2026 Penn State will not resemble the 2025 Nittany Lions against USC
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When USC football plays Penn State this year in the Big Ten, the Trojans will have zero need to watch 2025 film of the Nittany Lions. Not only will 2026 Penn State not use 2025's scheme due to a coaching change; hardly any of the 2025 players remain on the 2026 roster. ESPN has more:
"The aftershocks of Franklin's firing impacted the staff, the roster and recruiting. Penn State had 47 players enter the portal in January, with several notables joining Franklin at Virginia Tech (quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, tight end Luke Reynolds) or Jim Knowles and other defensive assistants at Tennessee (edge Chaz Coleman, linebacker Amare Campbell, safety Dejuan Lane). Franklin also flipped several Penn State recruits to Virginia Tech, including running back Messiah Mickens, quarterback Troy Huhn and athlete Pierce Petersohn, all SC Next 300 prospects. Penn State's recruiting class slipped to 63rd, an unthinkable position. The Lions knew they would lose a big NFL draft contingent with eight drafted players, including one underclassman in Olaivavega Ioane, a first-round pick."
There is hardly any roster retention for Penn State this year. There's no freshman class to help the Nittany Lions, unlike USC. The Trojans will, in essence, face 2025 Iowa State more than they will face 2025 Penn State. Given that 2025 Iowa State was not especially strong, the Trojans have to like their chances in this matchup … provided they play well and are prepared.
It's that last part which should determine whether USC is able to win one of the bigger games of its 2026 college football season. Lincoln Riley has to deliver the goods against a dramatically remade Penn State team which is not expected to be elite.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: 2026 Penn State football plays USC with completely remade roster
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