ON TODAY'S SCORECARD
Mmm Mmm Good, Indeed

Penn State fans, take a deep breath. After a bumpy search, you've got your guy.

After 54 days, the Nittany Lions settled on the Iowa State boss who maximizes talent at each stop.

ISU’s Matt Campbell is stepping in as the new head coach, and he's built to turn things around. At just 46, he's a proven winner who maximizes every resource.

If he can thrive in Ames, Iowa, imagine what he'll do in Happy Valley with Penn State's advantages.

Campbell's Track Record: From Turnaround Artist to Big 12 Powerhouse, Campbell isn't new to building programs from the ground up.

Here's his resume in simple terms:

Key Wins Toledo (Rockets) 2012–2015 35–15 (.700) Back-to-back MAC title games (2014, 2015); MAC Coach of the Year (2015) Iowa State (Cyclones) 2016–2025 72–55 (.567) 2 Big 12 title game appearances (including 2024); Fiesta Bowl win (2020); 3 Big 12 Coach of the Year awards (2017, 2018, 2020); 2 top-15 finishes.

Overall 15 seasons 107–70 (.605) 3 bowl wins; 12 players drafted in first 4 NFL rounds He inherited an Iowa State mess—8–28 over the three prior seasons—and by Year Two, they were bowl-bound.

Last year? An 11–3 stunner, including a Big 12 title game run. This is Iowa State's most successful era in 134 years.

Plus, he's a quarterback whisperer, spotting gems like Brock Purdy from nowhere and building complementary teams that grind out late-season surges.

Addressing the Critiques: Campbell draws flak for big-game slips: 4–6 vs. AP Top-10 teams and middling marks in one-score games or conference clashes. But zoom out—before him, Iowa State was 8–98–2 against Top-10 foes. That's not just improvement; it's a revolution. Compare to ex-Penn State coach James Franklin's 4–21 Top-10 record.

Campbell's no stranger to pressure, but he'll need to adapt to Penn State's talent pool—more four- and five-stars mean sharper evaluations.

And the spotlight? It's brighter in the Big Ten. Shocking losses hit harder here, with fans and media in overdrive. Most coaches adjust fine, but it's Campbell's one big unknown. Why Penn State Fits Campbell Like a Glove. This move checks every box for him.

• Location & Recruiting Sweet Spot: From Massillon, Ohio (via Pitt and D-III champ Mount Union), he knows the Midwest recruiting trails Penn State must dominate.

• League Upgrade: Big 12 battles honed him; Big Ten resources will unleash him.

• Admin Support: Full backing from the top—unlimited tools to build sustainably.

• Late-Bloomer Edge: He waited out the process, but his history screams "perfect fit."

Opposing coaches? They'd dread facing him in Happy Valley. The roster took hits post-Franklin (just two early signees), so expect portal magic and a rebuild grind. Revenue sharing and NIL? He'll master it, fielding a squad that punches above its weight—much like at Iowa State, but amplified.

This wasn't the flashiest search, but it's the smartest. Campbell won't just make Penn State a CFP staple—he'll snag those elusive Top-10 upsets Franklin couldn't. Give him time to gel, and the Nittany Lions roar back.

Beautiful day in the neighborhood? You bet. could ask for from the administration. Hard to beat that.

The Verdict: An A-Grade Hire.

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TRENDING TODAY
Rodgers Despair is Rare

Tennessee over CLEVELAND by 3

Myles Garrett continued his exceptional performance last week against San Francisco: He now has 14 sacks in his last five games and needs just four more to tie the NFL’s single-season record. However, the Browns’ offensive and defensive lines are severely battered. Starting defensive tackle Maliek Collins, enjoying his best season with 6.5 sacks, was carted off at the start of the second half. Cleveland lost another player along the line against the 49ers. Minutes after starting right tackle Jack Conklin was ruled out with a concussion, Browns’ starting defensive end Isaiah McGuire left the game with a leg injury. The Browns desperately need Collins back; his leadership is priceless. They are favored, a role in which they are 1-6 ATS over the past two seasons.

In other words, this is one of the best chances the Titans will have to win a game this season. Enter the Titans, the league’s only winless team ‘In The Stats’ (0-12 ITS). It’s so bad that rookie QB Cam Ward needed 38 throws to gain just 141 yards through the air against Jacksonville. Yuck. As Nate Davis of USA Today put it, “Woody Hayes would love the Tennessee Titans’ passing game – 3.7 yards and a cloud of dust.”

The well-oiled machine also notes that NFL regular-season road underdogs coming off three straight home losses are a strong long-term wager, with an 80-58-2 ATS record since 1980. Grab your clothespin and get ready – the Titans are set to win a game, finally!

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