- Marshall finished just short of bowl eligibility last season after going 5-7.
- Penn State finished 7-6 following a win in the Pinstripe Bowl over Clemson.
- These teams last met on October 11, 1930, in a game that Penn State won 65-0.
The 2026 NCAAF season continues with a battle between Marshall vs Penn State. The Nittany Lions will be aiming to bounce back and make the CFP after a brutally disappointing 7-6 season last year.
Marshall Faces Week 1 Challenge
Marshall is aiming to get back on track in the 2nd season under head coach Tony Gibson. After posting an 81-44 (.648) record over a 10-year span with 9 bowl appearances and 6 bowl wins, the Thundering Herd are in an era of transition. A mass exodus in the transfer portal era saw Marshall unable to field enough players for their bowl game in 2024, despite being 10-3 on the year, before being ineligible for one with a 5-7 record in 2025.
Penn State Seeks to Rise in Big-10
Penn State had a brutal year in 2025. After opening the season up ranked #2 in the nation, the Nittany Lions started Big-10 play with six consecutive losses, nearly missing a bowl game altogether. A lot of pieces have moved around since then, most notably the departure of James Franklin and hiring of Matt Campbell. Along with a brand new OC and DC, Penn State is also bringing in Senior QB Rocco Becht as the new signal caller.
Marshall vs #18 Penn State NCAAF Pick
It’s a bit too early to predict just how capable a fully rebuilt Penn State roster and coaching staff will be. At the very least, they shouldn’t have much trouble dispatching Marshall in this game. Despite last season’s struggles, the Nittany Lions went 3-0 in non-conference play. They should manage to build some momentum during the same stretch this year, starting with this game against Marshall that will likely wind up lopsided.
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Pick
Penn State Nittany Lions -24.5 (-110)
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