5 major storylines for Penn State heading into 2026 season

Almost nothing about Penn State's football team is the same since the last time they took the field back in December. They have a new coach in Matt Campbell , a new starting quarterback in Rocco Becht , and even a new-look Beaver Stadium as we head into 2026.

With so much change taking place at Penn State, there is a lot to unpack about the team's roster, philosophies and outlook for the season. The Nittany Lions have a plethora of questions to answer in both the long-term and short-term, but for now, let's look at the five biggest stories surrounding the team heading into Week 1.

One of the biggest questions of the offseason, and now one of the biggest mysteries of this first game is what Penn State's running back rotation will look like. They have three talented rushers — Carson Hansen , James Peoples , and Quinton Martin Jr. — who all seem capable of handling starter responsibilities.

But with so many mouths to feed, offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser will have his hands full trying to figure out a proper distribution. Will he feed the hot hand from week to week, or will he build a comprehensive plan for the position group that is solidified for the entire season? There is a lot we still don't know about the running back room, but Saturday's game against Marshall should be a good indication of what it will look like going forward.

Senior defensive back Zion Tracy has been relatively quiet in his first three years with the Nittany Lions , but he's expected to have a big role this season. The coaching staff has hinted at using him in a Swiss Army knife role , where he would line up at multiple positions on the field.

There are several NFL players who fit that mold, and they tend to be stars. The Baltimore Ravens use safety Kyle Hamilton at his natural position, cornerback, and linebacker, while the Philadelphia Eagles use Cooper DeJean at safety and nickel back. Tracy has a long way to go to reach the level of those two All-Pro defensive backs, but that sounds like the role Penn State envisions for him.

Keep an eye on where Tracy lines up on each play to see just how varied his positioning is.

The new Nittany Lions coach is about to get his first professional experience in the Big Ten. There isn't too much pressure for Campbell since his team will be facing a Marshall team that has almost no experience against Big Ten opponents. The former Iowa State man might not be fully comfortable in his new conference yet, so luckily, he was given an easier game to begin the season.

Over the next 12 weeks, Campbell is sure to adopt some strategies and make decisions that he never had to in the Big 12. This season will be one big adjustment for him, and Week 1 will be the perfect preview into how he handles it.

Injuries played a large factor in the 2025 season for Penn State, with linebacker Tony Rojas and defensive end Max Granville both being ruled out for the year at different points. Now, both are healthy and should be on the grass for Week 1 barring any last-minute setbacks.

Rojas looked poised to break out last season before tearing his ACL and will try to get back to that level as quickly as possible. As for Granville, he hasn't played a live snap of football in nearly two years, so all he needs to do is show positive signs of development from his freshman year.

It's been a long time since we've seen him, but now he's being depended on to be a major player on the defensive line. Keep an eye on how well Rojas and Granville respond to their injuries, but pay especially close attention to the latter this season.

While the regular season might be officially starting, it wouldn't be surprising to see the coaching staff treat the game against Marshall like an NFL preseason game. Of course, they'll prepare and respect the Thundering Herd as much as any other team, but there is little incentive to come out with an intricate game plan.

The Nittany Lions should be able to win this game handily even with a vanilla offense, so Campbell and Mouser might hold back so they don't tip their hands to scarier opponents later in the year. Watch the offensive play designs closely for Week 1 and see just how complex or generic the play calling is.

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