It’s hard to believe Penn State football’s 2026 season is already a quarter of the way through.

A lot has changed since we last looked at Penn State’s Big Ten opponents, and with conference play starting Saturday, now’s the time to take another look.

The Nittany Lions still have a real chance to go 12-0, but some tough games lie ahead.

Here’s how each team on Penn State’s conference schedule has done so far, and how the Nittany Lions compare.

Wisconsin (September 26)

Since losing to then-No. 4 Notre Dame in Week 1, Wisconsin cruised through its next two non-conference games against Western Illinois and Eastern Michigan. The Badgers head to Happy Valley to start conference play with a 2-1 record.

Quarterback Colton Joseph has thrown for 752 total yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. Senior wideout Tyrell Henry leads the Badgers with 293 receiving yards, and Abu Sama III leads the team in rushing with 156 yards.

The Badgers have shown they can beat inferior competition, but they couldn’t keep up with Notre Dame. Penn State isn’t quite on the level of the Fighting Irish, but other than a slow start against Temple, the Nittany Lions have looked more than competent.

Penn State is heavily favored to beat the Badgers at home.

Northwestern (October 2)

Northwestern has played only two games so far this season, the first was an underwhelming win over FCS South Dakota State. However, after a Week 2 bye, the Wildcats bounced back, dominating Colorado 41-7.

In the win over the Buffaloes, quarterback Aidan Chiles accounted for all five Wildcat touchdowns. The senior threw for three touchdowns and added two more on the ground. Senior running back Joseph Himon II caught all three touchdown passes.

Northwestern looks like a team the Nittany Lions will need to prepare for ahead of a Friday night showdown in Evanston, Illinois. The game will be the debut of the Wildcats’ new Ryan Field.

Penn State is favored to win on the road, but the Nittany Lions shouldn’t overlook Northwestern as an easy win. Just look at the 2025 matchup.

No. 12 USC (October 10)

USC has already played four games this season and won them all, though they haven’t looked like a powerhouse that warrants a top-15 ranking in the AP poll. The Trojan offense has been dominant, but the defense leaves a lot to be desired.

USC has put up 39 or more points in all four games. Senior quarterback Jayden Maiava has thrown for 1,173 total yards and 12 total touchdowns. The Trojans have also scored nine times on the ground.

On the defensive side of things, USC gave up 26 points to San Jose State in Week 0. After bouncing back to shut out Fresno State, the Trojans let Louisiana score 30, and Rutgers score 35. If low-tier FBS schools can put up this many points, what can a blue-blood school like Penn State do?

Although USC is currently ranked one spot higher than Penn State in the AP poll, the Nittany Lions will have White Out momentum on their side.

No. 18 Michigan (October 17)

After a questionable ending to a Week 1 win over Western Michigan, nobody really knew what to think about this Michigan team.

Since then, the Wolverines have bounced back, beating then-No. 11 Oklahoma in Week 2 and cruising past UTEP in Week 3.

Despite the team’s success, the offense has continued to look underwhelming. Quarterback Bryce Underwood has thrown for just 504 total yards and three touchdowns so far this season, while also leading the team in rushing yards. No real star running backs or receivers have emerged for the Wolverines.

On the other hand, Michigan’s defense has yet to give up more than 17 points in a game, so the Penn State offense is going to have to work hard. It would not be surprising if the matchup between the Wolverines and the Nittany Lions turns into a defensive showdown.

Michigan is the only team that Penn State is not currently favored to beat, but the Nittany Lions definitely still have a chance.

Purdue (October 31)

Since beating Indiana State in Week 1, Purdue has suffered losses to Wake Forest and UCLA, despite strong offensive performances. The Boilermakers have a lot to overcome if they want to finish anywhere other than the bottom of the Big Ten.

Purdue has had offensive success, though. Quarterback Ryan Browne has thrown for 1,024 yards and seven touchdowns across the three games. Sophomore running back Fame Ijeboi has 248 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.

The Boilermaker defense has given up 134 points so far this season. As long as the defense plays well, Penn State should be able to put up big numbers against Purdue.

ESPN Analytics gives the Nittany Lions a 93.9% chance to beat the Boilermakers.

Washington (November 7)

Washington hasn’t lost a game yet this season, but they still haven’t looked great.

After a rivalry win over Washington State in Week 1, the Huskies narrowly beat Utah State 16-14 before settling in against Eastern Washington and winning 48-16.

Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. has 890 passing yards and five touchdowns. He also leads the team in rushing attempts and yards with 25 carries for 150 yards.

Washington no longer looks like one of Penn State’s strongest opponents, but that doesn’t mean the Nittany Lions should forget about this matchup. Husky Stadium is one of the tougher environments in college football, and if it’s a night game, it gets even worse.

There’s still a lot of football to go before Week 10, but right now Penn State should take home this win.

Minnesota (November 14)

Minnesota is one of the more underrated schools in the Big Ten. The Golden Gophers are 2-1, but the one loss comes at the hands of Mississippi State, which is currently ranked No. 24 in the AP poll.

Quarterback Drake Lindsey has 747 passing yards and four touchdowns. Running back Darius Taylor, who scored three times in the season opener, was injured against Mississippi State and didn’t play in Week 3 against Akron.

The Golden Gophers have what it takes to compete with the top teams in the Big Ten, but they still have to show it when it counts. Minnesota outscored its two non-Power Four opponents 100-14, but lost to Mississippi State 38-13.

Penn State is heavily favored to beat the Golden Gophers, but that could change by Week 11.

Rutgers (November 21)

Rutgers spent the first two weeks of the season getting dominated by the state of Massachusetts.

After losing to UMass in Week 1, the Scarlet Knights headed up to Boston College, where they lost again.

At home in Week 3, Rutgers surprised everyone by keeping up with No. 12 USC. Although they ultimately lost 35-42, Rutgers showed that they weren’t just going to roll over and quit.

Star receiver KJ Duff has cemented himself as one of the best pass catchers in college football. The junior has 419 yards and six touchdowns across the three games. No other Rutgers player has scored more than once.

As long as they can outscore Duff, Penn State should win.

Maryland (November 28)

After putting up 62 points and 646 yards of offense in Week 1, Maryland has come back to earth. The Terrapins beat UConn 38-14 in Week 2 before losing to James Franklin and Virginia Tech in Week 3.

Quarterback Malik Washington threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns in the 35-26 loss. Maryland only had 64 total rushing yards against the Hokies.

Overall, the Terrapins have looked solid on both sides of the ball. They probably won’t blow anyone else away as they did in Week 1, but they’ll be able to put up a fight.

That being said, Penn State should comfortably win its final game of the regular season.