It is far too early to start declaring Penn State’s Matt Campbell hiring a success or a mistake.
Three Big Ten games is not nearly enough time to hand down a verdict, especially when Campbell entered the job already dealing with a damaged roster situation. The timing of his arrival cost him a recruiting class, and the fluid transfer portal and the unregulated nature of college football only complicated matters further.
The optimism around this season was built on two obvious things: James Franklin was gone, and the Big Ten handed Penn State what looked like the softest schedule in the league, with Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon all avoided. That came on top of a non-conference slate put together under Franklin and approved by Pat Kraft, a schedule that helped create a false sense of security. Even then, the expectation for the Nittany Lions was mostly in the 9-3 range.
None of that changes the fact that Campbell has not gotten off to a good start.
His game management has been a problem. He has burned timeouts when he didn’t need them and left them sitting in his pocket when he did.
His decision-making has also drawn questions, whether it was trying to sit on a 17-0 lead against Wisconsin or not applying enough pressure on USC quarterback Jaylen Maiava. Even some of his explanations have left people scratching their heads.
That 0-3 start has opened the door to all kinds of second-guessing. And as the search stretched on last year, there was at least a case to be made that Penn State could have gone a different direction.
One option that made sense at the time was associate head coach Terry Smith, who might have served as a bridge and helped stabilize the roster. He might even have kept Ethan Grunkemeyer.
But Smith was viewed more as a BandAid than a long-term solution, and that path never materialized.
Bob Chesney’s name has also been part of the conversation. The PA native has done strong work so far at UCLA, but it’s worth keeping the scope of that success in check.
Wins over Purdue, Maryland and an Oregon team playing its third quarterback are not the kind of resume that should send everyone into overdrive. Besides, Campbell brought a better resume to the table.
Whether he becomes the better coach is something that won’t be known until later in November, or maybe not until 2028.
What gets lost in all this is that coaching changes take time. New leaders need an acclimation period, and Penn State knew exactly what it was signing up for when it moved on from Franklin after 12 seasons.
The program wanted a different voice - someone less flashy, less performative, and more grounded. Campbell fits that mold. He is humble, likable, respectful of the program’s past and widely seen as a culture builder.
That kind of rebuild does not happen just because a school throws another $20 million at a roster. Penn State is currently spending about $30 million, while Ohio State is up over $50 million, but that does not mean the Lions have to chase the same model if it comes at the expense of everything else. If the sport is reduced to a spending contest, the whole point starts to disappear.
Penn State has two national championships, none in 40 years, and the 1994 team still carries the frustration of a system that denied it a shot. The program will survive without joining an arms race, as long as it does not price out its own fan base.
Campbell wants to build things his way, through relationships, community and a recruiting base rooted in high schools. He has an eight-year contract and is not going anywhere. Penn State owes him, and owes itself, the chance to make it work.
It gave the last guy that opportunity, too.
In Other News...
Penn State's Linebacker Room Just Took Another Hit
Penn States linebacker group has already been under the microscope this fall, and it took another blow when Alex Tatsch was ruled out for the rest of the season after an injury in practice. Coach Matt Campbell confirmed the situation and said the full details are still being sorted out, leaving the Nittany Lions to keep adjusting their depth chart at a spot that rarely allows much margin for error.
Cam Smiths recovery offers at least a little relief, with the expectation that he should be back soon. Even so, the timing is not ideal for a defense trying to settle its rotation, and the next stretch will show how well Penn State can absorb another loss in a room that has already been asked to do more than its share. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State's Matt Campbell Era Already Faces One Uncomfortable Reality
Penn States 2026 season has already put Matt Campbell in a difficult spot, with the Nittany Lions sitting at 3-3 and still searching for their first interconference win. The issues have shown up on both sides of the ball, and while the roster includes a heavy Iowa State influence with several transfers following Campbell to Happy Valley, the early returns have underscored how thin the teams margin is against Big Ten opposition.
What has become increasingly clear is that Penn State does not yet have the kind of roster depth or overall talent level needed to sustain a national-title push, especially with the offense adjusting without wide receiver Koby Howard. The bigger concern is less about one rough stretch than the broader build, with analysts pointing to the need for more spending and stronger recruiting if Campbell is going to close the gap at the top of the sport. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Campbell Makes Penn State Pitch As Pressure Starts Mounting
Matt Campbell spent part of his recruiting pitch leaning into what makes Penn State different, stressing to prospects that playing in State College comes with a level of visibility and responsibility that follows a player well beyond Saturdays in the fall. The message was less about salesmanship than perspective, with Campbell framing the program as one where the expectations are real, but so are the opportunities that can come from wearing the jersey.
The timing of that pitch matters, too, because Penn State is trying to steady itself after a strong start gave way to recent struggles. Campbell did not pretend otherwise, but he sounded confident there is a path forward as the staff works to keep the bigger picture in focus. For recruits, the appeal is obvious enough: this is a program that asks a lot, yet can still open doors long after football ends. [Read more 🡒]