It’s almost time for Penn State football fans to take the flavor of disaster out of their mouths as the Nittany Lions gear up for the 2026 season in just eight days.

A 7-6 showing in 2025 wasn’t what anybody thought was in store for Penn State a season ago. If reality can hit as hard as it did then, why can’t the Nittany Lion faithful dream a little bit now?

Matt Campbell and Co. don’t have as defined expectations as James Franklin did heading into last season, so let’s get a little crazy.

Here are some of our staffers’ bold predictions for Penn State’s 2026 campaign as the season opener against Marshall looms nearer and nearer.

Michael Zeno: Yvan Kemajou Makes First-Team All-B1G

Let’s get weird. A big question with Penn State this year is their edge rushers, as they return very little production due to Dani Dennis-Sutton’s graduation and the portal, but one of the returners seems primed for a breakout sophomore year.

Kemajou looked extremely impressive down the stretch last year as a force off the edge, and there are snaps to be had this year.

I’m confident someone is going to step up in a big way, as is usual in this room over the last decade, and my pick is Kemajou to have a huge season and put him on national radars for the 2028 NFL Draft.

Collin Ward: Koby Howard Flops

Look, I am a huge Koby Howard fan and think that he has elite ability. I know he will be good down the line, but some of the quotes about him this offseason haven’t given me much confidence. It just feels like Campbell and Co. are forcing the Howard hype because they know that’s what the fans want to hear.

Not saying he won’t play, but I think Brett Eskilden and Chase Sowell will see most of the targets. Maybe he has a 500-yard season, but I don’t see him getting the 1,000-yard season that Rocco Becht talked about in the summer.

Holden Mostofsky: Penn State Will Struggle Most Against Minnesota

Of all teams on the schedule, Penn State will struggle the most against Minnesota.

The Gophers are a win-anytime team. They tend to put up a fight against stronger opponents, and in recent years, Penn State has struggled against them. While the Nittany Lions are 3-2 in their last five meetings with Minnesota, one was won by a point and another in overtime.

Minnesota typically has a strong roster, and I think P.J. Fleck is a smart coach who can easily adjust to his opponent.

Melanie Thalhimer: Penn State Will Go 10-2

Penn State is widely expected to finish somewhere in the 9-3 range, but new year, new coach… I’m hopeful that Coach Campbell can exceed expectations and give Penn State fans a winning football team once again!

Ericka Apolskis: We’re Winning The Natty

In Matt Campbell we trust.

Cadyn Gill: Rocco Becht Will Pass For 30 Or More Regular-Season Touchdowns

My bold take for Penn State football is that Rocco Becht will throw for 30 or more regular-season passing touchdowns in 2026. The Wesley Chapel, Florida, native’s career-high in touchdowns came in 2024, when he threw 25.

For context, only five college quarterbacks threw more than 30 touchdowns in the 2025 regular season, and two of them ended up as Heisman finalists. Fernando Mendoza and his 33 touchdown passes led the pack.

Becht came eight short of that number with an Iowa State offense that undoubtedly had less firepower and talent across the board than the current Nittany Lions. Between Koby Howard, Ben Brahmer, Brett Eskildsen, and Chase Sowell, I expect Becht to spread the ball around and cook up a hefty, nation-leading helping of passing tuds this year.

Jamie Lynch: Penn State Will Defeat Michigan At The Big House

I don’t like Michigan. I don’t like their team; I don’t like their university, and frankly, I don’t like what they stand for. The “Michigan Man” is the most fraudulent, corny ideal in college athletics, bar none.

But from a purely football standpoint, I think this Penn State team should, and will, beat the maize and blue (also corny, pun intended) on October 17 in the second biggest stadium in college football.

I’m certainly not hopping on the Bryce Underwood train just yet, and the Wolverine defense has a lot of question marks. I’m also not convinced that there won’t be lingering distractions from the turmoil that was December of last season.

All that being said, Matt Campbell and his team deserve more respect, irrespective of the opponent. The Nittany Lions have a talented roster in 2026 and can defeat anyone on their schedule. 

Penn State has only won in Ann Arbor twice since the turn of the century, most recently in 2020. Lucky number three could be right around the corner.

Oscar Orellana: Penn State Will Go Undefeated

Now, these takes are bold for a reason. But seriously, outside of USC and possibly Michigan (depending on whether that team is on fire by October 17 or not), which other team on the schedule does Penn State not match up with, talent-wise?

Campbell brought a boatload of experienced college football players who should translate well to the Big Ten. It’s not exactly a gauntlet of a schedule, either. If Penn State can string together a few wins to start the season and carry the momentum into a landmark White Out win, it could be the start of something special.

Make it happen, Campbell. Everybody believes in you.