Where Penn State's opponents ranked in preseason US LBM Coaches Poll

Where Penn State's opponents ranked in preseason US LBM Coaches Poll

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Where Penn State's opponents ranked in preseason US LBM Coaches Poll

Now that the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll has been unveiled, it is time to start nitpicking every little angle we possibly can to kill the remaining time before the first kickoff of the season. Penn State is ready to jump into the start of the Matt Campbell era in Happy Valley with a top-20 ranking (No. 17 to be precise), and the Nittany Lions have a somewhat decent schedule to take advantage of.

Penn State misses having three top-10 teams on their schedule this season with no games against No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon, or No. 6 Indiana. But there are three games on the schedule against teams appearing in the preseason top 25.

USC Trojans

Jul 28, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; USC Football head coach Lincoln Riley speaks during Media Days at Hilton Chicago. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

  • Preseason coaches poll ranking: 14
  • Penn State vs. USC: Saturday, Oct. 10

USC is the highest-ranked team appearing on Penn State's schedule based on the preseason poll. That would suggest the Trojans may be the toughest matchup for the Nittany Lions this season, but Penn State will get the home-field advantage in their meeting this fall. Penn State is hosting USC for what is expected to be the whiteout game in Beaver Stadium this season.

Michigan Wolverines

Sep 6, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Michigan Wolverine helmets sit on the field near the sideline prior to a game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

  • Preseason coaches poll ranking: 16
  • Penn State at Michigan: Saturday, Oct. 17

A week after hosting USC, Penn State will visit Michigan. Like Penn State, Michigan has a new head coach in Kyle Whittingham this season. Penn State has historically not fared well in Michigan Stadium over the years, so Matt Campbell and his program will look to come away with a notable victory in early October.

Washington Huskies

The Washington Huskies' mascot Dubs is seen on the sidelines before the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game.

  • Preseason coaches poll ranking: 19
  • Penn State at Washington: Saturday, Nov. 7

Washington may be the lowest-ranked team on Penn State's schedule based on the preseason coaches poll, but the mileage may make this early November matchup the trickiest game on the schedule this fall. Penn State has never lost to Washington in their short history, but a cross-country trip to Seattle to start off November will be a stiff challenge for the Nittany Lions, especially if this game ends up being a top-25 matchup as currently projected.

Kevin McGuire is the lead writer for Nittany Lions Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on BlueSky, Threads or any of these other platforms.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Where Penn State's opponents ranked in preseason US LBM Coaches Poll

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