Penn State football might not be under a full national spotlight just yet, but new head coach Matt Campbell will definitely have eyes and judgment on him in year one.
It won't happen overnight or over just one season, but being tasked with putting the Nittany Lions back into national title contention isn't easy. Former head coach James Franklin had his faults, naturally, but he did finish his tenure with a 104-45 overall record.
Campbell must win, and he must win enough to put Penn State at the peak of college football once again. Again, that's not a year one conversation, but it's something many national analysts and experts are keeping in mind as they observe what Campbell can accomplish in 2026.
Sportscaster and former coach Urban Meyer is among them.
“The question I have … can he do better than James Franklin?” Meyer said, as reported by On3. “Because James Franklin won a lot of games there now. A lot. He’s got a new quarterback, he’s got a new staff and usually, it takes a minute to get going. He can’t lose his momentum – and he’s got a lot of momentum going into the season. Just can’t lose it.”
Urban Meyer says Matt Campbell can't lose momentum at Penn State
There's been a lot of talk about how comfortable of a situation Campbell is in compared to what he could be facing in other scenarios. He has a team full of dedicated Nittany Lions and dedicated players he took from Iowa State as well as an easier schedule.
Meyer made an excellent point that Penn State can't lose sight of, though: "it takes a minute to get going."
Campbell has a lot siding in his favor this season, which is a perfect booster seat he should take advantage of. Getting into a rhythm shouldn't be difficult in terms of Saturdays, but his and his team's response to losses is just as important as winning.
Franklin didn't succeed with that rebound in 2025. As soon as the Nittany Lions tallied their first loss of the year against Oregon, the rest of the season crumbled. Losing momentum because of one loss can't happen with Campbell. Rallying the lockeroom, getting back on the field, and returning to the win column is what has to happen.
Meyer might just have referred to 2026, but maintaining a steady momentum is key over a broad scope of time as well.
Consistency and success will yield wins in more ways than just game days. Year one is a stepping stone, and it can be a huge one in particular if Campbell plays his cards correctly.
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