Penn State Nittany Lions

0–0 · 0–0 BIG TEN

Preseason

WEEK 9 · 2026

The Week 9 job

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

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

playoff chanceNow46%Win47%Loss21%

Purdue

Purdue 5%Penn State 95%

Penn State

By importanceWatch plan

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 1

Root for

Minnesota

at

Indiana

Root for Minnesota7.0-point title-game boost

Big Ten race: Indiana losing helps your spot in the standings; Minnesota visits your schedule in week 11: keep them ranked.

30% if Minnesota wins23% with the other result7-point differencePenn State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 2

Root for

Northwestern

at

Oregon

Root for Northwestern5.9-point title-game boost

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

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

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 3

Ohio State

at

Root for

USC

Root for USC5.3-point title-game boost

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

27% if USC wins22% with the other result5.3-point differencePenn State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 4

Illinois

at

Root for

Maryland

Root for Maryland2.8-point playoff boost

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

47% if Maryland wins44% with the other result2.8-point differencePenn State playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 5

Michigan

at

Root for

Rutgers

Root for Rutgers2.3-point playoff boost

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

47% if Rutgers wins45% with the other result2.3-point differencePenn State playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 6

Root for

Wisconsin

at

Iowa

Root for Wisconsin3.0-point title-game boost

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

26% if Wisconsin wins23% with the other result3-point differencePenn State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 7

Root for

Auburn

at

Ole Miss

Root for Auburn1.8-point playoff boost

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

47% if Auburn wins45% with the other result1.8-point differencePenn State playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 8

Root for

Washington

at

Nebraska

Root for Washington1.7-point playoff boost

Washington visits your schedule in week 10: keep them ranked.

46% if Washington wins45% with the other result1.7-point differencePenn State playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 9

Root for

Southern Miss

at

UL Monroe

Root for Southern Miss1.4-point playoff boost

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

46% if Southern Miss wins45% with the other result1.4-point differencePenn State playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 10

Root for

Kansas

at

TCU

Root for Kansas1.4-point playoff boost

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

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

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 11

Missouri

at

Root for

Arkansas

Root for Arkansas1.3-point playoff boost

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

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

42 more games that don't move your needle

Delaware at Western Kentucky · CBSSN

Sam Houston at Missouri State · ESPN2

Jacksonville State at New Mexico State · ESPN2

Kennesaw State at Middle Tennessee · CBSSN

Florida Atlantic at North Texas

Troy at James Madison

Tulane at Charlotte · ESPN2

Florida at Georgia · ABC

South Carolina at Oklahoma

Mississippi State at Texas

Arizona at Texas Tech

Arizona State at BYU

Baylor at UCF · ESPN

Kansas State at Colorado

Oklahoma State at Iowa State

Utah at Cincinnati

California at NC State

SMU at Syracuse

Boston College at Duke

Clemson at Florida State

Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh

Miami at North Carolina

Stanford at Louisville

Virginia at Wake Forest

Nevada at UCLA

Navy at Notre Dame

Texas State at Boise State · The CW Network

Washington State at San Diego State · CBSSN

Colorado State at Utah State · USA Network

Oregon State at Fresno State · USA Network

UConn at Air Force · MW+

Army at Memphis

Temple at East Carolina

UAB at South Florida

New Mexico at San José State · MW+

Northern Illinois at UNLV · CBSSN

Bowling Green at Western Michigan · CBSSN

App State at Georgia Southern

Coastal Carolina at Georgia State

Florida International at Liberty · CBSSN

Marshall at Old Dominion

Louisiana Tech at South Alabama

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 9, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.