2026 Blue-White “Practice”

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General Blue-White Information

• 75th “Blue-White Game” (officially announced on April 2nd as a “Practice” not a game)—This marks the debut of Matt Campbell and his new staff at PSU in a gameday scenario. The 2026 Blue-White event was announced Feb. 16 for this date in April. Campbell had wanted to get his new team some time in front of the fans in Beaver Stadium in some fashion ahead of the 2026 season. Format of “Blue-White 2026” will be a live open practice session with limited scrimmaging and 7-on-7 drills with limited or no live contact periods. Of the 103 players on the roster (pending the addition of 4 February signees & 6 expected walk-ons), only 52 are returnees from the 2025 PSU team (24 of the new players transferred from Iowa State following Campbell). This is the second Blue-White Game played at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. And this is the second Blue-White Game to take place during the ongoing stadium renovation which is still due to be completed in time for the 2027 season. This is also the 15th and final “practice” of the Spring 2026 football season which began March 24. Beaver Stadium grass turf was re-sodded ahead of this game. Seating will not be available in the West stands for this event due to ongoing construction. There is no admission fee and parking will cost $20-$30.

• LINK TO 2026 PENN STATE COACHES & SUPPORT STAFF (complete list with all returning & new personnel)

• Spring 2026 Injury Concerns: Rocco Becht QB (non-throwing shoulder post-season surgery on torn labrum/also nursing right shoulder AC joint sprain)-should be ready late in spring practice, but will not get “live reps” in practice-individual drills and 7-on-7 only (B-W game participation-very doubtful), Tony Rojas LB (recovering from torn ACL in left knee reportedly suffered at Tuesday practice after loss to Oregon Sept. 2025/also suffered quad contusion in Oregon game)-limited spring activity, should be ready to go in summer, Andrew Rappleyea TE (2026 short-term injury to right foot requiring cast)-should be ready for summer practice, Max Granville DE (missed entire 2025 season with undisclosed long-term injury)-limited Spring practice activity, Alex Tatsch LB (missed 2025 Pinstripe Bowl with undisclosed injury)-limited Spring practice activity, Greg Burkle TE (undisclosed injury from game 9 in 2025 season with ISU)-limited spring activity, expected to be ready for summer camp, Jeremiah Cooper S (recovering from torn ACL in game 4 of 2025 season with ISU)-should be ready for summer practice, Peter Gonzalez WR-status for Spring 2026 not clear after spending most of 2025 on Availability Report listed as OUT, Mason Robinson DE-revealed on April 15 that he is out for 2026 season with undisclosed injury (spent most of 2025 season listed as OUT on availability report/has not played a down at PSU), Jordan Mayer DE-status for Spring 2026 not clear after spending most of 2025 on Availability Report listed as OUT, Anthony Donkoh RT (underwent unspecified medical procedure per Lions247 on March 4, and will be held out of spring practice)-expected to be fully ready for summer camp (Donkoh played the most snaps in 2025 of any returning PSU player)—Per Matt Campbell March 24, Carson Hansen RB, Chase Sowell WR & Brett Eskildsen WR are unlikely to have “live reps” this spring as they recover from injury issues, but will be full go for the fall. March 26, it was revealed that Alex Manske QB underwent off-season medical procedure and would be limited in Spring with no “live reps”. Also, Christian Askew S & Joshua Johnson CB limited activity in early Spring practice.

• Players at New Positions for 2026: LaVar Arrington II shifts from LB to DE, Caleb Brewer shifts from OL to DT (3-technique), Chris Fileppo shifts from S/Nickel (at WVU) to LB—Quinton Martin RB is also getting work on WR schemes this spring (which was something that had been discussed in 2025 spring & pre-season)

• 2025 Blue-White Game: Despite ongoing renovations that left the West stands closed, the Blue-White Game took place in Beaver Stadium on April 26th under cloudy skies with temps in the 60s. The White beat the Blue, 10-8. The highlight of the game was a 47-yard TD pass from Jaxon Smolik QB off his back-foot to Freshman WR Lyrick Samuel in the 2nd period. The lone Blue TD was a 1-yard run by Quinton Martin RB in the 3rd period. Freshman kicker Matthew Parker added a 36-yard FG and a PAT. Vaboue Toure S had an interception of a Drew Allar pass. The game offered a mix of “live or thud” and “no contact” periods along with some 7-on-7 action. A number of starters and key players did not participate (notably Tony Rojas, Anthony Donkoh, Andrew Rappleyea, Zane Durant, and Dani Dennis-Sutton). Halftime saw former TE Tyler Warren on hand to receive the John Mackey Award as the best tight end in college football for 2024. Warren had just been drafted by the Indianapolis Colts two days earlier.

• Fundraising from the stadium renovation: PSU Athletics began sales of content/signage from the now-removed press box and west upper seating area at the 2025 Blue-White game. Bleacher sections sold for $100 per seat number. And notably, the Penn State Nittany Lion oval logo from the face of the press box garnered $10,700 when it finally sold on e-Bay on May 16 (this is the highest known price of any “sold” items from this sale)

• PSU Blue-White Game History: The Blue-White concept began in 1951 as a spring intra-squad scrimmage ahead of the second season under head coach Rip Engle. The May 5, 1951 game was played at State College High School’s field due to the re-sodding of New Beaver Field. Approximately 500 people attended it. The 1951 game is one of two Blue-White Games to not be played on the PSU campus. The other was the May 6, 1978 game that was moved to Hersheypark Stadium due to the major renovation/expansion of Beaver Stadium that would debut that fall. Blue-White has been held every spring since 1951 except for the 2020 game which was cancelled amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2021 game also became an open practice session with very limited attendance due to ongoing Covid concerns. A game/scrimmage format of some variety resumed with full attendance permitted beginning in 2022.

• Blue-White Scholarship Moment: Former head coach James Franklin had a habit of surprising walk-ons who were getting bumped up to scholarship status. At the April 13, 2019 Blue-White Game, rising 5th year Senior wide receiver/special teamer Dan Chisena had his scholarship moment. Late in the 3rd period, Chisena (2018-19) caught a 59-yard TD pass from Will Levis in the Blue’s 24-7 win over the White. Levis got the ball to Chisena down the right sideline, and he beat true Freshman CB Keaton Ellis who stumbled on the play. Franklin grabbed the on-field PA microphone and announced to everyone that Chisena was now on scholarship. This triggered a raucous celebration among the players with the crowd cheering wildly. Chisena had been with the track team since 2015, but a torn hamstring ended his track days, and he gave football a shot after he recovered. In the 2019 season, he would be named Academic All-Big Ten. He recovered a fumble on a muffed punt in the Michigan State game and had 3 total pass receptions. His biggest catch came at Maryland on a 40-yard bomb from Sean Clifford that set up a Ricky Slade TD run in the PSU 59-0 victory. Chisena was actually mugged by the Terps defender on the pass and was pulled to the ground and the ball landed on his chest for his first career catch.

• Last PSU Game played (Dec. 27, 2025): Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium—Penn State 22 Clemson 10 (4th straight win for PSU) LINK TO STATS THRU CLEMSON WIN

• PSU 2025 record: 7-6 overall, 3-6 in Big Ten—PSU was 4-3 at home/2-3 on road/1-0 at neutral sites/1-2 in night games/0-6 in all “color themed” games (home & road)—Penn State finished with fewest conference wins since 2014 (2-6)—PSU was 3-3, 0-3 under James Franklin & 4-3, 3-3 under Terry Smith. LINK TO 2025 SCHEDULE/RESULTS

• Penn State’s new uniforms from Adidas—Will officially make their game debut in September—This is technically final game for Penn State to use Nike uniforms/gear which debuted with the 1994 season.

  TV/Radio Information

• TV Network: None Announced (2025 Blue-White Game was not televised by BTN due to concerns revolving around the now-eliminated Spring Transfer Portal window & the so-called “poaching” of players)

• Penn State Radio Network Announcers for 2026 season: Steve Jones (PBP), Jack Ham (Analyst), & Brian Tripp (Sidelines). Jones & Ham are beginning their 27th season in the booth together. Ham, a member of both the CHOF (1990) and Pro Football Hall of Fame (1988), played linebacker at Penn State (1968-70). Jones (Class of 1980) & Tripp (Class of 2011) are also Penn State grads.