A road trip to Temple in Philadelphia. A Friday night game at Northwestern in October. And USC visiting Beaver Stadium the following week. The Penn State Football Schedule 2026 mixes real travel with genuine ranked competition on both sides of the schedule.
Penn State Football Schedule 2026
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 5 | Marshall Thundering Herd | Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA | 3:30 PM | FS1 |
| Sat, Sep 12 | at Temple Owls | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA | 12:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Buffalo Bulls | Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA | 12:00 PM | BTN |
| Sat, Sep 26 | Wisconsin Badgers (Homecoming) | Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Oct 2 | at Northwestern Wildcats | Ryan Field, Evanston, IL | 8:00 PM | FOX |
| Sat, Oct 10 | USC Trojans | Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 17 | at Michigan Wolverines | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 24 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Purdue Boilermakers | Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | at Washington Huskies | Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 14 | Minnesota Golden Gophers | Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Rutgers Scarlet Knights | Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 28 | at Maryland Terrapins | SECU Stadium, College Park, MD | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Big Ten Championship | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN | 8:00 PM | FOX |
A Road Trip to Philadelphia, Then Wisconsin for Homecoming
Penn State Football Schedule 2026 opens against Marshall before a road trip to Temple in Philadelphia. Buffalo gives University Park a home date before Wisconsin visits for Homecoming on September 26, closing out a manageable opening month.
A Friday Night in Evanston, Then USC Comes to Town
A Friday night road trip to Northwestern opens the toughest stretch of the season. The Penn State Big Ten schedule 2026 then delivers USC visiting Beaver Stadium on October 10, before Penn State vs Michigan 2026 sends the Nittany Lions on the road to Michigan a week later — three difficult games inside a three-week span, followed by a bye on October 24.
Purdue at Home, Then a Road Trip to Washington
Purdue visits Beaver Stadium before a road trip to Washington opens November, the toughest true road test remaining on the schedule.
Minnesota, Rutgers, and a Closing Trip to Maryland
Minnesota and Rutgers both visit University Park in consecutive weeks before the regular season closes on the road at Maryland. If Penn State is still playing December 5, it’s in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.
The Bottom Line
Between USC, Michigan, and Washington, Penn State’s three toughest tests are spread across a month-long stretch from early October through early November. The Penn State football home games in 2026 include a marquee matchup against USC, but how the Nittany Lions handle the road trips to Michigan and Washington will decide whether the season builds toward something bigger.
FAQ
Q: When does Penn State play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
A: Penn State Football Schedule 2026 opens at home against Marshall on Saturday, September 5, at Beaver Stadium.
Q: When is Penn State vs Michigan 2026?
A: Penn State vs Michigan 2026 is set for Saturday, October 17, on the road at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, with Michigan hosting.
Q: How many home games does Penn State play in 2026?
A: Penn State has eight Penn State football home games in 2026 at Beaver Stadium: Marshall, Buffalo, Wisconsin, USC, Purdue, Minnesota, and Rutgers.
Q: What is Penn State’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The run from USC (home) through Michigan (road) and eventually Washington (road) — October 10 through November 7 — is the toughest stretch on the Penn State Big Ten schedule 2026.
