After reaching the College Football Playoff semifinals back in 2024, Penn State suffered a huge drop-off in 2025. James Franklin’s squad endured a six-game midseason losing streak, losing close battles to fellow Big Ten teams like Oregon and Indiana, and missed postseason play entirely with a 6–6 finish.
With fresh coach Matt Campbell at the helm, the Nittany Lions are ready to wipe the slate clean and bounce back in 2026. As a premier Big Ten team, Penn State’s games air weekly on major networks like CBS, FOX, NBC, and Big Ten Network, as well as on streaming services like Peacock. To help you navigate it all, I’ve put together this complete TV guide with weekly channel listings and my expert picks for the best streaming plans.
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2026 Penn State football TV schedule
The 2026 Penn State schedule is built for a clean slate. After opening with non-conference games against Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo, the Nittany Lions jump straight into Big Ten play with major home games against Wisconsin and USC, along with tough road trips to face Northwestern and Ohio State.
With the bar set on redemption after last year’s rough season, every week in Happy Valley carries massive stakes. Scroll down for the full TV schedule so you can follow along.
CFB - Penn State Nittany Lions Schedule
Opponent Date Time (ET) Channel
Data effective as of post date.
Best TV plans for watching Penn State football
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
When it comes to watching Penn State football, what kind of fan are you? Your answer will determine your perfect TV plan. For the serious follower who wants to catch the vast majority of games, my go-to recommendation is Hulu + Live TV. It’s the best all-around package, giving you all the essential college football channels like FOX, NBC, ESPN, and Big Ten Network. Plus, the included ESPN+ and unlimited DVR storage make it a fantastic value.
But if you’re the die-hard, “never-miss-a-snap” type of fan, you need to add one more piece to the TV puzzle: Peacock Premium. While Penn State will likely only have a game or two scheduled there, the Big Ten streams several key conference matchups exclusively on the platform each year. From my perspective, if you want guaranteed, 100% access to every possible Nittany Lions broadcast, adding Peacock is a must for true peace of mind on game day.
How to watch Penn State Nittany Lions football FAQ
Where can I watch Penn State football for free?
You can watch Penn State football for free using a simple digital antenna to pick up your local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC stations for a one-time cost. For anything on a cable channel like FS1 or Big Ten Network, your best move is to strategically use a free trial from a service like DIRECTV or Fubo.
How can I watch Penn State football without cable?
If you’re cutting the cord, my advice is to build your setup around a comprehensive live TV service. I always recommend Hulu + Live TV to college football fans because it has the essential CFB channels, including Big Ten Network and ESPN+. Just know that to be a true Big Ten completist, you’ll also need a Peacock Premium subscription for their exclusive games.
Can I watch Penn State football on Peacock?
Yes, the Big Ten’s media deal puts some of its best matchups exclusively on Peacock each season. If you want to see every possible Penn State game, you absolutely need one of Peacock’s premium subscriptions.
How do I watch Nittany Lions football if I live out of state?
Penn State football fans can forget about regional blackouts. Whether you’re in Philly or Phoenix, a good streaming service with Big Ten Network and the major broadcast channels gives you the same TV access as a fan in Central Pennsylvania.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, cross-referenced the official Penn State football schedule with the channel lineups of every major TV provider. Using those details, he selected our viewing recommendations based on channel availability, pricing, and ease of use.
This guide is updated regularly throughout the season to ensure our information is accurate. To learn more about our methods, check out our How We Rank page.
