Penn State opens the 2026 season against Marshall on Saturday, September 5 at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1. The opener is also the 11th annual Stripe Out and Matt Campbell’s first game as Penn State’s head coach.
Those details are official. The expected playing order below is not an official two-deep. Penn State’s August 31 game notes provide the matchup facts and roster context but do not publish a conventional depth chart. The starter order is therefore labeled as a projection based on recent public reporting, the current roster, and fall-camp role information.
Penn State vs. Marshall Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, September 5, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | FS1 |
| Location | West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium |
| Event | 11th annual Stripe Out |
| Penn State ranking | No. 18 AP / No. 17 Coaches in the game notes |
| Series | Penn State won meetings in 1929 and 1930 |
The opener begins a short turnaround into Penn State’s September 12 road game at Temple. Fans planning beyond Week 1 can use the full 2026 schedule, including the free printable version, rather than relying on an older preseason schedule graphic.
Projected Penn State Offensive Starters
The clearest reported projection places Rocco Becht first at quarterback, with Alex Manske ahead of Connor Barry in the reserve order. Becht brings extensive starting experience from Iowa State and already knows Campbell’s system, but the opener will be his first Penn State game. See the full quarterback depth-chart analysis for confidence labels and roster context.
At running back, public projections have Carson Hansen in the lead role, followed by James Peoples, Quinton Martin Jr., and Cam Wallace in a room likely to use multiple backs. That is a projected rotation, not a promise that the first snap or carry share will follow a rigid one-through-four order. The running back depth chart tracks that distinction.
The latest reported receiving picture includes Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen at wide receiver, with Benjamin Brahmer and Andrew Rappleyea leading the tight end group. Koby Howard and Amarion Jackson are among the reserve receivers, while Gabe Burkle is part of the tight end rotation. The reported projected offensive line, from left to right, is Malachi Goodman, Trevor Buhr, Brock Riker, Cooper Cousins, and Anthony Donkoh. Exact combinations can still change before kickoff.
Projected Penn State Defensive Starters
The defensive projection starts with Yvan Kemajou and Ikenna Ezeogu on the edge and Siale Taupaki and Keanu Williams inside. Max Granville, Dallas Vakalahi, and Armstrong Nnodim remain important rotation names rather than afterthoughts; Week 1 snap distribution should tell us more than a static preseason label.
At linebacker, Tony Rojas and Kooper Ebel are central to the expected alignment. The secondary projection includes Daryus Dixson and Audavion Collins at corner, Zion Tracy in the nickel role, and Marcus Neal Jr. with Jeremiah Cooper at safety. The complete defensive depth chart explains which roles have stronger evidence and which remain more tentative.
Ryan Barker is the projected kicker and Lucas Tenbrock the projected punter. Return work may be shared among Tracy, Howard, and Sowell. Special-teams assignments can change quickly, so the first official participation report will matter.
Three Things to Watch Against Marshall
1. How quickly the new offense settles
Penn State’s official game notes describe a roster with 62 newcomers, including 40 transfers. That amount of change makes communication and clean operation especially important. The first quarter should offer evidence about Becht’s command, the offensive-line combination, and whether the backfield works as a committee or develops a clear lead.
2. Marshall’s own roster reset
Marshall brings back a proven core despite the uncertainty that comes with any opener. The Sun Belt preseason preview identified redshirt senior quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson as the conference’s preseason offensive player of the year and noted that Marshall placed a conference-high nine players on preseason All-Sun Belt teams. Penn State should be favored at home, but Del Rio-Wilson’s dual-threat production gives the defense a real early test.
3. Which projected roles survive first contact
The most useful depth-chart information will come after kickoff. Opening personnel, third-down packages, red-zone usage, return assignments, and late competitive snaps can confirm or overturn preseason projections. Our main Penn State depth chart will be updated from public game evidence rather than treating this preview as permanent.
Bottom Line
The verified part is straightforward: Penn State hosts Marshall on September 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1 for the Stripe Out and Campbell’s debut. The projected starter order is a timely guide, not an official release. For a team with substantial roster turnover, the opener is the first reliable opportunity to replace August assumptions with observable roles.
Sources and update notes
Game date, kickoff, broadcast, venue, rankings, Stripe Out designation, series history, and newcomer totals were checked against Penn State’s August 31 game notes and the official Penn State schedule. The projected starter framework was cross-checked against Centre Daily Times reporting syndicated by AOL. Marshall roster context was checked against the Sun Belt Conference preseason preview. No private information or invented quotations are used.