RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 3 sourcesPenn State football owns a Top 20 ranking, after all, to start its hopeful recovery season under new head coach Matt Campbell .
The Nittany Lions are No. 17 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll , the first of the upcoming 2026 season, which was released on Tuesday, Aug 4.
It's quite the contrast to last August when former coach James Franklin's highly-publicized team started No. 3 − the program's highest preseason standing in the poll in 28 years. Of course, Franklin was fired in the middle of a stunning six-game losing streak that turned Penn State into college football's most disappointing team.
The Lions finished the season unranked, despite a late turnaround under interim leader Terry Smith. Campbell and his new staff now open their first preseason camp on Wednesday, Aug. 5, and will make their debut in a bigger-than-ever Beaver Stadium a month later against Marshall.
This new Top 25 is expectedly led by three Big Teams in No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon and No. 6 and defending national champion Indiana − none of which the Lions play during the regular season. Other Big Ten teams in the poll: USC (14th), Michigan (16th), Washington (19th) and Iowa (22nd).
The poll, of course, is dominated by the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference, which has five teams in the Top 10 and a sixth, Alabama, at No. 11.
The Nittany Lions will be led by senior quarterback Rocco Becht, one of an unprecedented 40 transfers, who will help overhaul the roster. More than half of those followed Campbell from Iowa State , including expected big contributors on offense in Becht, running back Carson Hanson, wide receivers Chase Sowell, Brett Eskildsen and Amarion Jackson, tight ends Ben Brahmer and Gabe Burkle and offensive lineman Trevor Buhr.
New defensive coordinator and Penn State alum D'Anton Lynn will feature larger bodies up front, a remade linebacker group led by returning All-America candidate Tony Rojas and a deep and versatile secondary.
With so much newness and uncertainty, though, Penn State is mostly garnering second-tier Big Ten predictions , for now.
At least there is this: Campbell said last week at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago that his team begins camp in exceptional good health, even for those easing back into action from injuries, like all-star transfers in safety Jeremiah Cooper and Gabe Burkle, who he called the "best blocking tight end in the country."
The Lions will open the season as overwhelming favorites against non-conference opponents Marshall (Sept. 5), at Temple (Sept. 12) and Buffalo (Sept. 19). Their toughest tests will be expected in the potential White Out game against USC (Oct. 10) and in road games at Michigan (Oct. 17) and Washington (Nov. 7).
Penn State football schedule 2026
A majority of times to be determined at a later date.
Sept. 5 vs. Marshall, 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 12 at Temple, noon
Sept. 19 vs. Buffalo, noon
Sept. 26 vs. Wisconsin
Oct. 2 at Northwestern, 8 p.m.
Oct. 10 vs. USC
Oct. 17 at Michigan
Oct. 24 OFF
Oct. 31 vs. Purdue
Nov. 7 at Washington
Nov. 14 vs Minnesota
Nov. 21 vs. Rutgers
Nov. 28 at Maryland
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Is Penn State football ranked in 2026 preseason US LBM Coaches Poll?
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