The Penn State Nittany Lions have one big thing going for the program in head coach Matt Campbell's first season.
The Penn State Nittany Lions are a bit of an unknown before the 2026 season.
Pro Football Focus thinks new head coach Matt Campbell is going to need some time to rebuild after losing key pieces and recruits after James Franklin was fired and landed with Virginia Tech.
PFF ranked PSU at No. 24 for their early Top 25.
Campbell is bringing several players from an Iowa State team that finished 8-4 in 2025. Penn State hopes they make the transition to the Big Ten smoothly.
However, the Nittany Lions could be a ways from being the program they were in 2024 when they reached the College Football Playoff semifinal.
College football analyst Joe Klatt suggested PSU has one key thing going for them next season. Penn State has a rather favorable schedule in 2026.
Klatt argued the Nittany Lions have the best schedule in the Big Ten next season.
“But the best schedule in the Big Ten. Yes, the jackpot winner," Klatt said on his show Monday. "They hit the lottery, folks, and that is new head coach Matt Campbell and the Penn State Nittany Lions. This thing is not difficult. It just isn't at all.
"First of all, they don't have much in the non-conference. Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo. That's obviously manageable even for a new coach."
Klatt thinks contests against USC at home on Oct. 10 and Michigan on the road on Oct. 17 will be PSU's toughest tests of the season. He noted the Trojans have a recent history of struggling on the road.
Klatt believes Penn State has an outside chance of making the CFP thanks to the schedule.
“I don't know if their team is going to be a 10-win team, but their schedule is a potential 10-win schedule," Klatt said. "And that is exactly how I would want it. Man, if you would have known this schedule before this hiring process, guys would have clamored to take the Penn State job.
"Not that they didn't. They got a great candidate with Matt Campbell. But as you know, it took a little bit of time. But if you knew it was this schedule, you would have been like, 'Yep, let's go giddy up.' So Penn State hit the schedule lottery."
The schedule is favorable, but it remains to be seen if Campbell has enough talent on the team to make a run for the Big Ten championship and CFP.