcast, adding another layer of inconvenience to a week that already carries plenty of attention in State College.
The timing is notable because Penn State has not exactly been surrounded by marquee television treatment this season, and the first few home crowds have shown some softness for nonconference games, including the Buffalo matchup that drew the smallest attendance at Beaver Stadium since 2019. An NBC broadcast is coming in week six, but before that arrives, Wisconsin week has turned into the kind of date Penn State supporters may already be bracing for. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces One Big Availability Question Before Wisconsin
Penn State got a clearer look at its roster picture on the eve of the Wisconsin game when both schools released their second Big Ten availability reports. The list still leaves the Nittany Lions managing a few key absences, with Max Granville already ruled out for the season and Koby Howard still unavailable indefinitely, adding another layer of uncertainty to a week that had already been defined by injuries.
Wisconsin, meanwhile, moved a step closer to having some offensive pieces back in place. Running back Abu Sama III and wide receiver Malachi Coleman were listed as probable after being questionable earlier, a small but meaningful shift for a Badgers team trying to find some stability heading into the matchup. For Penn State, the bigger issue is less about who is definitely missing and more about how much depth it will need to lean on once the game kicks off. [Read more 🡒]