Penn State Nittany Lions

0–0 · 0–0 BIG TEN

Preseason

WEEK 8 · 2026

The Week 8 job

Penn State is off. Use the short list below as the scoreboard-watching plan.

By importanceWatch plan

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 1

Indiana

at

Root for

Michigan

Root for Michigan5.9-point title-game boost

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

29% if Michigan wins23% with the other result5.9-point differencePenn State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 2

Oregon

at

Root for

Illinois

Root for Illinois4.8-point title-game boost

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

27% if Illinois wins23% with the other result4.8-point differencePenn State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 3

Iowa

at

Root for

Minnesota

Root for Minnesota2.8-point playoff boost

Minnesota visits your schedule in week 11: keep them ranked.

48% if Minnesota wins45% with the other result2.8-point differencePenn State playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 4

Root for

Rutgers

at

Northwestern

Root for Rutgers2.4-point playoff boost

Rutgers visits your schedule in week 12: keep them ranked.

47% if Rutgers wins45% with the other result2.4-point differencePenn State playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 5

Oklahoma

at

Root for

Mississippi State

Root for Mississippi State2.0-point playoff boost

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

47% if Mississippi State wins45% with the other result2-point differencePenn State playoff chance

…

…

The CW Network

Priority 6

Air Force

at

Root for

Wyoming

Root for Wyoming1.5-point playoff boost

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

46% if Wyoming wins45% with the other result1.5-point differencePenn State playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 7

Vanderbilt

at

Root for

Kentucky

Root for Kentucky1.4-point playoff boost

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

47% if Kentucky wins45% with the other result1.4-point differencePenn State playoff chance

47 more games that don't move your needle

Middle Tennessee at Florida International · CBSSN

Missouri State at Delaware · ESPNU

South Alabama at Marshall · ESPN2

Liberty at Kennesaw State · CBSSN

New Mexico State at Sam Houston · ESPN2

East Carolina at Memphis · ESPN2

James Madison at App State · ESPNU

Duke at Virginia · ESPN

NC State at Stanford · ESPN

Army at Tulsa · ESPN2

Texas A&M at Alabama

LSU at Auburn

Tennessee at South Carolina

Ole Miss at Texas

Baylor at Kansas

BYU at UCF

Colorado at Oklahoma State

Houston at Utah

Iowa State at Arizona

Kansas State at Arizona State

Texas Tech at Cincinnati

West Virginia at TCU

California at SMU

Boston College at Georgia Tech

Pittsburgh at Miami

Syracuse at North Carolina

Virginia Tech at Clemson

Michigan State at UCLA

USC at Wisconsin

San Diego State at Colorado State · The CW Network

Utah State at Texas State · CBSSN

Boise State at Washington State · USA Network

Massachusetts at UConn · CBSSN

Rice at Florida Atlantic

North Texas at Navy · CBSSN

UTSA at Tulane

Hawai'i at Northern Illinois · MW+

San José State at Nevada · MW+

Akron at Kent State

Bowling Green at Buffalo

Eastern Michigan at Ohio

Western Michigan at Toledo

Miami (OH) at Central Michigan

Georgia State at Arkansas State

Louisiana at Southern Miss

Old Dominion at Louisiana Tech

UL Monroe at Troy

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 8, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.