Penn State recruits Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, sources say

Penn State appears to have finalized its search for a new head football coach. Sources have confirmed that the Nittany Lions have reached an agreement with Matt Campbell, formerly of Iowa State, to take over the program.

The contract is reportedly an eight-year deal, positioning Campbell among the top ten highest-paid coaches in college football.

Campbells hiring follows Penn States decision to part ways with James Franklin in October 2025 after a three-game losing streak. Despite moving early in the coaching market, Penn States search extended for several weeks, with other candidates, including BYUs Kalani Sitake and Louisvilles Jeff Brohm, declining opportunities to join the program.

Campbell has transformed Iowa State into a consistent contender since taking the helm after the 2015 season. Over ten seasons, he amassed a 72-55 record with only two losing seasons. Under his leadership, Iowa State achieved at least eight wins in five seasons and appeared in the Big 12 Championship Game last year, narrowly missing a spot in the College Football Playoff. Prior to Iowa State, Campbell led Toledo to a 35-15 record in five seasons.

An Ohio native, Campbell played at Mount Union and served as an assistant coach at Toledo and Bowling Green before becoming Toledos head coach. At Iowa State, he turned around a program that had endured six consecutive losing seasons, leading the Cyclones to a five-year bowl streak from 2017 to 2021, the longest in school history. He holds the record as Iowa States winningest coach with 16 more wins than Dan McCarney.

Campbell will inherit a Penn State team that entered the 2025 season with high expectations. The Nittany Lions were ranked No. 2 in the preseason AP Top 25, began 3-0, but then suffered consecutive losses to Oregon, UCLA, and Northwestern, leading to Franklins dismissal. Under interim coach Terry Smith, Penn State went 3-3 to finish the season bowl eligible.

Author: Grace Ellison