Penn State to hire Iowa State's Matt Campbell as next head coach: reports

Almost 2 months aft firing James Franklin, Penn State is reportedly nearing the decorativeness enactment with a caller caput coach. 

The Nittany Lions are reportedly hiring Iowa State caput manager Matt Campbell to regenerate Franklin. Campbell and Penn State are moving connected a deal, arsenic they request to hold to presumption and get ceremonial support of compensation, according to ESPN.

 The 46-year-old is the winningest manager successful Iowa State history. The three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year went 72-55 successful 10 seasons with the Cyclones, with 8 winning seasons, including this one, arsenic they are 8-4. Campbell helped pb Iowa State to 2 Big 12 title crippled appearances.

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Iowa State Cyclones caput manager Matt Campbell reacts during the 4th fourth against BYU astatine Jack Trice Stadium. The crippled took spot successful Ames, Iowa, connected Oct. 25, 2025. (IMAGN)

Prior to coaching astatine Iowa State, Campbell was the caput manager astatine Toledo for 5 seasons, wherever helium went 35-15. 

Penn State fired Franklin aft 3 consecutive losses. Their three-game losing skid began with a 30-24 overtime nonaccomplishment to Oregon astatine home, and the squad ne'er bounced back. 

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Iowa State caput manager Matt Campbell celebrates aft a antiaircraft interception against Kansas during the 4th fourth connected elder time astatine Jack Trice Stadium. The crippled took spot successful Ames, Iowa, connected Nov. 22, 2025. (IMAGN)

The team’s 2nd nonaccomplishment came connected the road, erstwhile they mislaid 42-37 to UCLA, who came into the crippled astatine 0-4. The 3rd nonaccomplishment came successful a 22-21 nonaccomplishment to Northwestern astatine home, dropping Penn State to 3-3. Franklin was fired a time later. 

Franklin was mostly palmy astatine Penn State during the regular season, arsenic helium went 104-45, but helium was ne'er capable to triumph a nationalist championship. Franklin won the Rose Bowl successful 2022, the Cotton Bowl successful 2019, and the Fiesta Bowl successful 2017. 

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Dating backmost to Franklin’s 3 seasons astatine Vanderbilt, the seasoned manager is 8-7 successful vessel games. 

Penn State named Terry Smith its interim caput coach, and the 56-year-old has gone 3-3 successful his six games astatine the helm. Penn State is 6-6 this season, and volition look to crook things astir successful Campbell’s archetypal season. 

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