Penn State sets focus on Iowa State’s Matt Campbell

Penn State is turning its coaching search toward Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, multiple reports suggested on Thursday night. 

The “shift” in focus comes after the Nittany Lions’ previous person of interest — BYU coach Kalani Sitake — chose to remain in his current role as head coach of the Cougars. 

Penn State is in talks with Campbell over its head coaching vacancy after the program fired James Franklin on Oct. 12, a day after an embarrassing 22-21 loss to Northwestern, with the talks being described as being early in the process, according to ESPN. 

Whoever Penn State hires will require board approval. 

Campbell has been the head coach at Iowa State since 2016 and has a 72-55 record. 

He is the winningest coach in Iowa State history and has been named Big 12 Coach of the Year three times. 

Campbell led the school to its first top-10 finish in 2020 when the Cyclones reached the Fiesta Bowl and defeated Oregon. 

His best season came in 2024 when Iowa State finished 11-3 and toppled Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. 

Campbell’s head coaching career began with Toledo and went 35-15 during five seasons there. 

The coaching search has lasted 53 days in Happy Valley, with a number of names deciding to remain with their current teams rather than take over at Penn State. 

Sitake was just the latest, with other coaches such as Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, Texas A&M’s Mike Elko and Louisville’s Jeff Brohm all opting to remain where they were. 

Penn State has had other names in the coaching conversation this week as well, with The Athletic reporting ex-Giants coach Brian Daboll having the support of Penn State donors, including the owners of the Bills — the Pegula family.