Onward State

For the seventh straight year, Penn State’s Board of Trustees approved a budget package for 2027-28 that will increase tuition, fees, housing, and food rates. However, for the fifth straight year, the in-state tuition for commonwealth campuses will not increase for undergraduate students. During a scheduled meeting at Williamsport’s Pennsylvania College of Technology, the trustees voted heavily in favor of the tuition increases, with only Jay Paterno and Matt McGloin voting against it.

Penn State’s Board of Trustees on Friday approved a $210,000 performance bonus for university President Neeli Bendapudi. Under the terms of her contract amended in September 2025, Bendapudi is eligible for a bonus of 15% of her base salary for meeting annual performance goals mutually agreed upon with the board. During its meeting at Penn College in Williamsport, the board approved the maximum bonus available for Bendapudi, whose 2025-26 base salary was $1.4 million.

Penn State men’s basketball is set to host Canisius in its 2026-27 season opener, per Sam Federman. Canisius non-conference schedule, per source: pic.twitter.com/Ti3qgyNmwX — Sam Federman (@Sam_Federman) July 17, 2026 The Nittany Lions enter their fourth season under Mike Rhoades in 2026-27 following another offseason full of roster turnover.

Penn State has gained some serious notoriety for its tight end room over the past decade. From Mike Gesicki to Pat Friermuth and, more recently, Tyler Warren, the Nittany Lions have quickly inserted themselves into the “TEU” conversation. Luke Reynolds appeared as if he could eventually become the next Penn State great. In 2025, he notched 26 receptions and 257 yards in his first season as the team’s primary option, but ultimately hit the transfer portal following James Franklin’s departure.

Penn State women’s volleyball announced Thursday that it will play Stanford in the Palestra on Friday, September 11. It will be the Nittany Lions’ first appearance at the historic venue in 41 years.

Penn State baseball right-handed starting pitcher Colin Fitzgerald has signed with the Athletics as an undrafted free agent, the team announced on Wednesday. Congrats to @ColinMFitz signing with the Athletics!#WeAre pic.twitter.com/7NW7LKUlfe — Penn State Baseball (@PennStateBASE) July 15, 2026 Fitzgerald, originally from Lititz, Pennsylvania, committed to Maine out of Manheim Township High School and spent his first four collegiate seasons with the Black Bears.

Former Penn State football linebacker Jason Cabinda has joined the lead ACC broadcast crew as a booth analyst for The CW’s college football coverage for the 2026-27 season, the network announced Wednesday. The CW College Football broadcast crews are set for the season! pic.twitter.com/0LUz7sxnFd — The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) July 15, 2026 “Couldn’t be more excited to be joining the ACC crew over at @TheCW_Sports,” Cabinda wrote in a tweet.

The offseason calendar in college athletics was changed forever with the expansion of the transfer portal in 2021, leading to a yearly roster churn that always leaves fans scratching their heads when the next season begins. Penn State, coming off an extremely disappointing 2026 season, still has high hopes going forward, but will do it with a much different roster.

Neeli Bendapudi has staked her claim in the Protect College Sports Act situation. Penn State’s president sent a letter to U.S. Sen. John Fetterman “to express [her] concern with the Protect College Sports Act.” “Although we were hopeful the revised version of the bill released Monday evening would address many of the issues raised by the Big Ten Conference, only a single suggested revision was fully addressed,” Bendapudi wrote.

Penn State alumna Katie Feeney was named to the “TIME100 Creators List of the World’s Most Influential Digital Voices,” ESPN announced on Tuesday.