Penn State will open its 2026 season under the direction of new head coach Matt Campbell this Saturday, Sept. 5 at home against Marshall. The Nittany Lions come into the new season with an overhauled roster with plenty of transfers, many of which followed Campbell from Iowa State this offseason. A year after being billed as a national title contender to start the season, the expectations for Penn State this fall have been downgraded, although the Nittany Lions are still a top-25 team in the preseason polls. Will they cruise to a confidence-inspiring victory in Week 1 against the visiting Thundering Herd?
Here are our final score predictions, quick overview thoughts, and player of the game picks for Penn State's Week 1 matchup against Marshall.
For more, check out the rest of our Big Ten picks for Week 1.
Kevin McGuire, Lead Writer: Penn State 36, Marshall 16
It has been a while since I have gone into a Penn State season without any real expectation for what I was about to witness. There are so many new faces to get used to in a Penn State uniform and on the sideline, which gives me a bit of excitement for this particular season opener. Considering all of the offseason turnover with the program, I still feel this is a Penn State team that will be fundamentally strong enough to take care of business against Marshall. I'm not expecting any fast starts from this offense, but I do think things will continue to pile on throughout the game as Penn State slowly but surely puts and keeps this game out of reach.
Player of the game: Rocco Becht, Penn State quarterback
Paul White, Contributor: Penn State 38, Marshall 10
I think Penn State is going to come out punching and never looking back. This is a group that needs to get off to a fast start to set the tone for the season and I think they’ll do it by running the ball.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Marshall put up a bit of a fight in this game since it will take some time for all the pieces here to gel, but it won’t be anything we can’t handle. I see a convincing win and a good performance from every unit of the team coming.
Player of the game: Carson Hansen, Penn State running back
Christopher Sheppard, Contributor: Penn State 38, Marshall 7
Penn State starts off with one of their more favorable games against a solid, but not yet great, Marshall Thundering Herd squad. Matt Campbell’s new-look squad will want to hit the ground running, so expect laser focus from every single unit on the field. Becht will be dialed in and look comfortable in blue and white. However, the revelation will be wide receiver Brett Eskildsen, who will showcase his elite speed. Marshall could look bright early, but expect the Nittany Lions to roll.
Player of the game: Brett Eskildsen, Penn State wide receiver
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Final score predictions for Penn State's Week 1 game vs. Marshall
