Wait, did that actually just happen? If you fell asleep in September and woke up today, you’d think you were looking at a different universe. James Franklin is gone. The 11-year era ended with a mid-season firing in October 2025 that sent shockwaves through State College. Honestly, the 2025 season was a fever dream—a #2 ranking in August, a historic collapse with back-to-back losses as 20-point favorites, and then a weirdly satisfying Pinstripe Bowl win over Clemson under interim Terry Smith.
But the real Penn State football news isn't about the past. It's about the total Iowa State-ification of Happy Valley. Matt Campbell is the man in charge now, and as of January 18, 2026, he hasn't just opened the door to the transfer portal; he’s basically ripped it off the hinges.
The Great Cyclone Migration
On January 16, Penn State announced 48 roster additions. That is an absurd number. Usually, you see a dozen, maybe twenty. But 48?
Here’s the kicker: 24 of those players are from Iowa State.
Matt Campbell is clearly not interested in a "slow build." He’s bringing his culture with him in bulk. The biggest name on that list? Quarterback Rocco Becht. With Drew Allar’s future uncertain after that season-ending leg injury against Northwestern, Becht isn't just coming in to compete; he’s likely the Day 1 starter for 2026.
Becht is a gamer. He’s thrown for over 3,000 yards in back-to-back seasons and has this knack for rushing touchdowns—eight in each of the last two years. He fits the "toughness" profile Campbell wants.
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- Quarterback Room: Rocco Becht (Iowa State transfer) joins Ethan Grunkemeyer.
- Defense: Ikenna Ezeogu, a former Cyclone defensive lineman, just committed Wednesday night.
- Secondary: Jeremiah Cooper is another Iowa State name to watch in the backend.
It’s a gutsy move. Some fans are already calling it "Iowa State East," and yeah, it’s a little weird seeing half a roster wear different shades of red a month ago. But after a 7-6 season that felt like a funeral by October, maybe a total system flush is exactly what the doctor ordered.
The Coaching Staff Shuffle
The "Campbell Way" isn't just about the players. He brought the whole brain trust from Ames. Taylor Mouser is the new Offensive Coordinator, replacing Andy Kotelnicki after just one year. Some folks are "underwhelmed" by Mouser—he’s a Campbell loyalist, not a flashy outside hire. But he was the 2025 Tight Ends Coach of the Year, and if you know Penn State, you know they live and die by the tight end.
Ryan Clanton is taking over the Offensive Line, and Deon Broomfield is handling the secondary. This isn't a staff of "names" you see on ESPN every Saturday morning; it's a staff that has worked together for a decade.
Who stayed?
Surprisingly, Terry Smith is still around. He did an incredible job keeping the locker room from imploding after Franklin was fired, leading the team to a 4-3 record as the interim. Savon Huggins was also just named the Running Backs coach. Keeping some local DNA was vital because the recruiting trail was looking like a ghost town for a minute there.
Recruiting: The 2026 Class vs. The 2027 Disaster
If you want the messy Penn State football news, look at the 2027 recruiting class. It’s gone. Empty. Zero.
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When Franklin was fired on October 12, the #2 ranked 2027 class evaporated in 48 hours. Five-star RB Kemon Spell and OT Layton Von Brandt didn't wait around to see who the new guy was. They bailed.
However, the 2026 class—the guys who will actually be on campus soon—is surprisingly stable.
- Jackson Ford (EDGE): The Malvern Prep star is officially signed.
- Peyton Falzone (QB): He’s a local Nazareth kid who stuck through the coaching change.
- D’Antae Sheffey (RB): A State College local who committed just a few days ago.
Campbell is pivoting. He’s realized he can’t win the 2027 NIL wars right this second, so he’s loading up on 2026 kids from the region and the Midwest. He’s also leaning heavily into "roster retention" over "splashy offers."
Basically, he wants guys who want to be in State College, not guys who are looking for the biggest check from a collective. It's a throwback approach. It might work, or it might leave Penn State behind in the talent arms race. We’ll find out in September.
Who is actually coming back?
Amidst all the transfers coming in, some key Nittany Lions are staying put. Cam Wallace, the running back who almost left, changed his mind on January 10. That’s huge because with Quinton Martin Jr. looking like a star (103 yards in the Pinstripe Bowl), that backfield actually has some teeth.
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Zane Durant is off to the NFL, which hurts. But guys like cornerback Zion Tracy and linebacker Tony Rojas are returning to anchor the defense.
And don't sleep on Ryan Barker. The kicker broke the program record for single-season field goal percentage last year. In a Big Ten that's getting tougher with Oregon and Washington in the mix, having a guy who doesn't miss from 40 yards is basically a superpower.
What’s the Realistic Outlook?
Penn State is in a weird spot. You’ve got a coach who won big at a "developmental" school (Iowa State) now trying to apply that model to a "blue blood" (or blue-blood adjacent) program.
The schedule won't be kind. The 2025 season showed that the gap between Penn State and the top of the Big Ten isn't just a gap—it's a canyon. Losing to a winless UCLA team last year was a low point that still stings.
Campbell’s success depends on whether Rocco Becht can handle the pressure of Beaver Stadium. It’s one thing to play in front of 60,000 in Ames; it’s another to have 110,000 people screaming when you're down a touchdown to Ohio State.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're trying to keep up with the chaos, here’s what you should do right now:
- Watch the Spring Game: This will be the first time we see Mouser's offense. Is it going to be the ball-control, tight-end heavy look from Iowa State, or will they let Becht air it out?
- Monitor the 2027 Reset: Keep an eye on whether Campbell can re-recruit Kemon Spell. If he can get one of those decommits back, it proves the "culture" is selling.
- Check the Depth Chart in March: With 48 new players, the "locks" from last year aren't locks anymore. Every position is up for grabs.
The James Franklin era provided stability, but it hit a hard ceiling. Matt Campbell just smashed that ceiling, but he might have knocked the roof in too. It's going to be a bumpy, fascinating ride in 2026.