Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542734
season, that statement feels less like a boast and more like an indisputable fact. Whether a reconstituted Big 12 roster can hold its own in the Big Ten is one of the most pressing questions Penn State must answer in the months ahead. Given the league's recent success, it might sound counterintuitive to cite the schedule as a reason for optimism at PSU this fall, but from this admittedly pre- mature vantage point, it looks as though Campbell's team might have caught some breaks. The schedule has yet to be finalized, but the Lions know where they'll be playing and against whom. The slate mercifully omits Ohio State, which has beaten PSU nine consecutive seasons, and it also de- letes Oregon and Indiana, both of which defeated the Lions in 2025. Although Penn State must visit Michigan, where it has won just one of its past five games, it won't be facing any of this year's CFP qualifiers. The Lions probably aren't going to be appearing prominently in any of the way- too-early 2026 rankings that the nation's college football pundits will be issuing in the days ahead. There's just too much uncertainty around a rebuilt roster and a coaching staff that is largely new to the Big Ten. Given how last year's sky-high expectations seemed more like a burden to be carried than a source of confidence and excitement, maybe that's for the best. In the pages that follow, we take a position-by-position look at how Penn State's roster is shaping up heading into a new coaching era. ■ THE BIG PICTURE 2026 PENN STATE SCHEDULE Date Opponent Sept. 5 MARSHALL Sept. 12 at Temple Sept. 19 BUFFALO Home Opponents* Minnesota Purdue Rutgers USC Wisconsin Road Opponents* Maryland Michigan Northwestern Washington * Big Ten schedule TBA In its Pinstripe Bowl victory over Clemson, Penn State got key contributions from offensive line- men Cooper Cousins (50), Dominic Rulli (52) and Anthony Donkoh (68). All three have said they plan to return in 2026. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 6 2 9