Penn State football, Matt Campbell earn Top 20 spot in preseason poll

Penn State football has secured a spot in the Top 20 as the 2026 season approaches, with the Nittany Lions currently ranked No. 18 in the AP preseason poll. Newly appointed head coach Matt Campbell leads the team, following his tenure at Iowa State where he brought in 40 transfers to revamp the roster. The Lions have made nine preseason rankings in the past decade, a stark contrast to last August when former coach James Franklin's team opened the season at No. 3, the highest in the program's history in 28 years.

The 2026 campaign will begin with a season opener against Marshall on September 5 at Beaver Stadium. The AP poll, similar to the coaches poll, ranks the top Big Ten teams uniformly: Ohio State (1), Oregon (2), and defending national champion Indiana (6). Among other Big Ten teams, USC (14th), Michigan (16th), Washington (17th), and Iowa (22nd) also appear in the preseason poll.

Looking ahead, senior quarterback Rocco Becht, along with 39 other transfers, is expected to play a pivotal role in reshaping the team. New defensive coordinator D Anton Lynn will bolster the front seven, while returning All-America linebacker Tony Rojas leads a revamped linebacking corps. The secondary will also be versatile and deep, as the Lions prepare for challenging matchups against USC (October 10) and in road games against Michigan (October 17) and Washington (November 7).