Matt Campbell’s debut season at Penn State is, at best, looking pretty rocky with a 3-2 record right now, and the Nittany Lions might already be kicking themselves looking at what Bob Chesney is doing over at UCLA. Out of the four new coaches hired in the Big Ten this offseason, only one is off to a strong start, and it’s definitely not the one you’d expect to be making waves in Happy Valley.
Campbell’s Rocky Start Has Penn State In Trouble
Penn State is heading into Week 6 reeling from back-to-back embarrassing losses. First, they let Wisconsin pull off a massive comeback right there at home, then they got absolutely blown out by Northwestern. This is not the start anyone wanted for the Campbell era, especially after the Nittany Lions hired the former Iowa State coach hoping he could finally help them punch upward against the Big Ten’s elite. James Franklin, despite racking up six double-digit win seasons, consistently came up short against giants like Ohio State and Michigan, and that frustration ultimately led to his departure in 2025. Campbell was supposed to be the guy to change that, but with a 3-2 record, it’s not happening yet, and that eight-year contract is starting to feel heavy.
Why Campbell Was Supposed To Be “The Guy”
Campbell built an incredible reputation at Iowa State, becoming the most successful coach in program history by doing it all without many resources or financial might. His teams there pulled off significant upset wins, including some against top-10-ranked opponents. That ability to “punch up” was a huge draw for Penn State. His team-first mindset, his commitment to one program for over a decade, and his success in big games made him seem like a perfect fit for Penn State’s tradition-focused culture. He even brought a collection of Iowa State talent with him to State College. But here’s the kicker: so far, none of that has translated into Big Ten success. His career record, including this 3-2 start at Penn State, sits at 110-72 (.604), with most of those wins coming from Iowa State and a five-year run at Toledo. He only has one 10-win season under his belt, an 11-3 campaign at Iowa State in 2024, and his bowl game record is a lukewarm 5-5.
The One That Got Away: Bob Chesney?
With Franklin getting fired in October 2025, Penn State’s coaching job was one of the first big vacancies that season, giving them a chance to look at a ton of candidates. Bob Chesney, a Pennsylvania native, was absolutely on that list of coaches under consideration. While it’s not clear if he ever formally interviewed with the Nittany Lions, sources like Bruins247 noted his name. Now, with Campbell struggling and UCLA, under Chesney, off to a strong start, you gotta wonder if Penn State is looking at that situation with a huge dose of buyer’s remorse. There’s plenty of season left, but the heat is definitely on Campbell to turn this thing around fast and prove he was worth the gamble.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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