​The Penn State Nittany Lions head into 2026 with a lot of question marks. Their offensive line could be the key to surprising folks.Penn State football enters 2026 with significant questions surrounding Matt Campbell’s first year as head coach of the Nittany Lions.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe former Iowa State coach overhauled much of the roster, welcomed several former Cyclone standouts, and is installing a completely different ideology and culture in Happy Valley. That transition creates natural uncertainty, but from everything I have gathered talking to folks on the Penn State side, there is one unit that could quietly define how competitive this team is in Year 1: the offensive line.Campbell brought his former Iowa State offensive line coach, Ryan Clanton, with him, a staff known for getting units to outperform their perceived talent level. Now they inherit a group with significant returning talent and a handful of promising newcomers. The early returns have been encouraging, and there is genuine belief within the program that this could be one of the better offensive lines in the Big Ten.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPerhaps the highest expectations belong to projected starting right guard Cooper Cousins, a former 5-star recruit from the 2024 class. His first two seasons did not quite meet the lofty billing, but the 6-6, 320-pound lineman appears to be on the cusp of putting it all together.From what I’ve been told, Cousins has had a tremendous offseason. He has added power and core strength to his frame and has been working incredibly hard. The new staff believes this is the year he delivers on the promise that made him one of the top recruits in the country.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementProjected starting left tackle Malachi Goodman is another former top recruit who generates a lot of excitement. Now standing at 6-6 and 331 pounds as a true freshman, the physical gifts he brings are tremendous. Sources indicate his work ethic has been strong this offseason, and he has taken to the coaching staff’s instruction while improving day by day.There is an expectation that he will experience some growing pains playing left tackle in the Big Ten as a young player, but those same people believe he could make a massive ascension down the stretch and emerge as one of the most promising young left tackles in college football.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTwo transfer additions have Happy Valley feeling optimistic about the interior of the line. Trevor Buhr, projected to start at left guard, is a familiar face for the coaching staff after starting on Iowa State’s interior offensive line. He is not as flashy or talented as some of the other names in this group, but he brings experience and physicality. He plays with a mean streak, which could prove to be a huge asset for a team trying to jumpstart its running game under the new regime.At center, Brock Riker arrives from Texas State as a redshirt sophomore w