Penn State Nittany Lions 2026-2027 Season Outlook: Schedule, Odds & Tickets

The 2025 season was a massive letdown in Happy Valley. Penn State entered last season with lofty expectations after coming up one game short of the National Championship in 2024. 

Things looked promising after a 3-0 start, but the Nittany Lions went on a six-game losing streak, falling to 3-6. Many believe the Oregon game was the “defining moment” of the season because head coach James Franklin has a reputation for losing big games. Franklin was 4–21 at Penn State against AP Top 10 teams. However, the game at UCLA foreshadowed what was going to come. 

Penn State entered as a 24.5-point favorite over the Bruins but lost 42-37. UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava recorded five touchdowns (two passing and three rushing) that game. Franklin was fired after a loss to Northwestern in Penn State’s homecoming game; Terry Smith served as the interim coach for the remainder of the season. The Virginia Tech Hokies hired Franklin on November 17, 2025, after he signed a five-year contract. Smith signed a four-year extension to stay as assistant head coach. 

The losing streak was snapped with a 28-10 victory at Michigan State, and Penn State won its final two games to finish the regular season 6-6. At Yankee Stadium, Penn State defeated Clemson 22-10 in the Pinstripe Bowl. The 6-6 finish was Penn State’s worst since 2020, when the Nittany Lions went 4-5.

Ex-Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell is set to succeed Franklin after signing an eight-year, $70.5 million contract last December. The contract also grants an automatic one-year extension if Penn State makes the College Football Playoff. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser and offensive line coach Ryan Clanton followed Campbell from Iowa State to fill in the vacancies at Penn State. Following defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ departure for the Tennessee Volunteers, D’Anton Lynn was hired as his replacement. 

Eight players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, with offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane headlining the class after being taken 14th overall by the Baltimore Ravens. Quarterback Drew Allar was selected in the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, while running back Nicholas Singleton was selected in the fifth round by the Tennessee Titans. Zane Durant was picked by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round. 

Kaytron Allen headlined Penn State’s running game with 1,303 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. Singleton added 549 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for 1,339 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 69.1% of his passes. Grunkemeyer took over as the starter after Allar was sidelined with a broken left ankle.

Trebor Pena and Devonte Ross led the receiving corps with 552 and 501 receiving yards, respectively. Ross also led the team with five receiving touchdowns. Dani Dennis-Sutton was a force on the defensive side of the ball, recording 8.5 sacks and 42 total tackles. Linebacker Amare Campbell led the team with 103 total tackles.

The Nittany Lions’ 2026 transfer class was ranked fourth in the nation and first in the Big Ten. Two dozen players from Iowa State followed Campbell to Happy Valley, including quarterback Rocco Becht, tight end Ben Brahmer, wide receiver Chase Sowell and safety Marcus Neal Jr. Despite those additions, Penn State lost defensive end Chaz Coleman to Tennessee, cornerback A.J. Harris to Indiana and safety King Mack to NC State.

Becht is expected to be Penn State’s starting quarterback in 2026. He is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the country, having thrown for over 9,000 yards and 64 touchdowns during his collegiate career. 

Penn State’s 2026 schedule seems favorable on paper because its opponents combined for a 73-77 record in 2025, and the Nittany Lions will avoid Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana, the top teams in the conference. Their toughest games appear to be road matchups against Michigan in Ann Arbor and Washington in Seattle, as well as a home contest against USC. Many analysts project Penn State to finish with nine or 10 wins, with the outcome of the USC game likely playing a significant role in that projection. While it remains unclear whether a College Football Playoff berth is within reach, the Nittany Lions appear well-positioned for a rebound season if they can maintain consistent play throughout the year.

FanDuel Sportsbook lists Penn State at +2500 to win the Big Ten and +10000 to win the national championship.

Penn State Nittany Lions 2026-2027 Schedule & Tickets:

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Article by Christian Bongiorno