NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
A new era has begun in the Penn State Nittany Lions football program.
The school hired Matt Campbell as its new head coach after he spent 10 years with the Iowa State Cyclones, turning them from a 3-9 team into a school that made seven bowl appearances after going four years without making one.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell looks on from the sideline during the Penn State Blue-White Spring Game at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa., on April 25, 2026. (Matthew O’Haren/Imagn Images)
Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht, who transferred to Penn State from Iowa State, talked Wednesday about how Campbell will be able to change the culture of the program.
“He wants to build a player-driven program,” he told ESPN. “When you’re not all aligned with the same goals and expectations, you’re not going to win the big games… Last year it wasn’t really player-driven and the culture just wasn’t always there.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht reacts during the Blue-White Spring game at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa., on April 25, 2026. (Matthew O’Haren/Imagn Images)
“Right now, where we are, everyone is completely bought in.”
Campbell takes over for James Franklin, who was at Penn State for 12 years before being fired midway through the 2025 season when the team lost three straight games, including a disappointing loss to unranked UCLA when the team was ranked seventh in the nation.
Terry Smith took over for Franklin and helped salvage the season with a Pinstripe Bowl win over Clemson.
Now, with a new head coach, new quarterback and a 12-team College Football Playoff, the excuses for the Nittany Lions are running out.
Penn State reached the College Football Playoff in 2024, but lost to Notre Dame in the semifinals. It was the team’s only CFP appearance.
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell answers questions from the media following the Blue-White Spring game at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa., on April 25, 2026. (Matthew O’Haren/Imagn Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
The team last won a national title in 1986.
