Honestly, walking around State College this January feels... different. It’s not just the biting central Pennsylvania wind or the usual post-holiday slump. There is a genuine, slightly nervous electricity in the air. If you've been following the whirlwind of penn state news football fans have had to digest lately, you know exactly why.
The James Franklin era is over. That sentence still feels weird to type after 11 seasons, 104 wins, and enough "elite vs. great" discourse to last a lifetime. But the 2025 season—a year that started with Penn State ranked No. 2 in the country and ended with a 7-6 record and Franklin heading to Blacksburg to coach Virginia Tech—changed everything.
Now, we are officially in the Matt Campbell era. And man, he isn't wasting a single second.
The Massive 50-Man Overhaul
If you thought the transfer portal was chaotic before, look at what just happened in Happy Valley. On January 16, 2026, the program announced an absolutely staggering influx of talent. We aren't talking about a few depth pieces here and there. We are talking about 39 transfers and 11 high school signees.
Basically, half the roster just changed overnight.
Matt Campbell clearly brought a "Loyalty" card with him from Ames. Out of those 39 transfers, 23 of them followed him directly from Iowa State. It’s a bold move. Some fans are calling it "Iowa State East," and they aren't entirely wrong. But when you look at the names, it's hard not to get a little excited.
The Big Names to Watch
Rocco Becht is the headline. The redshirt senior quarterback is coming in with a massive chip on his shoulder. He knows Campbell’s system better than he knows his own phone number. Alongside him, you’ve got guys like:
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- Benjamin Brahmer: A 6-foot-7 skyscraper of a tight end who is going to be a red-zone nightmare.
- Caleb Bacon: A veteran linebacker who brings the kind of "Big 12 grit" Campbell is known for.
- James Peoples: This one is interesting—he's a junior running back transferring in from Ohio State. Grabbing a playmaker from a division rival is always a statement.
It’s a massive gamble. Campbell is betting that familiarity and a proven culture will fix a locker room that looked fractured by the end of last November.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025 "Collapse"
There's a narrative out there that Penn State just "forgot how to play football" last year. That’s not quite right. Honestly, it was a death by a thousand cuts.
Losing to Oregon in Week 5 was expected by some, but the back-to-back losses to UCLA and Northwestern as 20-point favorites? That was the breaking point. You can't be the No. 2 team in the nation and lose consecutive games where you're favored by nearly three touchdowns. It just doesn't happen.
The 3-6 Big Ten record was the worst conference finish for the Lions in years. People forget that James Franklin left as the second-winningest coach in school history, tied with Rip Engle. But 4-17 against Ohio State and Michigan is a weight no coach can carry forever.
Beaver Stadium is a Literal Construction Zone
If you’re planning on heading to a game in 2026, prepare for some "pardon our dust" vibes. The $700 million revitalization project is in full swing.
The West Side of the stadium is basically a shell right now. If you usually sit over there, things are going to look weird. They’re installing temporary seating for the 2026 season while the new "PAM Health Misitano Family Tower" goes up.
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Expect:
- Temporary Restrooms and Concessions: It’s not going to be glamorous on the West side this year.
- Limited Seat Upgrades: Because of the construction, the athletic department has basically told everyone that relocations are going to be nearly impossible.
- The Future: When it’s done in 2027, we’re talking executive suites that are 80 feet closer to the field and a 50,000-square-foot main concourse.
It sucks for the current experience, but let's be real—Beaver Stadium needed the facelift.
The Freshman Class: Local Heroes and Texas Gunslingers
Amidst all the portal drama, Penn State still managed to land some high-quality high school kids who are already on campus as early enrollees.
Peyton Falzone is the name everyone in PA is buzzing about. He’s a 6-foot-5 four-star QB from Nazareth. There’s a lot of pressure on him to be the "hometown hero" who eventually takes over after the Becht era.
Then you’ve got Kase Evans coming up from Lexington, Texas. Having two talented young QBs in the same class is a luxury, but in the age of the portal, it’s also a ticking clock. One of them will eventually be the guy, and the other will likely be looking for a new home in two years. That’s just the reality of 2026 football.
Is Matt Campbell the Right Fit?
This is the million-dollar question in every penn state news football thread.
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Campbell is a "culture" guy. At Iowa State, he won with three-star recruits and a developmental mindset. At Penn State, he has access to four and five-star talent, but he's chosen to start his tenure by bringing his "old guard" with him.
Some analysts, like those over at CBS Sports, are skeptical. They wonder if a guy who succeeded in the "quiet" environment of Ames can handle the "White Out" pressure of 110,000 screaming fans expecting a National Championship.
The schedule isn't doing him any favors either. The Big Ten is a gauntlet now. With Indiana going 15-0 last year (yeah, read that again, Indiana is a powerhouse now), the path to the top is more crowded than ever.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve this spring, here is what you should actually be doing:
- Track the Spring Game: Keep a close eye on the chemistry between Rocco Becht and the returning Penn State receivers. If they aren't on the same page by April, the September opener could be rocky.
- Check the West Side Seating: If you’re a season ticket holder, log into the portal now. The temporary seating arrangements for 2026 are being finalized, and you don't want to be caught off guard by a different view than you’re used to.
- Watch the O-Line Transfers: Guys like Trevor Buhr and Hunter Albright are going to be the backbone of this team. If Campbell’s "Big 12" line can't handle Big Ten defensive ends, it won't matter who the quarterback is.
The James Franklin era was defined by "almost." The Matt Campbell era is starting with "everything all at once." Whether that leads to a trophy or another 7-6 season is anyone's guess, but it certainly won't be boring.