It’s been a long, strange journey to the 2026 countdown. At this time one year ago, we eagerly awaited the start of a season with dreams of it ending with a national championship. As you know, those dreams were quickly dashed as the James Franklin Era came to an abrupt end.
It looked like things were about to spin out of control, as Penn State fans awaited word on the new coach while other programs found their man in a crowded coaching carousel. However, when it seemed about time to hit the panic
button, the Nittany Lions tabbed their new leader to heavy praise from the fans and the media alike – Matt Campbell. The man who found unprecedented sustained success at Iowa State, where winning seasons were quite rare before he made them a regular thing to count on in Ames.
Since taking the job, Campbell’s offseason has been filled with wins. He retained several key Nittany Lions while bringing along all of the top talent with him from Iowa State. Recruiting has picked up wonderfully after a slow start. Campbell also seems to be winning over a wary fanbase with his authenticity, Big Ten roots, and calm demeanor that suggests he’s fueled not by ego, but for a love of the game and building relationships along the way.
Of course, the wins fans will care most about do not come in the offseason — they come on the gridiron in the fall. We’re now 100 days from Campbell’s biggest test yet at Penn State – how will the Nittany Lions look when they take the field to kick off the 2026 season against Marshall? Will they be a team that will be fighting for a playoff spot, and possibly a conference crown thanks to a manageable schedule?
It will certainly have a different feel after 12 years of Franklin, who took over way back in 2014. Penn State will have a new man under center in Rocco Becht, who enters the season as the nation’s most experienced quarterback. Becht will take the field with a mostly inexperienced offensive line that is brimming with potential. He will have several of his favorite targets at his disposal, along with talented returnees like Koby Howard and Andrew Rappleyea. He will also be handing the ball off to three running backs who will all challenge to be the primary ballcarrier.
A familiar face will also be returning to Happy Valley, as former Nittany Lion standout D’Anton Lynn takes over at defensive coordinator following a disastrous one-year stint by Jim Knowles. Lynn became a rising star in the profession after dramatically improving the defenses at UCLA and USC before returning to his alma mater. He not only has a track record of success, but will have some intriguing prospects at all three levels of the defense that could become stars over the course of the season.
We will be spending the next 100 days going into great detail on what to expect from the Nittany Lions in 2026. For now, let’s all just celebrate the promise of a fresh start with the potential for anything to happen.
We’re 100 days from the start of a new era of Penn State Football!
