Overview
- Multiple outlets, including On3, Yahoo Sports and ESPN, report Penn State is in the final stages of talks with Matt Campbell, with terms still being negotiated and formal compensation approval required.
- Trustee committee meetings were scheduled for next week and could clear the way to approve a high‑value contract if an agreement is reached.
- Interim coach Terry Smith went 3–3, interviewed for the job and drew support from boosters and players, though reports now indicate the university has prioritized Campbell.
- The extended search coincided with recruiting setbacks as Penn State signed only two players during the early period and saw numerous prior commitments flip to other programs, including many to James Franklin at Virginia Tech, with the transfer portal window approaching in early January.
- Campbell, 46, is Iowa State’s winningest coach at 72–55 with an 11–3 season in 2024; he signed an August extension reportedly worth about $5 million annually through 2032 with a $2 million buyout, adding financial considerations to any hire.