Penn State’s new era is already being measured against a national backdrop, and The Athletic’s latest head coach rankings put Matt Campbell in the middle of the conversation.
With the 2026 season just weeks away, the Nittany Lions are set to look very different than they did against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. Campbell’s first game in charge comes Sept. 5 against Marshall at Beaver Stadium, and the program is trying to climb back toward national power status.
The Athletic released its list of nearly every FBS head coach and divided them into eight tiers. Only Indiana’s Curt Cignetti and Georgia’s Kirby Smart landed in the top group, “The Standard.” Ten coaches, including James Franklin, were placed in Tier 2: Established Winners, alongside Ryan Day of Ohio State, Dan Lanning of Oregon, and Kyle Whittingham of Michigan.
Campbell was placed one level below in Tier 3: Consistency with Upside. He is one of 23 coaches in that group, which also includes Bret Bielema of Illinois, Bob Chesney of UCLA, Kirk Ferentz of Iowa, P.J.
Fleck of Minnesota, and Lincoln Riley of USC. The coaches were listed alphabetically rather than ranked from best to worst within each tier.
In the story, senior writer Chris Vannini said Campbell will have to handle the expectations and pressure that Franklin set before him. Campbell comes to Penn State after guiding Iowa State to a 72-55 record over 10 years, a stretch that marked some of the most successful seasons in that program’s history.
Vannini said he consulted coaches, administrators, agents, and search firms for the piece, and one agent told The Athletic: “I’m really bullish on Matt Campbell this year. It’s a fascinating story to see how Penn State does.”
At least 12 coaches were placed ahead of Campbell before the third tier, including four from the Big Ten.
Penn State opened the week ranked No. 18 in the first AP Poll of 2026. The source article also notes that the team is coming off a College Football Playoff run after being preseason No. 2.
In Other News...
Penn State Is Still Waiting On A Key Tight End Return
Penn States tight end room has had to keep moving without one of its most experienced pieces this spring. Gabe Burkle, a redshirt senior and Iowa State transfer, is expected to be one of the Nittany Lions top options at the position when healthy, but he is still working his way back from the ACL injury that cut into his 2025 season and limited him to nine games.
Even with Burkle sidelined from practice, his influence has not disappeared from the room. He has been helping younger tight ends get comfortable in the offense and sharpen their skills, a useful presence for a group that is still sorting out its depth and development. For Penn State, the timeline on Burkles return remains a meaningful subplot because his availability could shape how quickly the position settles in once the season pressure ramps up. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State's Rebuilt Backfield Is Drawing Early National Attention
Penn States reworked backfield is already getting noticed beyond State College, with Carson Hansen and James Peoples both landing on the 2026 Doak Walker Award Watch List. The honor goes to the nations top running backs, and it gives an early hint that the Nittany Lions believe they have added real punch to a rushing attack now being shaped under new head coach Matt Campbell.
Hansen arrived from Iowa State, while Peoples came over from Ohio State, and both are expected to factor heavily as Penn State tries to establish itself on the ground again. The award race will tighten as the season goes on, with semifinalists due in November and the winner set to be announced in December, so this is only the first checkpoint for a pair of backs with plenty still to prove. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces A Huge Recruiting Test With Elite 2028 Linebacker
Penn State is already laying the groundwork for its 2028 recruiting class, with three commitments in place and contact spreading across several positions. One of the early names worth watching is four-star linebacker Skylar Alston of Raleigh, N.C., a prospect whose profile fits neatly with a program that has long sold itself on developing linebackers as well as anyone in the country. He has already made the rounds on the visit circuit, including an unofficial stop in Happy Valley, and his recruitment is shaping up as the kind of multi-school battle that tends to stretch well beyond the summer.
For Penn State, the challenge is not just getting Alston on campus again, but making the connection feel deeper than a first impression. The Nittany Lions will look to lean on their linebacker tradition as they build this relationship, and a possible fall game-day visit could give them another chance to separate themselves from the pack. For now, though, the race remains crowded, and Penn State still has to prove it can turn early interest into real traction. [Read more 🡒]