Penn State’ Campbell to find out about Happy Valley
College football
Trending
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Penn State's 2025 season ended with a four-game winning streak including a victory over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl.
But that came after an 0-6 start in Big Ten play that saw the Nittany Lions tumble from the College Football Playoff picture and longtime coach James Franklin fired midway through the losing skid.
The Nittany Lions hired Matt Campbell away from Iowa State. He has retooled the staff and roster and there's a sense of hope around the program with competition at almost every position the field.
The Nittany Lions, who wound up 7-6 at the end of last season, open this season at home against Marshall on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Expectations
Penn State is starting fresh with Campbell who's spent the last few months reassembling a program that crumbled last season.
After entering 2025 as College Football Playoff hopefuls, Penn State went flat, Franklin was out following losses to UCLA and Northwestern in October and a staff and player exodus followed before Campbell was hired in December.
The former Iowa State coach retained beloved interim coach and longtime assistant Terry Smith, hired defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn from USC and relied on the transfer portal to find proven players, many of them coming with him from Ames. Fifty players also opted to stay, among them star linebacker Tony Rojas, eager to prove last year was an aberration.
The Nittany Lions have enough talent to compete against anyone on what initially appears to be a light schedule lacking Big Ten heavyweights No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon and No. 6 Indiana. There are road trips to No. 16 Michigan and No. 17 Washington.
Strengths
Former Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht brings veteran experience and will be supported by familiar faces on what should be a steady offense with plenty of options.
Coordinator Taylor Mauser and quarterbacks coach Jake Waters are both Iowa State vets as are receivers Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen. Tight ends Benjamin Brahmer and Gabe Burkle also played with Becht last year. Andrew Rappleyea returns to round out a reliable tight end group that should allow the offense to establish a physical identity.
Hard-charging running back Carson Hansen transferred from Iowa State and will likely share the backfield with former Ohio State back James Peoples who's been a standout in training camp.
Weaknesses lurking
The Nittany Lions are thin on proven players along the defensive line. A combined 14 tackles and ends either saw their eligibility expire or transferred. Campbell used the portal to add bodies, including five players who combined to play 55 games last season. Among them is eighth-year journeyman Siale Taupaki from UCLA. Campbell and Lynn are banking on the potential of players like returning sophomore Yvan Kemajou, who notched 12 tackles, five for loss and 1 1/2 sacks in 10 games as a true freshman last year, and Max Granville, who was out last season with an injury, to solidify the front.
On the offensive side, Anthony Donkoh returns up front to propel the running game and protect Penn State's quarterbacks. Guard Cooper Cousins started alongside Donkoh twice last year, but the Nittany Lions will likely rely on three new faces at the other spots with Texas State transfer Brock Riker emerging as the group's center.
New faces
Becht (transfer from Iowa State), RB Hansen (transfer from Iowa State), RB Peoples (transfer from Ohio State), WR Sowell (transfer from Iowa State), DT Taupaki (transfer from UCLA).
Key losses
RB Kaytron Allen (NFL), RB Nicholas Singleton (NFL), DT Zane Durant (NFL), LB Amare Campbell (transferred to Tennessee), S Zakee Wheatley (NFL).
Big games
Vs. No. 14 USC (Oct. 10), at No. 16 Michigan (Oct. 17), at No. 17 Washington (Nov. 7).