Guessing Penn State’s 2026 Kickoff Times

The birds are chirping. The flowers are blooming. The weather is warming. 

Spring is here and that means that TV executives will be pitching advertisers very soon. And what that means for a college football fan – particularly a Penn State football fan, you ask?

It’s time to give our kick time guesses for the 2026 Penn State football season. 

Yes, a great Stuff Somers Says With Steve tradition, where we – in May – give you our somewhat educated guesses of when we think Penn State football will play its games and what networks they will air on. 

As mentioned, upfronts are next week, and a handful of kick times will come out. Then toward the end of May, we’ve typically learned the kick times for the first three weeks of the season. After that, we likely won’t get kick times until early September as game times typically are announced 12 days before a game (so on Mondays) with the option for the networks and conferences to hold games for up to six days. Much like last year, once we get rolling in that process, this article will be updated below. 

New this year: We aren’t the only ones giving the picks. Now, you can take part in guessing what time Penn State will play its games in our Kick Time Guessing League. The winner will win some Stuff (of their choosing) and a $50 gift card to a downtown store in State College. 

A few reminders on how this process works – both in real life and in our guessing game. It’s generally believed that of the three core packages between Fox, NBC and CBS in the Big Ten, Fox has the first three picks. Additionally, they’re not picking games per se. The networks are picking which weekends they get first pick. The three most interesting games are likely Ohio State-Michigan, Ohio State-Indiana and Penn State-Michigan. Those last two games are played on the same weekend. But more on that below. 

Generally speaking, if Fox picks the weekend, it will put its first priority game at noon, CBS will be at 3:30 p.m. and NBC has the primetime slot at 7:30 p.m. After that, it’s a grab bag for FS1, Peacock and BTN. Importantly, it’s also believed that the Big Ten requires a team to play on BTN twice – with one of those games being a conference matchup. (There are some exceptions to that rule every so many years but it’s important to keep in mind.) 

And with that being said, if you’re playing in the SSSWS KTGL or keeping score of Steve and my performance at home, each game is worth one full point. If you get the time right, you get a half point and if you get the network right, you get another half point. A half plus a half equals one. If you guess NBC but the game airs on Peacock, you get .25 points. 

Last year, we nailed the first five kick times. Then all hell broke loose and Steve won the 2025 crown with an 8.25 to my 7. 

So with all of that backstory that you’ll probably just scroll right over anyway, let’s get to picking. 

Sept. 5 vs. Marshall

Steve Says: 3:30 p.m. BTN

A drowsy, long-day season opener to the Matt Campbell era. Feels BTN-ish, and a noon kick would not surprise but because nobody likes those (except me), let’s avoid that potential reality.

Darian Says: 12 p.m. FS1

The battle of the We Ares probably isn’t going to get that many eyeballs, particularly for how regional this game is. To me, this feels right.

Sept. 12 at Temple

Steve Says: 12 p.m. ESPN2

On the road, East Coast, another softie. Feels like noon and it’ll (thankfully) be on an ESPN-related network. Heck, could even be ABC with Penn State involved.

Darian Says: 12 p.m. ESPN2

It’s not interesting enough for regular ESPN but the worldwide leader hasn’t had a Penn State regular-season game since it last has the Big Ten rights in 2022. So this game gets the Duece and not the U.

Sept. 19 vs. Buffalo

Steve Says: 3:30 p.m. FS1

If the opener was on BTN, then this same-feel situation seems ripe for Fox Sports 1 in my world.

Darian Says: 3:30 p.m. BTN

Did you know that the last time these two teams met in 2019, the game was played at night on Fox? Weird. But let’s be normal this year.

Sept. 26 vs. Wisconsin

Steve Says: 3:30 p.m. CBS

Maybe this sends up as a Big Noon game on Fox. It’s possible. But, more likely (at least in my world) it’s a late-afternoon kick on CBS, giving Penn State fans their first exposure to that network’s revamped broadcast team

Darian Says: 12 p.m. Fox

Homecoming hasn’t been at noon since 2021. Don’t look up what happened that day. Still I think with the debut of Matt Campbell in the Big Ten, this game feels like Big Noon.

Oct. 2 at Northwestern

(Game is on Friday)

Steve Says: 7:30 p.m. Fox

A Friday night in the Windy City at Northwestern’s new home. Prime time on Fox feels certain, even if the on-air team might not be the network’s (or the sport’s) strongest.

Darian Says: 8 p.m. Fox

Baseball season will just be wrapping up so there’s a good chance Fox will have football that night. Plus with the new Ryan Field making its debut, there will be some extra eyeballs on this one.

Oct. 10 vs. USC

Steve Says: 7:30 p.m. NBC

Maybe NBC wisely picked this week to make its selection. If so, this is the game. Its fallback would be Indiana at Nebraska. And if Fox has this weekend, then that other game gets the primetime slot and this is Big Noon. But for all things White Out, and because I don’t think the conference would make USC come east to play at noon (even though UCLA did), this just feels like a night game and the best broadcast crew covering the B1G.

Darian Says: 7:30 p.m. NBC

The only thing that might get in the way of this is a hot UCLA team and even then I think NBC wouldn’t want to pass up what will likely be the White Out.

Oct. 17 at Michigan

Steve Says: 3:30 p.m. CBS

All the logic that was applied above fits here as well. With other games that day, thinking it’s not a noon game but possibly 3:30. And maybe even at night. We’ll see.

Darian Says: 3:30 p.m. CBS

This is where I’d like to speak to the manager. As mentioned above, this is probably one of the top five and potentially top three games of the season in the Big Ten. Yet for some reason, this game is scheduled on the same day as Ohio State at Indiana. It feels like they should have spread out these bigger matchups.

Oct. 31 vs. Purdue

Steve Says: 12 p.m. BTN

Every season needs a sleepy noon start. So here you go.

Darian Says: 12 p.m. Peacock

Because what’s scarier on Halloween than helping a relative with a streaming service?

Nov. 7 at Washington

Steve Says: 7:30 p.m. NBC

Two NBC games in four weeks would be viewership riches for Penn State fans, so maybe that’s unlikely. Still, you know it’s not noon. So 3:30 or 7:30, and I’m biased for NBC over some member of the Fox family. Please.

Darian Says: 3:30 p.m. CBS

Michigan and Michigan State play each other this day. Oregon travels to Columbus to take on the Buckeyes. Those games feel like Big Noon and Big Ten Saturday Night, respectively, leaving Penn State at Washington for 3:30 p.m. on CBS.

Nov. 14 vs. Minnesota

Steve Says: 7 p.m. Peacock

Maybe there’s not a Peacock game this season. Then again, there always seems to be. Also, Penn State touts its fan base (not that viewership transfers) and this game on regular TV is not a big ratings mover anyway. So, it could end up streaming.

Darian Says: 12 p.m. Fox

Michigan goes to Oregon this day and USC goes to Indiana (I think this is one of the other top five games in the Big Ten this season.) The Ducks probably play at night and I struggle with the conference forcing USC to play at noon eastern for this. After that, there’s not much interesting inventory for Fox.

Nov. 21 vs. Rutgers

Steve Says: 3:30 FS1

Late November vs. Rutgers typically means BTN. Maybe this season it’s different.

Darian Says: 4 p.m. BTN 

Did you know 9 of the last 11 Penn State-Rutgers games were on BTN? Make it 10 of 12.

Nov. 28 at Maryland

Steve Says: 3:30 p.m. BTN

Either BTN or FS1, it feels like for this … because Penn State should be decent and Maryland likely will not. With these end of season games, just hoping for no quirky night games or unusual start times.

Darian Says: 3:30 p.m. FS1

Insert the usual 3:30 p.m. because of a noon Ohio State-Michigan game logic here.

Below are our picks neatly summed up for you. A reminder if you’d like to play along, you can do so here until all picks are released. The sooner you get your picks in, the more potential points you can score.

Lastly, don’t forget to keep an eye on Penn State’s schedule here.

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