The time has come, folks.

Penn State football is set to open the Matt Campbell era against the Marshall Thundering Herd on Saturday. Beaver Stadium will be rocking, the tailgates will be vast, and the Penn State faithful can rejoice with football’s return.

Our staff thinks the Nittany Lions will ease Campbell into the win column with a comfortable showing against the Thundering Herd.

Michael Zeno (0-0): Penn State 34, Marshall 14

It’s always hard to pin down a score in a season opener against a non-conference foe. You know who’ll win (probably), but by how much?

It’s an entirely new scheme with new players and new coaches, and although I’m confident we won’t get a huge scare against Marshall, I’m skeptical Penn State will cover the spread to start the Campbell era.

Jacob Zacharia (0-0): Penn State 31, Marshall 10

Penn State starts the season off with a bang. Marshall is obviously no threat to the Nittany Lions, but Campbell is all business as usual, and the Nittany Lions will be able to pull away with a 31-10 victory.

I think Rocco Becht will look to get comfortable with his receivers, and the Nittany Lions’ ground game can actually put this one away early. This matchup is a very talented team against a very raw team that just doesn’t have the manpower to match Penn State.

The Nittany Lions start the season 1-0 to get the fanbase riled up.

Melanie Thalhimer (0-0): Penn State 35, Marshall 7

For the first game of the season, I’m excited to see Becht and the other new Nittany Lions compete at Beaver Stadium for the first time.

I’m hopeful it will be an easy dub and a great start to the Campbell era.

Jason Perry (0-0): Penn State 38, Marshall 13

Penn State will start the 2026 season with an easy win over the Thundering Herd. It won’t be the most dominant win, but the Nittany Lions will get the job done without much trouble.

Marshall is pretty good for a non-power conference team, so it will likely be able to put up a few points against D’Anton Lynn’s rebuilt Penn State defense. Most of the new-look Nittany Lion offense followed Campbell from Iowa State, so they shouldn’t have too much trouble working together in Happy Valley to start the season on a high note.

Alex Wilczynski (0-0): Penn State 28, Marshall 10

The Campbell era is right around the corner, and I see a big win coming. After a strong offseason of preparation and top-tier talent from the new coaching staff, I don’t expect the Nittany Lions to miss a beat.

Becht and the offense will be ready to show the world what Happy Valley is all about, while the defense will keep Marshall in check. It might not be a blowout, but a 28-10 victory seems like a super solid way to kick off this new season.

Holden Mostofsky (0-0): Penn State 48, Marshall 10

I think Penn State gets off to a hot start against the Thundering Herd. I don’t think Marshall’s roster is as talented, plus it’s playing in one of the biggest stadiums in the world.

It’s not an easy environment to come into, and it’s challenging to compete against a school with as much NIL as Penn State. The new Penn State coaching staff and team have a lot to show, and I think they’ll make a good first impression.

Brandon Collica (0-0): Penn State 34, Marshall 7

First game of the Campbell era starts a bit shaky in my eyes, but Penn State solidly takes the win.

Brian Kriley (0-0): Penn State 70, Marshall 3

In Campbell we trust.

Ericka Apolskis (0-0): Penn State 35, Marshall 15

The road to 12-0 starts now.

Karlee Feger (0-0): Penn State 38, Marshall 7

I’m expecting a big outing from Campbell and his roster. Penn State football is so back, and the mission is to restore faith among the fans. I don’t see them letting us down.

I think Penn State will establish both the passing and rushing games, and I hope every fan in Beaver Stadium goes absolutely crazy when Becht tosses his first touchdown pass as a Nittany Lion.

I also expect kicker Ryan Barker, who kept us sane last season, to be perfect on extra points and maybe even drill a field goal.

I do think Marshall will sneak in a touchdown, but with the defensive line Campbell has been cooking up, I don’t see many of the Thundering Herd’s rushers making it through consistently.

All in all, I’m expecting Penn State to come out with confidence, put on a show, and give the fans plenty of reasons to believe again.

Cadyn Gill (0-0): Penn State 33, Marshall 17

I truthfully have no clue what this game will look like. Two things can be true: Penn State has significantly more talent than Marshall, but it’s also a brand-new season.

Players, schemes, and coaches from all over the nation came together this offseason in Happy Valley, which should ultimately be promising in the long run, but there will certainly be growing pains and missed assignments as all the cogs jiggle into place.

I wouldn’t be shocked in the slightest if Penn State hung 60 on the Thundering Herd on Saturday, but I’ll take a more conservative angle to kick off the season.

Pencil in three passing touchdowns from Rocco Becht and a pair of forced turnovers by Lynn’s defense.

Jamie Lynch (0-0): Penn State 35, Marshall 13

I don’t think Marshall is as much of a blow-off opponent as everyone is making it out to be. Penn State is still the far superior team on paper, but the Thundering Herd are just two years removed from a Sun Belt title, and quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson was recently named SBC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Still, I think the Nittany Lions will take care of business. This team has shown in practice and media that it’s ready for battle, and the adrenaline from Campbell’s first career game in Beaver Stadium will propel his team to victory.

Oscar Orellana (0-0): Penn State 38, Marshall 13

It won’t be a complete thumping out in Beaver Stadium on Saturday, but I do think Campbell, Becht, and Co. will have no problem pumping the gas to run up the score early. The Nittany Lions will eventually relax and ease into the flow of the game as Marshall gets some second-half scores.

I expect Penn State to pound the rock effectively and focus on energizing the Penn State crowd, most of all.