Penn State’s first Big Ten win has been hard to find, and the start of the Matt Campbell era has already sparked plenty of uncomfortable questions.
Some of those questions are about football, plain and simple: does Penn State have enough talent, size and toughness to compete in the Big Ten? How does the run game get fixed? Where does the pass rush come from?
Others cut deeper. The biggest issue hanging over the program is who should shoulder the blame for the rough start in conference play.
Some have pointed directly at Campbell for the results. Others have put the spotlight on athletic director Pat Kraft and the broader situation Penn State now faces. In a sport where alignment across the board matters, the relationship between coach and athletic director becomes part of the story.
On Wednesday, Campbell said Kraft has been around and willing to help.
“I would just say this. I think there’s been so much time, effort, and energy internally getting ourselves aligned but Pat has certainly been willing to be available, wanting to be available, and wanting to help every step of the way,” Campbell said Wednesday.
That doesn’t mean Kraft has been shut out of the process, or that Campbell has ignored his input. But with Michigan next on the schedule, Campbell made clear that his attention is staying inside the building.
“My focus really has been completely on this building. How do we identify where we are?
How do we continue to put the right standards and expectations in this football program?” Campbell said.
“And then, how do we continue to navigate the internal challenges of putting a new team, a new staff together, and kind of making sure we’re making the right decisions in house the best way we possibly can?”
In Other News...
Penn State Could Be Getting A Familiar Name Back For A Key Need
Penn State may be getting a familiar name back just as the season moves into a crucial stretch. LaVar Arrington II, the son of College Football Hall of Famer LaVar Arrington, is expected to return to the football team after the bye week, giving the Nittany Lions another option as they look to shore up a need on defense. He spent last season contributing on special teams, and his return adds an intriguing layer for a roster that could use another versatile piece.
The bigger question is where he fits once he is cleared to come back. Coach Matt Campbell said the staff will decide whether Arrington II lines up at linebacker or defensive end, with the goal of putting him in the best spot to make an impact. After missing time this season because of injury, his next role could help determine not just how Penn State uses him, but how quickly he can carve out a meaningful place in the defense again. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Offense May Be Forced Into A Shakeup At Worst Time
Penn States offense is staring at a delicate stretch, and the timing is hardly ideal. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser pointed to a handful of issues that have slowed the unit in Big Ten play, from the lack of production in three conference losses to the absence of wide receiver Koby Howard because of injury. The Nittany Lions have also come up short too often inside the 20-yard line, turning promising drives into field goals or empty possessions instead of touchdowns.
Mouser said the staff may have to consider changes up front, while freshman receiver Amarion Jackson could also see more of the field as the offense looks for answers. Those adjustments would come as Penn State tries to clean up red zone execution, where the margin for error has become increasingly thin. The next step is finding out whether the reshuffle can spark enough consistency to matter before the schedule tightens any further. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Just Entered A Long-Term Recruiting Fight In Pennsylvania
Deion Sanders is already taking an early swing in Pennsylvania. Colorado recently extended a scholarship offer to Kaleb Woseley, a 2028 cornerback at Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia, and Woseley shared the news publicly on social media as his recruiting profile continues to rise.
For Penn State, the bigger takeaway is that one of the states most promising young defensive backs is drawing attention well before signing day ever becomes a factor. Woseley is viewed as a versatile player with interest from multiple power-conference programs, and Colorados move signals an effort to get in on the ground floor and start building a relationship long before the chase really tightens. [Read more 🡒]