Wisconsin’s Big Ten opener now has a start time, and the Badgers are headed into one of the season’s toughest road tests with a 4:00 p.m. CT kickoff at Penn State on Sept. 26.
The conference announced Monday afternoon that Wisconsin’s trip to Happy Valley will air on Peacock. It lands as part of a double-header, with Notre Dame at Purdue in the earlier window. For Wisconsin, it also means back-to-back Peacock games after hosting Eastern Michigan on the service at 11:30 a.m. in Week 3.
The matchup gives the Badgers their first late-afternoon kickoff of the year and another shot to turn national attention their way after the Notre Dame game. Penn State enters the week ranked No. 14.
The two teams are arriving from very different starting points. Wisconsin has already been tested by opening its season against Notre Dame, while Penn State has eased into the schedule with three Group of Six opponents to start 2026.
The Nittany Lions opened with a 45-0 win over Marshall, then beat Temple 27-9 in Philadelphia on Saturday to move to 2-0. Buffalo is next in Week 3.
The timing adds to the challenge for Wisconsin, too. With the 5:00 p.m. kickoff on the East Coast, the second half will unfold largely in darkness, which should only sharpen the atmosphere in Happy Valley.
Penn State’s roster brings plenty of experience and production, and the source article even notes the “Happy Valley Cyclones” label because of the Iowa State transfers now starting on head coach Matt Campbell’s team. Quarterback Rocco Becht has gotten off to a strong start, throwing for 539 yards and seven touchdowns while completing 76% of his passes through two games.
Wisconsin is walking into a tough one.
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