Penn State coaching search rumors: Attention turns to Iowa State coach

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell is the new focus of Penn State’s coaching search, according to multiple reports.

The Nittany Lions are the last program in major college football with a head coach vacancy, as they’ve struck out on numerous targets. Many rumored options for Penn State have signed extensions this season, with BYU’s Kalani Sitake the latest. Louisville’s Jeff Brohm also reportedly turned down Penn State.

Penn State fired now-Virginia Tech coach James Franklin midseason following consecutive losses to Oregon, UCLA and Northwestern, despite opening the season as a national championship favorite. PSU reached the College Football Playoff semifinals in 2024 under Franklin, although he finished 4-21 against top-10 ranked teams in his 10-year tenure.

Penn State signed just two players on the first day of the early signing period, with 11 former commits flipping to Virginia Tech, where Franklin was hired Nov. 17.

Campbell, while seemingly one of Penn State’s backup options, has an impressive resume. The 46-year-old is a three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year and the winningest coach in Iowa State history. He also led the Cyclones to an 11-win season in 2024 and a No. 9 finish in the US LBM Coaches Poll in 2020.

Iowa State won eight combined games in the three seasons before Campbell’s arrival from Toledo, where he had a 35-15 record in four seasons as head coach. Campbell is 72-55 overall at Iowa State, choreographing a solid turnaround at a program that has a 571-668-46 record all-time.

Campbell is the 47th highest-paid coach in college football making $5 million annually, according to USA TODAY Sports’ head coaches salaries database.

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