Penn State defeats Marshall in season opener as poll rankings remain steady

Penn State opened the 2026 season with a 45-0 win against Marshall at home on September 7. Quarterback Rocco Becht directed the offense in the shutout, which featured contributions from a deep receiving corps. Despite the decisive margin, national poll analysts suggest the Nittany Lions may see limited movement in the rankings due to the caliber of early-season opponents on their schedule. The program currently holds the No. 17 spot in the US LBM Coaches Poll. Coaches and observers anticipate more challenging matchups later in the season as the team faces conference rivals including Michigan and Washington. Penn State prepares to host Temple next week as part of its non-conference slate.

• 8:30 PMYahoo Sports — Why Penn State should not expect much movement in the polls