Penn State has the kickoff times set for its first two conference games of the 2026 season.
The Nittany Lions will meet Wisconsin to open Big Ten play at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, September 26. Penn State currently owns a six-game win streak over the Badgers, dating back to 2012. Wisconsin will be looking to bounce back from a 4-8 season in 2025, with head coach Luke Fickell returning for his fifth season with the Badgers. Despite the disappointing record, Wisconsin was able to show signs of life late
in the season with upset victories over #23 Washington and #21 Illinois.
The game will mark Penn State’s Homecoming weekend. Broadcast details have yet to be announced.
Penn State will follow that up with a short week, facing Northwestern on Friday, October 2. The game will kick off at 8 p.m., with coverage provided by FOX. The date will mark the first game at the “new” Ryan Field, which has undergone massive upgrades while the team played in a temporary stadium over the past two seasons.
Northwestern is coming off a 7-6 season in 2025, which included a victory over Penn State that dropped the Nittany Lions to 3-3 at the midseason point. It would be the final game under James Franklin, who was fired the next day.
These are the first two kickoff times announced for Penn State’s 2026 season.
