2026 PSU #14/15 vs. Buffalo

Back to 2026 Schedule

General Pre-Game Information

PSU-BUFFALO FINAL GAME STATS LINK

• Game Three of 2026 season (12 Noon EDT kick time announced May 27/Game theme announced Aug. 25)—This is the annual THON Game and the final non-conference game of the 2026 season. It was also announced on Sept. 16 that the 1986 National Championship team would be honored at halftime of this game. Penn State (2-0) opens Big Ten play for the first time under Matt Campbell at home next week with Wisconsin. This game with Buffalo was officially scheduled in late April 2023 as a replacement for the San Jose State game which had been moved to this make-up date after being cancelled from its original date (Sept. 19, 2020) due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The Buffalo Bulls (1-1) are coming off their second of 4 non-conference games of the season at Florida International (a 33-20 Bulls loss). PSU Coach Matt Campbell is 2-0 all-time vs. Buffalo from his tenure as head coach at Toledo (2012-15) where he beat the Bulls 25-20 in 2012 & 51-41 in 2013 in the MAC. Campbell is also 2-2 all-time at Toledo vs. Pete Lembo from Lembo’s tenure at Ball State as head coach (they played 4 straight seasons in the MAC from 2012-15 with Campbell/Toledo winning in ‘14 & ‘15).

• Last PSU Game played (Sept. 12): Penn State 27 Temple 9 at Lincoln Financial Field

• Current Rankings: AP Poll (released Sept. 13)-PSU #14 (up 2 spots)—Texas new #1 after win over Ohio State which falls to #6/Oregon falls to #21 with loss/Michigan returns to the rankings at #19 / US LBM Coaches Poll (released Sept. 13)-PSU #15 (up 1 slot)—Texas new #1 after win over Ohio State which falls to #6/Oregon drops to #8 with upset loss/Michigan up to #19

• Buffalo 2025 Record: 5-7 overall, 4-4 in MAC (3 MAC wins were on road)—Head Coach: Pete Lembo (3rd season)—Lembo is a former Special Teams Coordinator at Maryland (2016-17)—The Terps lost both meetings with PSU while Lembo was on their staff

• 5th meeting with Buffalo all-time (1st meeting since 2019/4th meeting at home): Penn State leads the series, 3-1. The series dates to a 10-0 road loss at Buffalo in November 1900 (the lone game not played in the 2000’s). The loss capped off the debut season of State Head Coach Pop Golden (4-6-1). Penn State is 3-0 vs. Buffalo in the games played at Beaver Stadium this century (2007, 2015, & 2019).

• Last PSU Game vs. Buffalo (2019): The Nittany Lions rolled to a 45-13 victory. PSU trailed 10-7 at the half, but Sean Clifford would throw for 279 yards and 4 TDs (2 to Jahan Dotson) to lead the comeback. John Reid’s 36-yard Pick-6 in the 3rd quarter put the Lions on top to stay.

• Memorable PSU moment vs. Buffalo: 2007—PSU beats the Bulls 45-24, and Jordan Norwood makes the TD catch of the year—The Lions are 1st and goal at the Buffalo 5-yard line leading 10-3 with just over a minute to go before the half. Anthony Morelli throws a ball to Norwood in double coverage at the goal line. It’s behind Norwood and could have been an INT. Luckily, the one defender gets two hands on the ball only briefly, and Norwood gets his left hand on the ball for a heartbeat, until a second defender collides with his teammate. Norwood falls backwards. Amazingly, the ball had been tipped in the air towards him as he falls, and he never loses track of it. Jordan reaches for it with his right hand as he lands on his back in the endzone. Norwood one-hands the ball against his right hip, maintains control the whole way, and just barely keeps the ball off the turf for the ruled catch and TD. Did the ground help? No way to tell for sure from the camera angles. The ref is right there with a clear view of the catch. It’s one of Morelli’s 4 TD passes on the day.

• Memorable PSU moment vs. Buffalo: 2015—PSU beats the Bulls 27-14 and Nittany Lions fans get a glimpse of the future—One week after rushing once for a single yard in the opener at Temple, Freshman Saquon Barkley makes his debut at Beaver Stadium. And it’s unforgettable. Barkley carries 12 times for 115 yards and a touchdown (101 of those yards came in the 4th quarter). But, more critically, fans get a look at the first of Saquon’s soon-to-be iconic leaps as he vaults over a diving Bulls defender. More dazzling moments would follow over 3 seasons. Note: Buffalo’s OC that day was future Penn State OC, Andy Kotelnicki (2024-25).

• PSU last game vs. a member of the MAC: PSU beat Kent State 56-0 in 2024. The game was played in front of the largest announced crowd ever for a non-Power 4 (or 5) foe at Beaver Stadium (109,526)—This was also the 6th largest non-conference game attendance at Beaver Stadium through the 2025 season.

• 2nd consecutive Noon ET kick for PSU in 2026. Week 2 game at Temple also kicked at Noon

  TV/Radio Information

• Big Ten Network (BTN) Gameday Announcers: Chris Vosters (Play-by-Play) & Matt Millen (Analyst—PSU DT/LB 1976-79) with Caroline Hendershot (Sidelines). Vosters & Millen are doing their first Penn State game for BTN since the 2024 Week two 34-27 win vs. Bowling Green which was also the THON game.

• First game televised on BTN since 2025 win at Rutgers (40-36). BTN televised two PSU games in the 2025 season including the win over FIU. Penn State has won 11 straight games televised by BTN since the 2020 home loss to Iowa (41-21)

• BTN Tailgate Show will be staged near Gate B of the Bryce Jordan Center beginning at 10am on gameday (first visit since 2025 FIU game)

• This is the 3rd straight game this season to be televised on a non-traditional (non-broadcast) TV Network—Week 1 vs. Marshall was televised on FS1 & Week 2 at Temple was on ESPN2.

• Penn State Radio Network Announcers: Steve Jones (PBP), Jack Ham (Analyst), & Brian Tripp (Sidelines). Jones & Ham are in 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. Sirius XM: 178, 232, XM App