Penn State football fans can rest easy as the football team has a new coach in town. According to reports coming out on Friday night, all signs point toward Matt Campbell becoming the Nittany Lions’ new permanent head coach. Campbell will take over the program after James Franklin was fired during this season.
What’s The Latest On Penn State, Matt Campbell?
A report from ESPN college football reporter Pete Thamel indicates that Campbell has agreed to an eight-year contract to come coach in Happy Valley.
“Sources: Penn State is finalizing an 8-year deal to make Matt Campbell the school’s next head coach,” Thamel wrote in a post on X. “The deal is pending board approval for the compensation. Campbell has agreed to be Penn State’s coach and the sides have hammered out terms.”
Sources: Penn State is finalizing an 8-year deal to make Matt Campbell the school’s next head coach. The deal is pending board approval for the compensation. Campbell has agreed to be Penn State’s coach and the sides have hammered out terms. https://t.co/ArKKDxldkw
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 6, 2025
If fans are wondering if Penn State is making a solid commitment to Campbell and the program, then some other news that came out on Friday night should calm those fears. According to a report from Matt Fortuna of The Inside Zone, “SOURCES: Penn State is committing roughly $30 million in NIL money and $17 million in staff pool (assistant coaches, support staff, etc.) to Matt Campbell.”
SOURCES: Penn State is committing roughly $30 million in NIL money and $17 million in staff pool (assistant coaches, support staff, etc.) to Matt Campbell. pic.twitter.com/CSw9JDIzD1
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) December 6, 2025
Campbell has led the Cyclones, who play in the Big 12 Conference, for 10 seasons. He’s gone 72-55 while at the school and has only had two losing seasons among those 10. This season, Iowa State is 8-4 and was ranked as high as No. 12 in the Associated Press’ Top 25 poll.
Before coming to Iowa State, Campbell spent four seasons at Toledo, where he went 35-15. He’s 5-5 overall in bowl games between Toledo and Iowa State. Coming into such a prestigious program as Penn State, however, will give Campbell resources to recruit and coach that he hasn’t had at Toledo or Iowa State.
Iowa State is bowl eligible this season, so it’s not clear if Campbell would be coaching his team in that bowl game at this time. He has an overall coaching record of 107-70, winning at a 60.5% clip.
After Franklin was fired, Terry Smith took over head coaching duties on an interim basis at Penn State. Franklin went 3-3 before he was fired, and Smith has also put together a 3-3 mark in leading the team. Overall, that gives the Nittany Lions a 6-6 mark this season, 3-6 in Big Ten Conference play.
Thamel also reported on Friday night that Smith is going to remain with Penn State as part of Campbell’s coaching staff.
According to a report from Thamel, “Former Penn State interim coach Terry Smith has agreed to a four-year deal to stay on staff at the school and work with Matt Campbell, per ESPN sources. He’s a Penn State graduate who has been a staff linchpin there the last 12 years”. Thamel indicated this news was reported first from Audrey Snyder of Inside the Lions.
According to the PFSN CFB Offense Impact metrics, Penn State has an impact score of 84.9 and grades out to a B.
No word on an official announcement from Penn State has come out at this time. Yet it does appear that Campbell will be roaming the sidelines at Happy Valley next season for the Nittany Lions.
