Incoming Penn State football head coach Matt Campbell had his introductory press conference on Monday. During it, he made the blue and white faithful a promise: that he will demand greatness out of his Nittany Lions.
After an abysmal 2025 season, one that caused the team to rupture midseason with the firing of incoming Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin, the cracks in the program became very clear. The first one was how quickly Franklin lost the locker room. One loss in, in double overtime to Oregon in Week 5, was all it took for the team to lose faith in its head coach.
Interim head coach Terry Smith glued the pieces back together, and Campbell intends on keeping it that way.
"From this day forward, we're going to wake up every single day in this football program, and we're going to build championship habits and we're going to do it one day at a time and we're going to do it from the ground up and we're going to do it in a football program that's going to demand toughness. Mental and physical toughness," Campbell said. "Demand discipline at every corner and demand, most importantly, togetherness. Selflessness and togetherness. One team. One program. Unified to continue the great pride and the great tradition of Penn State football."
Campbell acknowledged how important Penn State fans and supporters are, specifically saying he is on a mission to make them proud of what the team accomplishes moving forward.
"Your loyalty to Penn State football resonates all over the country. I know it's the greatest fanbase. I know game days here in Beaver Stadium with 107,000-plus is one of the greatest environments in the world of football," Campbell said. "It's my mission to make you proud of this football team, how we play, how we do things, and truly appreciate your loyalty and faithfulness to Penn State football and can't wait to make you proud of what we're about."
Making fans proud, though, isn't an easy task. There are championship aspirations and expectations, and the Nittany Lions' 2026 schedule gives Campbell an early opportunity to prove himself. Even if the 2026 season doesn't end with a victory in the College Football Playoff Championship Game, there is still a path to make it into the bracket and fans know it too.
If Campbell capitalizes in his debut, he's following through more than Franklin ever could, and that's the standard for fans right now.