At Penn State, the Matt Campbell begins now.
The Nittany Lions' first-year coach will make his long-awaited debut Saturday, Sept. 5 against Marshall at Beaver Stadium.
Campbell was hired last December to replace James Franklin, who was fired at midseason in 2025 following a three-game losing streak. Penn State started the year ranked in the top five nationally and had aspirations to build on a semifinal appearance in the College Football Playoff at the end of the 2024 season.
That ascent didn't materialize. Now it's Campbell's turn to see if he can elevate the program to a national title contender after a successful tenure at Iowa State. The Lions
start 2026 ranked No. 17 in the LBM Coaches Poll.
The game against Marshall will feature many other new faces as well, most of them former Cyclones who played for Campbell at his previous stop. Quarterback Rocco Becht, tight end Benjamin Brahmer, running back Carsen Hansen and receiver Brett Eskildsen are among the more noteworthy names that will make their debuts for Penn State after transferring in the offseason.
Becht is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in college football but battled injuries that hampered his results in 2025. Hansen steps into big shoes, replacing Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton as the Lions' lead back. Both have moved onto the NFL after taking over the first and fourth spots on Penn State's all-time rushing list.
The Thundering Herd will be looking to build on a 5-7 record in coach Tony Gibson's first season in 2025.
Penn State vs Marshall predictions, picks, odds
Odds from BetMGM as of Friday, Sept. 4.
- Spread: Penn State (-23.5)
- Over/under: 52.5
Prediction: Penn State, 38-17
It won't be a surprise to see Penn State play well, but fail to dominate as it fits so many new pieces together in a new environment for most of its roster.
More USA TODAY staff picks:
- John Brice: Penn State
- Matt Hayes: Penn State
- Jordan Mendoza: Penn State
- Paul Myerberg: Penn State
- Erick Smith: Penn State
- Eddie Timanus: Penn State
- Blake Toppmeyer: Penn State
What TV channel is Penn State vs Marshall on today?
- TV: FS1
- Streaming: Fox One
The game will air nationally on FS1 and stream on the network's companion streaming platform, Fox One.
Penn State vs Marshall time today
- Time: 3:30 p.m.
- Location: Beaver Stadium (University Park, Pa.)
Kickoff will occur just after 3:30 p.m. from Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa., on Saturday, Sept. 5.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Penn State vs Marshall prediction: Matt Campbell goes largely untested in debut
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