Breneman said the Campbell hire is the right move and that stability around the program—anchored by Campbell’s long tenure at Iowa State and a solid coaching staff including D’Anton Lynn as defensive coordinator, Terry Smith on the staff, and Taylor Mouser as offensive coordinator—helps the transition. Still, he cautioned that the immediate goal for 2026 is improvement, not a championship run, with an emphasis on rebuilding the program and competing for a Big Ten title.
The 2024 season offered a stark contrast: Penn State entered ranked No. 2 but endured a slide that culminated in Franklin’s firing, followed by interim coach Terry Smith reviving the team and guiding them to bowl eligibility. Breneman framed this as a rebuilding pivot, not a return to instant contention, under Campbell’s leadership.
Roster dynamics underline the challenge ahead. The Nittany Lions lost numerous players in the portal, while many pledges for 2026 withdrew. Yet the current roster is bolstered by 39 portal additions, including 23 former Iowa State players who know Campbell’s system, reinforcing the sense of continuity with the new coaching regime.
Penn State’s 2026 schedule, released by the Big Ten, features a favorable non-conference slate—Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo, with two games in Beaver Stadium—before entering nine Big Ten games. The conference stretch includes Wisconsin, Northwestern, USC, Michigan, Purdue, Washington, Minnesota, Rutgers, and Maryland; notably, Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon are not on the slate. The toughest test looms in weeks 6 and 7, when Campbell’s squad hosts USC and then visits Michigan, a critical stretch for establishing early momentum.
Overall, Campbell inherits stability and a retooled roster eyeing a smoother path in 2026, but Breneman’s warning remains: the Lions must show tangible improvement and compete for the Big Ten title to shift the playoff conversation. The season’s emphasis appears to be rebuilding, sustaining momentum, and proving that the program can once again contend for major goals.
