Penn State enters 2026 season ranked 29th under new coach Matt Campbell

Penn State football enters the 2026 season ranked 29th in the latest preseason poll from The Athletic. This ranking follows a 7-6 finish in 2025 that led the program to part ways with James Franklin. Matt Campbell takes over the head coaching role after a decade at Iowa State, where he maintained a 72-55 record. The team expects a shift in performance following the addition of several transfer portal players to the roster. Chief among these new arrivals is quarterback Rocco Becht, who previously played for Campbell at Iowa State. Becht brings three years of starting experience to the Nittany Lions as they prepare for a competitive Big Ten schedule against programs including Ohio State, Oregon, and USC.

• 3:02 AMYahoo Sports — Penn State Receives Major Ranking Ahead of 2026 Season