Penn State’s long and winding search for a new head coach came to an end with the hiring of Matt Campbell from Iowa State - but not before the program endured a turbulent 54-day stretch that exposed fractures within the locker room and athletic department.
One of the more jarring moments during that stretch? The leak of a private meeting between athletic director Pat Kraft and a group of 9-10 players, including junior safety King Mack.
The audio, which surfaced on YouTube, featured Kraft speaking candidly - and at times harshly - about Big Ten rivals, individual players, and the candidacy of interim head coach Terry Smith. The language was raw, the tone unfiltered, and for Mack, it was a clear sign of deeper issues inside the program.
“That meeting should’ve never been broadcast, honestly,” Mack said during a Zoom session with reporters ahead of the Pinstripe Bowl. “I’m being 100% honest. And it shocked me.”
Mack said he only found out about the leak when his parents called him after hearing specific comments from the meeting. He hadn’t even discussed the meeting with them before that.
“That shows the lack of leadership and accountability,” he added. “The fact that someone in that room would jeopardize everyone - because anything could’ve been said in that meeting and could’ve jeopardized anyone’s future or career - I feel like that’s part of the selfishness and the lack of leadership around the team that we have to fix.”
That kind of internal breakdown, Mack believes, played a major role in Penn State’s dramatic fall from preseason No. 2 to a 6-6 finish and the dismissal of James Franklin. For a team loaded with talent, the results didn’t match the expectations - and Mack didn’t mince words about why.
Kraft, for his part, addressed the leaked audio during Matt Campbell’s introductory press conference earlier this month. He owned the moment.
“I apologize to anyone that I may have offended with that video that leaked,” Kraft said. “Personally, it’s been challenging for me, but I am very passionate about Penn State.
It was nine or 10 football players that asked to come in and sit down, and we had an open and honest discussion. But I fell short of the standard that I should represent… I can’t apologize enough for those who I may have offended.
I’ve gotta get better.”
As for the future, Mack didn’t reveal whether he plans to return for his final year of eligibility or test the transfer portal. But he did express optimism about the direction of the program under Campbell, who became the 17th head coach in Penn State history.
According to Mack, Campbell didn’t waste any time laying out his vision and identifying what went wrong in 2025.
“He’s straightforward,” Mack said. “He sees where we went wrong this year, and his job is to, one, get it fixed as soon as possible and to use all the seniors as one big group to help us fix all those issues as well.”
That kind of clarity was welcomed by players who, according to Mack, had grown frustrated by a lack of unity and focus. He pointed to a key issue that fans might not see on Saturdays - not everyone in the locker room was fully bought in.
“Not having all 100 people locked in and focused on one thing at one time - it’s hard to be successful when people on your ship aren’t all in on one mission,” Mack said. “If you don’t want to be here, the door is open. [That’s what Campbell told us.]”
Still, Mack gave credit where it was due. He praised Terry Smith for helping stabilize the team after Franklin’s departure. Smith led the Nittany Lions to a 3-3 finish, including three straight wins to close out the season and secure a Pinstripe Bowl berth against Clemson.
Mack said Smith’s leadership sparked a shift in mindset - one that was rooted in pride and accountability.
“We’re all gonna have kids someday and be parents,” Mack said. “How would you feel coming back to your alma mater and telling your kid, ‘Yeah, we lost four games and lost the rest of the whole season.
We just gave up.’ No one wants to tell their kid that.”
“So everyone in the locker room, we changed our attitude. We changed how we approached everything.”
Now, with Campbell at the helm and Smith remaining on staff, the Nittany Lions are trying to turn the page on a chaotic chapter. The talent is still there.
The expectations haven’t gone anywhere. But if Penn State is going to reclaim its place among the Big Ten’s elite, it’ll take more than five-star recruits and flashy facilities - it’ll take alignment, accountability, and leadership from within.
And King Mack, for one, seems ready to help lead that charge.