Penn State Nittany Lions

0–0 · 0–0 BIG TEN

Preseason

WEEK 12 · 2026

The Week 12 job

Beat Rutgers and avoid turning a likely win into a season problem.

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

playoff chanceNow46%Win49%Loss18%

Rutgers

Rutgers 10%Penn State 90%

Penn State

By importanceWatch plan

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 1

Root for

Maryland

at

USC

Root for Maryland4.7-point playoff boost

Maryland visits your schedule in week 13: keep them ranked.

50% if Maryland wins45% with the other result4.7-point differencePenn State playoff chance

…

…

FOX

Priority 2

Oregon

at

Root for

Michigan State

Root for Michigan State5.1-point title-game boost

Big Ten race: Oregon losing helps your spot in the standings.

28% if Michigan State wins23% with the other result5.1-point differencePenn State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 3

Ohio State

at

Root for

Nebraska

Root for Nebraska4.3-point title-game boost

Big Ten race: Ohio State losing helps your spot in the standings.

27% if Nebraska wins23% with the other result4.3-point differencePenn State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 4

Indiana

at

Root for

Washington

Root for Washington4.1-point title-game boost

Big Ten race: Indiana losing helps your spot in the standings.

27% if Washington wins23% with the other result4.1-point differencePenn State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 5

Iowa

at

Root for

Illinois

Root for Illinois1.9-point playoff boost

Illinois winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

47% if Illinois wins45% with the other result1.9-point differencePenn State playoff chance

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 6

Northwestern

at

Root for

Minnesota

Root for Minnesota1.8-point playoff boost

Minnesota winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

46% if Minnesota wins45% with the other result1.8-point differencePenn State playoff chance

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 7

Utah

at

Root for

TCU

Root for TCU1.7-point playoff boost

TCU winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

47% if TCU wins45% with the other result1.7-point differencePenn State playoff chance

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 8

Vanderbilt

at

Root for

Florida

Root for Florida1.6-point playoff boost

Florida winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

47% if Florida wins45% with the other result1.6-point differencePenn State playoff chance

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CBSSN

Priority 9

Root for

Utah State

at

Oregon State

Root for Utah State1.3-point playoff boost

Utah State winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

46% if Utah State wins45% with the other result1.3-point differencePenn State playoff chance

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 10

Georgia

at

Root for

South Carolina

Root for South Carolina1.3-point playoff boost

South Carolina winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

47% if South Carolina wins45% with the other result1.3-point differencePenn State playoff chance

…

…

TV TBA

Priority 11

Memphis

at

Root for

Navy

Root for Navy1.3-point playoff boost

Navy winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

46% if Navy wins45% with the other result1.3-point differencePenn State playoff chance

53 more games that don't move your needle

Ball State at Ohio

Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan

Miami (OH) at Kent State

Akron at Massachusetts

Bowling Green at Toledo · ESPN2

Central Michigan at Buffalo

Rice at Temple · ESPN

Arkansas State at Louisiana Tech

Clemson at Duke · ESPN

Kentucky at Missouri

Texas A&M at Oklahoma

LSU at Tennessee

Arkansas at Texas

Arizona at Kansas State

BYU at Kansas

Colorado at Cincinnati

Houston at West Virginia

Iowa State at UCF · FS1

Oklahoma State at Arizona State

Texas Tech at Baylor

Virginia Tech at Miami

NC State at Florida State

North Carolina at Virginia

Pittsburgh at Louisville

Stanford at California

Syracuse at Boston College

Wake Forest at Georgia Tech

UCLA at Michigan

Wisconsin at Purdue

Colorado State at Fresno State · The CW Network

Washington State at Texas State · USA Network

San Diego State at Boise State · USA Network

Old Dominion at UConn · CBSSN

East Carolina at Army · CBSSN

Charlotte at Tulsa

South Florida at Florida Atlantic

North Texas at Tulane

UTSA at UAB

Hawai'i at Nevada

New Mexico at Wyoming · FS1

UNLV at San José State · CBSSN

UTEP at Air Force · The CW Network

UL Monroe at App State

Coastal Carolina at Louisiana

Georgia Southern at Troy

Georgia State at Marshall

Delaware at New Mexico State

Florida International at Kennesaw State

Missouri State at Jacksonville State

Western Kentucky at Liberty

Middle Tennessee at Sam Houston

South Alabama at Southern Miss

SMU at Notre Dame · NBC

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 12, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.