Where Is Penn State Ranked in 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll?

Coach Matt Campbell leads the Penn State football team into Beaver Stadium for the Blue-White Practice on April 25, 2026. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.com

By

Joel Haas

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August 4, 2026 – 1:11 pm

Penn State Football, Penn State Sports

Despite a disappointing collapse last season and a major staff and roster overhaul, Penn State is still highly thought of heading into 2026.

The Nittany Lions slotted in at No. 17 in the preseason coaches poll after finishing last season unranked. They’re the sixth-highest ranked Big Ten team and one of eight total ranked teams from the conference. With the AP Top 25 rankings, which typically mirror the coaches poll closely, set to drop on Aug. 17, it’s likely Penn State will begin the Matt Campbell era with a number next to its name.

Last season, the Nittany Lions began at No. 3 in the preseason coaches poll and No. 2 in the AP poll before sliding out of the rankings during a six-game midseason losing skid. Despite rattling off four consecutive wins to close the season, they remained out of the top 25.

Under head coach Matt Campbell, Iowa State began the 2025 campaign ranked No. 21 in the coaches poll and had previous appearances at No. 8 (2021), No. 25 (2020) and No. 24 (2019), making this year his second-highest start to a campaign.

The full rankings are as follows:

1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Georgia
4. Texas
5. Notre Dame
6. Indiana
7. Miami (FL)
8. Texas A&M
9. Oklahoma
10. Ole Miss
11. Alabama
12. Texas Tech
13. LSU
14. USC
15. BYU
16. Michigan
17. Penn State
18. Tennessee
19. Washington
20. SMU
21. Utah
22. Iowa
23. Clemson
24. Houston
25. Missouri