Ranking Penn State's top five most exciting matchups for 2026

Ranking Penn State's top five most exciting matchups for 2026

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Ranking Penn State's top five most exciting matchups for 2026

In a retooling year, the Nittany Lions have a perfect opportunity to try and bounce back. With a highly favorable schedule littered with a few high-profile games, the new look Nittany Lions are primed for some exhilarating matchups. With new head coach Matt Campbell at the helm, the Blue and white could be a sneaky CFP contender if they play their cards right. For now, here are the top five most exciting matchups Penn State fans should have circled in the calendar.

5. Penn State vs. Wisconsin, September 26

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

While it may not be the most appealing matchup on paper for the Nittany Lions, it is the home conference opener for the Nittany Lions as they welcome a Badgers squad looking for some sense of identity under head coach Luke Fickell. The last time the Nittany Lions played Wisconsin, it was a balanced victory for an experienced Nittany Lions squad that ended up making their first ever CFP. This time around, it will be Matt Campbell and his transfer heavy roster's first taste of the Big Ten. This is also an intriguing matchup as Abu Sama II will be playing agains some of his former teammates and his former head coach

4. Penn State vs. Marshall, September 5

Southern Miss Golden Eagles head coach Charles Huff walks down the sidelines against the Texas State Bobcats at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg,Miss, on Nov. 15, 2025.

This may be the most fun of Penn State's non-conference scheduled games. One player to watch for the men in green could be QB Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, who threw for just over 2,000 yards last year and 17 touchdowns. This also marks the first game of Matt Campbell's Penn State tenure, where fans will hope he gets off to a flying start.

3. Penn State vs. Rutgers, November 21

Nov 29, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions interim head coach Terry Smith and Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano shake hands after the game at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Last year, this was the most thrilling matchup the Nittany Lions played in, on the road in Piscataway fighting for bowl eligibility against a feisty Scarlet Knights squad. Penn State ended up emerging victorious in a bonkers 40-36 win, but only after a fumble recovery for a score. In this iteration of the contest, there will be no Athan Kaliakmanis leading the charge for the Scarlet Knights, but Greg Schiano and Co. hope that Alabama and Boston College transfer Dylan Lonergan could provide the spark to keep this Rutgers team competitive in Big Ten play. This is the second to last game of Penn State's season, so they must avoid any kind of slip-up.

2. Penn State at Michigan, October 17

Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham watches a play during the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

There's nothing like a Big Ten litmus test when you're a new head coach than heading to Ann Arbor to take on another first year Big Ten head coach. That will be the case for the Nittany Lions in one of their toughest tests of the season. Kyle Whittingham brings a positive energy to the Michigan Wolverines after a successful stint with Utah and will be looking to keep the Nittany Lions out of playoff contention. With his offensive coordinator in Jason Beck following him to work with Bryce Underwood, this could be the Nittany Lions' biggest chance of a potential slip-up…especially after they play the No. 1 most exciting game on this list.

1. Penn State vs USC, October 10

Nov 9, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Fireworks burst overhead as the Penn State Nittany Lions take the field prior to a White Out game against the Washington Huskies at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Why wouldn't the potential White Out game for next year not be the most exciting? After all, this is the first time the Nittany Lions will be playing the Trojans since their thrilling overtime victory in the Coliseum two years ago. Now, welcoming their toughest matchup of the season to Beaver Stadium, expectations will be sky-high for the Nittany Lions to get through the beginning of this gauntlet of a schedule. USC looks more dynamic than ever under Lincoln Riley and Jayden Maiava could prove to be one of the best QBs in the nation. It will be up to Rocco Becht and Co. to produce a lot of offensive fireworks to keep up with the high-flying Trojans in this one. Get your popcorn ready, because you might need it.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Ranking Penn State's top five most exciting matchups for 2026

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos