The SEC made the news once again this offseason for a change in how its teams will compose their schedule. Beginning in 2026, all teams in the SEC will play nine conference games, one more than the eight they typically play, and will be forced to schedule one out-of-conference game against an opponent from the ACC, Big Ten, or Big 12 conferences or Notre Dame.

While there have been little to no rumblings of the Big Ten following suit, if the conference did choose to go this route, we’re sure there are plenty of teams Penn State fans would like to play against. Here are some of our staff picks for future Power Four opponents.

Cooper Cazares: Pitt

Bring back the Keystone Classic.

The long-standing rivalry game would make for a perfect out-of-conference game for the Nittany Lions. Not only does it have history, but the game itself is fueled by bad blood from games spanning back to the late 1800s.

Penn State leads the rivalry, 53-43-4, including the last three times the two teams have played. The last time the Nittany Lions and Panthers faced off was in 2019, their 100th meeting. I say we bring it back for another 100 games, although I’d expect it wouldn’t be too exciting for Pitt fans, as losing for a century straight would surely cripple their mood.

Michael Zeno: LSU

Finally, we can put to bed who has the loudest environment in college football.

A home-and-home that features a whiteout at Beaver Stadium and a night game in Death Valley is as close to cinema as you can get in college football. If the Big Ten and SEC start playing more games against each other in non-conference play, this is an obvious fit.

Alex Smith: Florida

Personally, I feel like both of these schools are always on the cusp of greatness, but never quite there. Both schools also have passionate alumni and electric atmospheres that would be great for an opening game.

Fernando Martinez Ruiz De Esparza: Notre Dame

This pick is mostly because I want revenge against Notre Dame for last year.

Also, if you come to think about it, Notre Dame would make the most sense for Penn State if it were forced to play one out-of-conference game against a Power 4 team or Notre Dame every year, just like the SEC. The Fighting Irish play hockey in the Big Ten just like the Nittany Lions, so coming to an agreement for a football game when they are already involved in the same conference for another sport shouldn’t be that hard.

This matchup would draw so much attention early in the season, just like Texas-Ohio State did, since they are very popular football programs around the country and could financially benefit from it, especially with Notre Dame being independent.

After having a light-weight non-conference schedule this season, it’s time for Penn State football to take on a tougher opponent, and what better way to do it than by playing against the team that broke our hearts last season and going for revenge.

Michael Siroty: Pitt

My pick for Penn State’s power-conference opponent would have to be Pitt. Let’s bring back the in-state rivalry with a yearly matchup against the Panthers, who come from the ACC. I think this series would provide a great opportunity for fans from both sides to travel to the games, and the Nittany Lions would be heavily favored every year.

Jamie Lynch: LSU

I’ve been wanting Penn State to schedule a home-and-home series with the Tigers from Baton Rouge for a long time now. Happy Valley and Death Valley are widely considered the two best environments in college football, and playing them at night on each team’s turf would be electric.

I also think having an annual SEC-Big Ten “challenge” would be beneficial to the sport, similar to what exists in basketball, where teams from two conferences match up early in the season. It would help settle the debate on which conference reigns supreme, and it would be an intriguing weekend of high-caliber football.

Collin Ward: Notre Dame

Get back time.

Oscar Orellana: Pitt

Reject modernity, embrace tradition.