Penn State Dodges Iowa, Lands Easy 2026 Big Ten Schedule

Penn State has landed one of the easiest schedules in the Big Ten for the 2026 season, avoiding tough opponents like Iowa, Ohio State, and Oregon. The Nittany Lions face opponents with a combined winning percentage of just 48.3 percent, raising questions about fairness and competitive balance in the rapidly expanding conference.

Why Does Penn State Have Such an Easy 2026 Schedule?

Penn State benefits heavily from the teams it does not have to play. The Nittany Lions completely avoid Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon, Iowa, and Illinois in 2026. FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt noted that Matt Campbell hit the scheduling jackpot in his first season. The favorable slate gives Penn State a clear advantage in the win column before the team even takes the field.

Phil Steele, publisher of the College Football 2026 Preview magazine, ranks college football schedules based on opponent winning percentages from the previous year. Using this metric, Penn State is tied with Navy for 110th nationally in opponent winning percentage at 48.3 percent. Within the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions rank ahead of only Maryland, which sits at 114th with a 47.7 percent opponent win rate, and Wisconsin, which ranks 124th at 46.6 percent.

How Does Penn State's Schedule Compare Nationally?

The numbers confirm just how friendly this schedule is for Penn State. Their 12 opponents went a combined 72-77 last season. Only three of those opponents won at least nine games in 2025. The schedule includes just three teams, USC, Michigan, and Wisconsin, that were ranked or received votes in the final AP Top 25 poll. Only five of the 12 opponents return with winning records.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Big Ten faces a much tougher road. According to Phil Steele, Ohio State has the toughest schedule in the Big Ten and the second-toughest nationally, with opponents returning a win rate of 64.6 percent. Nebraska ranks fourth nationally, followed by Michigan and Northwestern tied for sixth, and Indiana at 11th. The disparity highlights a growing issue with competitive balance as the conference expands.

What Are the Toughest Games on Penn State's Schedule?

The schedule is not completely without challenges. Penn State faces a tough two-game stretch in October against USC and Michigan, which could be the only two ranked teams they face during the regular season. The November 7 trip to Washington will also test the team, as the Huskies are 24-2 at home since 2002. Penn State has not played at Washington since 1921.

How Does the Non-Conference Schedule Shape Up?

Penn State opens the season with three non-conference games against teams that all finished 2025 with losing records. Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo ranked 92nd, 102nd, and 110th respectively in the most recent ESPN SP+ rankings. None of those programs won more than five games last season, and none has a positive SP+ ranking. Penn State also plays one of its road games during this non-conference stretch, traveling to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to face Temple on September 12.

The Nittany Lions then get a gentle introduction to Big Ten play at home against Wisconsin, a team that went 4-8 last season. Penn State will host the Badgers for the first time since 2018. A scheduling test follows on October 2, when the Nittany Lions face Northwestern on Friday night at the new Ryan Field in Evanston. Northwestern chose the Penn State game to unveil its new stadium, and FOX moved the game to Friday night.

Following their October bye week, Penn State concludes the regular season with a five-game run featuring only two teams with winning records last season. The schedule is curated for a potential run to 10 wins, a reality that will not be lost on Iowa fans who value fair, hard-nosed competition.

Does Penn State Play Iowa in 2026?

No, Penn State does not play Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, Illinois, or Indiana during the 2026 regular season.

Who Has the Toughest Big Ten Schedule in 2026?

Ohio State has the toughest Big Ten schedule in 2026. The Buckeyes' opponents return a win rate of 64.6 percent, which ranks as the second-toughest schedule nationally behind North Carolina.

What is Penn State's Opponent Win Percentage for 2026?

Penn State's 2026 opponents have a combined winning percentage of 48.3 percent. This ranks 110th nationally out of FBS teams.