It’s *almost* here, folks.

Penn State football kicks off its 2026 campaign in two days against Marshall in Beaver Stadium. It’s the start of a new era for the Nittany Lions, with Matt Campbell set to make his debut as Penn State’s head football coach.

There will be a ton of new faces on the field for the preseason No. 18-ranked Nittany Lions, but will this team wash out the bad taste left in Penn State fans’ mouths from a disastrous 2025?

Our staff sure thinks so.

Michael Zeno: 10-2

I could see them going anywhere from 12-0 to 8-4. This schedule lacks a truly daunting opponent, but has enough challenges that growing pains could push them lower than any of us hoped.

I’ll split the middle and say they go 10-2, with losses at the Big House against Michigan and in Seattle against Washington. An undefeated season at home and a 50/50 shot at the CFP would do well for Campbell in year one.

Sarah Nasif: 10-2

I have high hopes for this new team in the Campbell era. With the mediocre strength of schedule, this is exactly the setup this fresh team needs to find their rhythm, shock the world, and make a strong 2026 campaign.

The most notable opponents for Penn State this year will be USC, Washington, and Michigan (and some may even argue Wisconsin). Penn State’s first challenge will be USC. It may be a hot take, but I think Penn State will create the kind of environment that makes it hard for USC to walk out with a win, even if the team hasn’t hit its best stride yet.

A stadium expansion, a new stadium sound system, the novelty surrounding this new team, a team traveling cross-country, and Beaver Stadium at night will make it difficult for the Trojans.

Next will be Michigan at the Big House — an environment Rocco Becht and most of this new Penn State team have never experienced. It will likely be a challenge, and the team’s first loss.

Then, Washington, who sits just one spot above Penn State in the preseason AP Poll, will be a test on the road for the Nittany Lions. Late in the season, with the Huskies picking up some momentum under a dynamic quarterback, Demond Williams Jr., I think Penn State will fall just short.

Collin Ward: 10-2

Not sure how it will shake out, but I know Penn State is taking out Michigan in the newly named “Slightly Smaller Than Beaver Stadium House.

Maybe the Nittany Lions falter against USC and Wisconsin, but something in my gut says we will beat the Wolverines.

Jacob Zacharia: 11-1

I’ll say Penn State goes 11-1, with the one loss coming to Michigan. What a shocker. Penn State loses to Michigan once again.

However, this actually turns out to be a clash for the ages, but Michigan’s atmosphere proves to be too much for Campbell’s first rodeo against the Wolverines.

Sean Regenye: 10-2

What’s a Penn State football season without a 10-2 record prediction?

This season’s schedule is light, as many have noted, and there are only a few games I would consider “swing” games: Wisconsin, USC, Michigan, and Washington.

While I think the latter three fall into that category at a higher level than Wisconsin, the Badgers are a wild card in 2026, and it’s an early enough game in the season that the Nittany Lions may still be soul-searching.

As for the others, away games at Michigan and Washington will be tough for Campbell, but I’d pencil them in for at least one road win.

USC will pose a tough challenge, though the brand-new coaching staff will have a level of support in Beaver Stadium they’ve never felt at Iowa State. The USC coaching staff will also be in unfamiliar territory, but in a bad way.

Additionally, Penn State faces the Trojans in the middle of a gauntlet stretch of games USC has against Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, and Ohio State.

It’s safe to say this 10-2 record prediction comes with more excitement and opportunity than previous years (2025 excluded, sadly).

Jason Perry: 10-2

Penn State has a pretty easy schedule, but the biggest challenges will be USC, Michigan, and Washington.

Whether the White Out momentum can carry the Nittany Lions to a victory over USC or they pull off a road upset at the Big House or Husky Stadium remains to be seen. Realistically, I think they will win one of those three games to finish with a respectable 10-2 record.

Karlee Feger: 10-2

Despite some major changes to the roster this season and a brand new head coach, I believe Campbell will lead Penn State to a 10-2 record.

This year’s schedule plays in favor of the Nittany Lions, and because they won’t see a preseason ranked team until October 10, I think they’ll get out to a quick 5-0 start.

I believe Penn State will also get the job done against No. 14 USC and make up for last year’s catastrophic White Out loss.

I do think challenges will come against No. 16 Michigan and No. 17 Washington, both major away matchups in the second half of the season that could hand the Nittany Lions two losses.

After a frustrating 2025 season, I know Campbell and his roster are eager to gain the trust of Penn State football fans, and I’m feeling very optimistic about what they have in store for this season.

Alex Wilczynski: 10-2

The time has finally come, and this new era of Penn State football could be something special.

A whole new team of talent, from new coaches to plenty of great players who can bring the energy, has me extremely excited for what’s to come.

Our schedule also gives us a strong chance to prove ourselves before competing against teams such as USC and Michigan. If everything goes to plan, I could see a strong 10-2 season, making us serious competitors.

Brian Kriley: 16-0

After one of the most disappointing seasons I’ve ever had the displeasure of witnessing, Penn State football comes into 2026 with a revamped coaching staff and roster.

While it might be wishful thinking, I have the utmost faith in Campbell and Co. to bring us to the promised land for the first time in 40 years.

Why not us?

Holden Mostofsky: 10-2

Penn State has a pretty easy schedule compared to most of the Big Ten conference. We don’t play Ohio State, Indiana, or Oregon, which is a huge break.

I think the new roster is talented and the offense is going to see major improvements.

While I do believe every game is winnable, it’s hard for a first-year head coach to go undefeated. Campbell has a great schedule for his first season, but I don’t think anyone should expect absolute perfection just yet. I think the team can hit double-digit wins, though.

Cadyn Gill: 11-1

Realistically, the Nittany Lions have just three difficult games on their 2026 schedule: USC at home and Michigan and Washington on the road. If James Franklin were coaching this team, regardless of the talent, I’d say Penn State would probably lose all three.

However, I’m fully bought into the idea of Matt Campbell being a rooted, fundamentals-driven coach who will have his guys ready to go, regardless of the opponent each Saturday. That said, I have doubts about the Nittany Lions’ pass rush unit and unproven skill players, which I think talented Big Ten teams can exploit.

My Franklin-induced trauma is telling my brain Penn State will lose two of the three aforementioned difficult games, but my eyes and heart recognize a different feng shui about this Penn State team, stemming not necessarily from their talent, but from their coaching and collective approach to brotherhood.

Jamie Lynch: 10-2

Well, it’s finally time for my senior-year record prediction. Sigh.

People who know me know that I treat my predictions like a job. People who know me also know that I pick Penn State to go 12-0 every year and contradict this prediction on a weekly basis. I promise, I’ll do it again this year.

Let me start by saying this: Penn State will defeat Michigan in Ann Arbor this season. I tend to have a pretty healthy gut feeling, and I’m sticking with it. I don’t trust the Wolverines in the slightest. I also think the Nittany Lions will earn a HUGE White Out win over USC, marking the official start of the Campbell tenure in what will be an emotional night in Beaver Stadium.

I love this roster. I think the offense is going under the radar, and I think the defense, led by key returning veterans, has the opportunity to be a force. But solely because I’ve yet to see this team play together, I think it’s bound to slip up at some point or another.

The Northwestern game scares me, especially since it’s being played inside a brand-new Ryan Field. I’m also worried about Washington, only because the cross-country trip has been known to get the best of teams. So overall, I think the purple teams will give Penn State the hardest challenge this year.

If there’s one thing I trust about Campbell, it’s his ability to rally a group and overcome adversity. Who says the Nittany Lions can’t lose two and make a deep playoff push? Hell, if Indiana can win the Natty, why can’t we?

I’m all in on this staff; I’m all in on this team, and I’ve been all in on Penn State since my first day on this planet. Let’s F****** Go.

Oscar Orellana: 11-1

I still wake up with cold sweats in the middle of the night sometimes thinking about the White Out loss to Oregon, the loss to UCLA, and Drew Allar’s season-ending injury.

But those days are over.

Campbell has one mission: prove he can lead Penn State to genuine relevance and become a real threat in college football. The schedule is favorable. The fans are eager. All he and the program have to do is execute.

I think fans will know Penn State is in a new era if the Nittany Lions beat USC and Michigan, which I think they will. While they’ll never explicitly say it, those are the two dates Campbell and Co. have had circled since the schedule dropped. They are must-wins.

However, I don’t think Penn State will have a perfect season. It’ll be hard to do that, too, and I think Washington could sneak on the Nittany Lions a bit, especially with the cross-country travel that most of the players aren’t used to. I see the one loss from there, but green pastures ahead for the new-look Penn State.