Matt Campbell Rises to No. 3 in CBS Sports Big Ten Coach Rankings
After a successful decade in Ames with Iowa State, Matt Campbell has risen to No. 3 in CBS Sports' Big Ten coach rankings, just behind Tom Allen and Jim Harbaugh.
Campbell, who joined Penn State in 2023, was able to recruit well, especially in the portal, and completely revamped the Nittany Lions' roster. "There were plenty of Power Four gigs that tried to lure Matt Campbell out of Ames over the years, and they all failed until Penn State came calling," writes Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports. "Now the most successful coach in Iowa State history takes over a Penn State program that had plenty of wins under James Franklin but never broke through to elite status."
Campbell will face a relatively easy slate to start his career, with none of his top three games against the Big Three of Big Ten football: Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana. Instead, he'll face ranked opponents, but none in the top 10 in the preseason polls.
The Nittany Lions' offense will be led by quarterback Rocco Becht, who transferred from Iowa State, along with fellow transfers Carson Hansen, Chase Sowell, Brett Eskildsen, and Benjamin Brahmer. On the defensive end, Marcus Neal Jr. and Jeremiah Cooper will hold down the back end, while Ikenna Ezeogu and Alijah Carnell will anchor things along the defensive front.
Campbell's ability to recruit his former Iowa State players has given the Nittany Lions a strong foundation to build on. However, the team still needs to be tested against top opponents to prove their worth.
The Nittany Lions' season will be closely watched to see if Campbell can lead them to national relevance. After James Franklin's abrupt departure, Campbell is tasked with getting the program back on track.
The Nittany Lions' opener is set for September 2 against a still-unconfirmed opponent, with their first ranked game coming on September 16 against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
Source: Yahoo Sports