​If the dog days of summer are slipping by, that signals college football is edging into view on the horizon. July, in particular, is packed with conference media days and the release of various award watch lists, all of which spark lively discussion and help fans scratch that college football itch. One of the most anticipated award watch lists released recently is the Dodd Trophy, an honor bestowed upon college football’s coach of the year by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Despite Penn State’s prominent head coach status and a track record of steady, competitive leadership, Matt Campbell was not included on this year’s Dodd Trophy watch list. Why?
It’s not due to a lack of achievement. Campbell has built a consistently competitive program at Iowa State, a program long accustomed to fewer winning seasons, and his work there has earned high regard among college football analysts. Penn State’s decision to hire Campbell was broadly welcomed as a smart, strategic move that signaled ambitious, forward-thinking leadership for the program. Yet Campbell’s omission from the Dodd Trophy watch list comes as a surprise to some, given his résumé and the success he has cultivated at his previous stop.
The reason for Campbell’s exclusion is straightforward: he is ineligible for the Dodd Trophy. The award’s eligibility rules specify that coaches in their first year with a new program cannot be considered for the trophy. Eligibility for the watch list and the award itself begins in a coach’s second season in charge of their current program. As a result, Campbell, who is in his initial year with Penn State, does not meet the criteria to be a candidate this season.
Turning to this year’s watch list, the Big Ten is heavily represented, with several conference coaches named among the nominees. The Big Ten entrants include Bret Bielema of Illinois, Curt Cignetti of Indiana, Ryan Day of Ohio State, Kirk Ferentz of Iowa, Jedd Fisch of Washington, Dan Lanning of Oregon, and Lincoln Riley of USC. This concentration reflects the conference’s breadth of leadership and a strong track record across various programs.
Penn State itself has a notable history with the Dodd Trophy, having claimed the award twice. Legendary coach Joe Paterno is among the select group of two-time winners, achieving the honor in 1981 and again in 2005. The only other two-time recipient in the award’s history is Kansas State’s Bill Snyder, who captured it in 1998 and 2012. It’s also worth noting that Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, who is on this year’s watch list, earned the Dodd Trophy in 2025, underscoring how closely the award tracks coaching excellence across different programs and eras.
Several other Big Ten coaches have previously earned the Dodd Trophy as well. Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz won it in 2015, while Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell captured the honor in 2021 during his tenure at Cincinnati. Michigan State’s Pat Fitzgerald earned the award in 2020 while coaching Northwestern, and Utah’s Kyle Whittingham, though not a Big Ten coach, won the trophy in 2019 with Utah, illustrating the award’s history of recognizing a wide array of programs that demonstrate sustained excellence.
For those hungry for the full scope of the watch list, the Dodd Trophy’s official website provides the complete roster of nominees and honorees. Kevin McGuire, the lead writer for Nittany Lions Wire—a member of the USA TODAY Network—covers Penn State athletics and provides insights across multiple platforms, including BlueSky and Threads. He also maintains a presence on X and Facebook as part of the Nittany Lions Wire team, offering updates and analysis tailored to Penn State fans.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire, and it underscores the often nuanced criteria behind award recognition. In this case, Matt Campbell’s ineligibility is a reminder that the Dodd Trophy emphasizes coaching excellence in the context of continuity and proven success within a single program, rather than a coach’s potential or past accomplishments alone. As the 2024 season unfolds, Campbell’s future eligibility—along with the ongoing achievements of other coaches—will shape the conversation around who ultimately earns the Dodd Trophy as the nation’s top college football coach.