Why Penn State could redefine college football in 2026

The 2026 college football season is edging ever closer, with Penn State opening against Marshall at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, September 5. When the Nittany Lions appear for the first time, the team will be very different from the one that went 7-6 last year. 

Penn State opened 2025 as the No.2 ranked team nationally, but wasted it with a 3-3 start. This saw James Franklin fired as head coach, a move also driven by the fact that he had just a 4-21 record against top-10 opponents. 

The coach that Penn State recruited to replace Franklin was Iowa State’s Matt Campbell. He was the program’s winningest coach, and the move to PSU gives Campbell the chance to translate his abilities to a school that can chase a national championship. For fans looking to back Penn State to do just that, Vegas Insider recommends this sportsbook with great odds.

Campbell has raised eyebrows with the wholesale changes he’s made at Penn State. His appointment is a long-term one, with his contract fully guaranteed until at least 2033, but the short term approach he’s taken is one of the most radical in college football history. 

The Nittany Cyclones

It’s not uncommon for incoming coaches to perform shock therapy on their new programs and execute sudden, massive changes. When Curt Cignetti left James Madison for Indiana he brought key staff and 13 players with him. Similarly, Deion Sanders brought in 50 new transfers after he took over at Colorado. 

The immediate changes that Campbell has brought to Penn State are much larger, though. 

A total of 24 former Iowa State Cyclones are coming to Pennsylvania with Campbell. These include quarterback Rocco Becht, giant tight end Ben Brahmer, and running back Carson Hansen on offense. The defensive side of the ball will benefit from the likes of linebacker Caleb Bacon and safety Jeremiah Cooper. 

These will be joined by 16 other transfers, which are mainly based on increasing the physical profile of his linemen. Campbell wants size in the trenches, and has targeted the likes of 8th-year college veteran Siale Taupaki. His addition will immediately upgrade the size and experience on the defensive line. 

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Why Penn State could redefine college football in 2026

The idea behind this overhaul is to import Iowa State’s winning culture, not just its winning coach. However, there are still some parts of the Penn State program that are remaining unchanged. 

Key players and coaches returning

One of the key returns to Campbell’s setup is Terry Smith. He took over as interim head coach after Franklin’s dismissal, going 4-3 and finishing the year on a four-game winning streak. He’ll be the Nittany Lions’ associate head coach, acting as Campbell’s deputy and overseeing the integration of the former Cyclones into Penn State.

Defensive leader Tony Rojas will return at linebacker too. He missed much of the tumultuous 2025 season with an ACL tear, and will be eager to pick back up where he left off. Zion Tracy is also back at cornerback, while Jahmir Joseph will also want more game time in the secondary after a strong performance against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. 

Despite the changes on offense, linemen Cooper Cousins and Anthony Donkoh are expected to remain in place. The pair are expected to protect new quarterback Becht’s right side once play begins. 

In total, though, just 27 of Penn State’s 85 scholarships are held by holdovers from the James Franklin era. When the coaching changes are taken into account too, this represents one of the biggest single-season shakeups in college football history. 

There are some who think what Campbell has done goes against the spirit of the game, where stringing together strong recruiting classes and developing young men into elite players should be rewarded. 

The truth is that the college football landscape has changed radically over the last five years. Traditional recruitment is still important, but instant eligibility after any transfer and NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) sponsorships mean it is no longer the only way to go. 

Matt Campbell has implemented one of the most aggressive ‘new’ ways of building a team ever seen. If Penn State succeeds in 2026, expect it to become the blueprint.