Penn State Gets Brutal Bold Prediction From College Football Writer for 2026

Penn State University has hired Matt Campbell as its new head football coach following the dismissal of James Franklin in mid-November after a disappointing 3-3 start to the season. Campbell, previously the head coach at Iowa State, was chosen after a two-month search led by athletic director Pat Kraft. Franklin has since taken a position at Virginia Tech.

In light of the coaching change, the Transfer Portal has been a critical tool for Campbell, who has brought in 23 transfers from Iowa State to rebuild the roster. Despite these efforts, CBS Sports' Cody Nagel predicts a challenging season for Penn State in 2026, forecasting a 7-5 record. This prediction comes despite a favorable schedule that excludes matchups against Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon.

Penn State's 2026 schedule includes non-conference games against Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo, followed by Big Ten home games against Wisconsin, USC, Purdue, Minnesota, and Rutgers. The team's road games will be against Michigan, Washington