So you're looking for the Penn State game. It's a Saturday in mid-January, which usually means one thing in Happy Valley: the chaos of winter sports is in full swing. Whether you're trying to find the basketball team's latest Big Ten clash or looking for the top-ranked wrestling squad, finding exactly where to tune in can be a bit of a headache.
Honestly, the "penn state game on what channel" question depends entirely on which jersey you're looking for. Today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, the primary action is on the ice. The Penn State Men's Ice Hockey team is hosting Notre Dame at the Pegula Ice Arena. If you want to see the puck drop, you need to head over to the Big Ten Network (BTN). The game is scheduled for an 8:00 PM ET start.
Watching Penn State Basketball and Wrestling
If you were looking for hoops, you just missed them or have a tiny bit of a wait. The Men’s Basketball team played UCLA earlier this week on FS1 (it was a tough one), and their next big televised appearance is tomorrow, Sunday, January 18. They’ll be taking on Maryland at noon, also on the Big Ten Network.
For the wrestling fans—and let’s be real, Penn State wrestling is basically a religion—Cael Sanderson’s crew isn't on the mat today. They just had a massive dual against Iowa last night on BTN. Their next televised meet isn't until next Sunday, January 25, when they face Maryland at noon on the Big Ten Network.
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Penn State Game on What Channel: The 2026 TV Landscape
The way we watch the Nittany Lions has changed a ton lately. It used to be you just flipped to ABC or ESPN and called it a day. Now? You basically need a spreadsheet and three different logins.
Since Penn State is a cornerstone of the Big Ten, their broadcast rights are split between a few major players. For the 2025-26 season, here is the breakdown of who actually owns the airwaves:
- Big Ten Network (BTN): This is the workhorse. Most basketball games, almost all wrestling meets, and a huge chunk of hockey and volleyball live here. If it’s a conference game and not on a "major" network, check here first.
- FS1 / FOX: FOX has been leaning heavily into Big Ten sports. You’ll see big-time Saturday basketball games and the occasional wrestling "showcase" on FS1.
- NBC / Peacock: This is the one that trips people up. Peacock is no longer just "the app where they put the games nobody wants." They have exclusive rights to several high-profile Penn State basketball and football games. If you see a game listed on Peacock, it won't be on your regular TV channels. You have to stream it.
- CBS / Paramount+: Similar to NBC, CBS carries the "Game of the Week" types, especially for football and late-season basketball.
What about B1G+?
This is the "deep tracks" of Penn State sports. If you want to watch track and field, gymnastics, or some of the early-season non-conference baseball games, you're looking at B1G+. It’s a subscription streaming service. Today, for example, Penn State’s LionVision is the hub for various smaller events, but the "main" channel for today's hockey game remains the traditional Big Ten Network.
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Why Finding the Channel is Getting Harder
Networks are fighting for "inventory." In 2026, a "Penn State game on what channel" search is so popular because the Big Ten expanded. With schools like UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington in the mix, the TV windows are spread across the entire day.
Sometimes a game is scheduled for "TBA" until just six days before it starts. This happened with the football schedule this past fall—networks like FOX and NBC wait to see who is ranked highest before deciding which game gets the "Big Noon" kickoff or the Saturday Night primetime slot.
Where to Stream Penn State Today
If you don't have cable, you aren't out of luck, but you do have to be intentional. Most people use services like Fubo, YouTube TV, or Hulu + Live TV to get the Big Ten Network and FS1.
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- Direct Streaming: If the game is on BTN or FS1, you can use the FOX Sports App. You’ll need to log in with your provider credentials (even if that provider is a streaming service like YouTube TV).
- Peacock: For those exclusive NBC-owned games, you must have a Peacock Premium account. There is no "backdoor" through a cable provider for these.
- Paramount+: If the game is on CBS, it’s almost always simulcast on Paramount+ (specifically the "with SHOWTIME" tier for live local CBS).
Actionable Steps for the Next Game
To make sure you never miss a kickoff or a tip-off, here is what you should do right now:
- Download the GoPSUnow App: This is the official Penn State athletics app. It updates in real-time with the exact channel and streaming link for every single sport, from football to fencing.
- Check the "Six-Day Window": For football and basketball, the exact "Penn State game on what channel" info is often finalized on the Monday before a Saturday game. Mark your calendar to check the official GoPSUsports.com schedule every Tuesday morning.
- Verify your Peacock login: With the Big Ten’s current contract, at least 2-3 basketball games and 1-2 football games per year are moving to Peacock exclusively. Don't wait until 5 minutes before the game to realize your password expired.
- Sync to Calendar: Use the "Add to Calendar" feature on the Penn State Athletics website. It will automatically update the entry on your phone with the channel name once it is announced by the conference.
For tonight’s hockey game against Notre Dame, get your Big Ten Network tuned in by 8:00 PM ET. If you're looking for the basketball game against Maryland, clear your schedule for Sunday at noon on that same channel.