ROSEMONT, Il. — The path to the 12-team College Football Playoff has been charted. The Big Ten Conference released the official 2026 football schedule on Jan 27, and for Matt Campbell’s Year 1, it presents a fascinating mix of opportunity and peril.
The “Friendly” Home Slate
Penn State avoids the dreaded “Road Warrior” status in 2026, hosting seven games at Beaver Stadium.
- Key Visitors: USC (Oct 10), Wisconsin (Sept 26), Minnesota (Nov 14).
- The Benefit: Getting USC and Wisconsin at home—likely White Out and Stripe Out candidates—is a massive advantage for a team breaking in a new quarterback.
The “Gauntlet” Road Trip
The defining stretch of the season comes late.
- Oct 17 at Michigan: The Big House is never easy, but Michigan is also in a transition year.
- Nov 7 at Washington: A cross-country flight to Seattle in November. This is the “trap game” of the century. Washington’s home-field advantage at Husky Stadium is legitimate, and the travel fatigue will be a major factor for the sports science staff.
Depth Chart Implications
- September buffer: Opening with Marshall (Sept 5), Temple, and Buffalo allows the new O-Line to gel before the Big Ten opener against Wisconsin.
- Bye Week Placement: The Oct 24 Bye Week is perfectly positioned between the Michigan and Washington road trips, giving the team critical rest before the final West Coast push.
Verdict: It’s a manageable schedule. Avoiding Ohio State and Oregon misses the biggest hurdles, but the road trips to Ann Arbor and Seattle will define the ceiling of the Campbell Era.