ESPN's Heather Dinich Doubles Down on her Expectation for the Nittany Lions

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ESPN's Heather Dinich has been driving the Penn State bandwagon over the past couple of months. The Nittany Lions enter the 2026 season as one of the most interesting storylines in all of college football.

They are two years removed from being on the doorstep of the National Championship game, only to have their entire program flipped on its head. Now, with a new staff, new players, and a new head coach, what can you expect from this team next year?

Well, Heather Dinich believes that this Nittany Lions team could, and should, find themselves in the College Football Playoffs, but not because the team is loaded, rather, because their schedule is so light. 

She joined the Pat McAfee Show on Monday and said that in the Big Ten, Penn State is her dark horse to make the Playoff. She said, "I don't know that there is a big-time school out there that has an easier schedule with a first-year head coach. No Power Four nonconference opponents, no Ohio State, no Oregon… that sets up for a sneaky College Football Playoff run."

She absolutely isn't wrong. The Nittany Lions should run into Big Ten play with a perfect 3-0 record, only to be met by Wisconsin and Northwestern to start their Big Ten schedule. 

This sets the table for an October 10th matchup between an undefeated and likely top-10 ranked Penn State team and the USC Trojans, in Beaver Stadium, in front of a White Out. 

If they get through the stretch of USC, at Michigan, and at Washington, at least 1-2, they will be set for a Playoff run. If they get through it at 2-1 or even 3-0, we will be looking at a Big Ten Championship run and maybe even a top seed.

There are a lot of "ifs" and "maybes" in this scenario, but none of it is all that far-fetched. It will not be easy, but the path is there for them to string some wins together and find themselves all of a sudden in playoff contention.

If Matt Campbell can make a run to the College Football Playoff in his very first year at the helm of the Penn State program, then this fanbase will be absolutely feeling it.

He was hired to turn this program around, and he could flip the switch in just one short season. Heather Dinich is driving the bandwagon; it may be empty now, but in a few short weeks, don't be surprised if it is full.

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