When James Franklin took the job at Virginia Tech, his first step was the grab what he could from his 2026 Penn State recruiting class and redirect it to Blacksburg. That, along with plenty of other programs picking through what was once a top 20 class in the country, left the head coach-less Nittany Lions with just two signees on Wednesday when the Early Signing Period began in college football.
To compound the embarrassment of getting outbid for BYU head coach Kalani Sitake by the Crumbl Cookie CEO (and plenty of other major boosters), Penn State’s class sank to 155th in the 247Sports Composite rankings with Jackson Ford and Peyton Falzone. While any dream of climbing back into the top 20, 30, or even 50 has sailed, Penn State’s hiring of Matt Campbell could help to cover the talent gap of a lost recruiting cycle.
Matt Campbell needs to bring players with him to Happy Valley to win right away
Top Big Ten coordinators Will Stein and Brian Hartline both nabbed head coaching gigs this year, Stein going from Dan Lanning’s staff at Oregon to Kentucky, and Hartline leaving Ohio State for USF. Neither ever emerged as a legitimate candidate for the Penn State job, and there might be a reason for that beyond Pat Kraft’s fear of putting his reputation on the line for a first-time head coach.
Penn State’s roster in 2025 was built to win a national championship, or at least compete for one, and as such, it was loaded with veteran talent. Much of that talent is now out of eligibility and heading to the NFL. So, in many ways, Kraft wasn’t just looking to hire a head coach; he was looking for one who could bring a roster with him to Happy Valley.
That may not just be in the form of veteran transfers like redshirt junior quarterback Rocco Becht. It could also be commits in Iowa State’s 50th-ranked recruiting class. Those who signed and intend to early-enroll could immediately enter the winter transfer portal window that opens on January 2, and those who have not could flip to Penn State and sign with the Nittany Lions in the next signing day window.
Even in the transfer portal era, when you can import an entire roster in one offseason, the most sustainable programs in the country are still built through elite-level high school recruiting. Campbell didn’t have the resources for that at Iowa State, but as one of the best developmental head coaches in the country, he typically maximized the talent of his three-star-laden classes.
Matt Campbell has an opportunity for a fast start in 2026
If he can bring some of those players to Penn State this offseason, it will help to offset the inevitable talent drain that occurs when there’s a head coaching change. One that could be exacerbated by Kraft passing over Terry Smith for the job after so many players advocated for his interim tag to be removed.
Campbell’s recruiting focus needs to be on 2027, when there is a potentially generational amount of in-state talent for him and his staff to fight for, but whatever he can do to make the most of 2026 will help to set him up for immediate success in Happy Valley.
That’s especially important because Penn State’s 2026 schedule provides a clear path to the College Football Playoff. Penn State plays Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo out of conference, and avoids Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana in Big Ten play.