​Penn State hired Matt Campbell with the idea of taking the program to that next level that James Franklin hadn’t quite reached. Is the former Iowa State head coach the one who can push the Nittany Lions past Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon, Michigan, and USC to become the star of the Big Ten? And did that expectation help explain why Franklin eventually moved on to become the head coach at Virginia Tech? Can Campbell win the really big games?
On April 25, 2026, at University Park, Pennsylvania, Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell was seen on the field during the Spring game at Beaver Stadium. The image, credited to Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images, captures the moment as Campbell prepared to lead his new team. It’s a reminder of the shift in leadership and the hopes that Campbell would bring a new level of success to the program.
Franklin’s teams often anchored on a strong foundation but struggled against the top ten programs, and while guiding the Nittany Lions to the 2024 College Football Playoff semifinals earned him national respect, it didn’t convert into widespread admiration across the loudest critics. He did win a substantial number of games against most opponents, but that elusive performance against Power Five heavyweights remained a talking point. Campbell, on the other hand, achieved notable wins at Iowa State, averaging more than seven victories per season at a place not known for sustained success. Yet his track record included only two bowl wins, and one of them came in the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl, where Miami’s Cam Ward reportedly exited at halftime.
Campbell led Iowa State to two Big 12 Championship appearances, but he ended up 3-15 since 2018 against Power Four programs that finished with at least ten wins—one of those losses being to that Miami team. Could this approach work instantly at Penn State? The early signs suggest yes. Penn State, in Campbell’s view, already had a solid core of players in place. While many stars had departed, enough talent remained to provide a strong foundation. Campbell also brought along 24 players from Iowa State, having won 19 games over the last two years, along with other valuable players via the transfer portal. Combine that with a favorable or “dream” schedule (the specifics are a talking point you’ll want to see, especially regarding which teams they don’t have to face), and this could be one of those sleeper-not-a-sleeper stories—quietly formidable, simply because it’s Penn State.
If Campbell and Penn State can win the big games, the potential for a breakout season grows. The 2026 Penn State schedule analysis centers on Campbell in his first year as head coach, bringing a broader view of the program’s trajectory. The team’s best-case scenario envisions winning the Big Ten and making a deep run in the College Football Playoff, while the worst-case scenario projects a mid-level Big Ten finish with average bowl appearances. A key question remains: how well will the Iowa State pieces mesh with the Penn State roster?
On offense, Taylor Mouser served as Campbell’s offensive coordinator in recent years, and his influence could push Penn State’s attack to be far more explosive and consistent than Iowa State’s offense was last season. While there may not be a large number of returning starters, the influx of transfers is strong, creating the potential for a quick, productive transition if players stay healthy. The quarterback situation will be central to the team’s success, and the coaching staff will need to balance experience with the upside of younger players to maximize performance.
In short, Campbell’s promise hinges on translating Iowa State success into Penn State productivity, capitalizing on a talented but unsettled roster, and delivering in the moments that matter most against elite opponents. Whether he can elevate Penn State to national prominence and win the crucial, marquee games remains the central question—and the focus of the season ahead.