- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,237,303
- Reaction score
- 59
The Penn State Nittany Lions are entering the 2026 season with the cleanest slate possible after the disaster that was the 2025 season.
Matt Campbell is taking the controls of a program that was as low as it could have possibly been last year after being one play away from the National Championship game in 2024.
Now, after a mass exodus of players to both the draft and the transfer portal, Matt Campbell has a clean slate to make this opportunity as good as it possibly could be. ESPN's Rece Davis has ideas for just how good it could be next year in Happy Valley.
On ESPN's College Football Podcast, Davis posed the question, "If you are of the belief that there is someone that could make an Indiana-like, unexpected run... but one who might follow the blueprint that Indiana established. I submit to you, the Penn State (Nittany Lions)."
It is important that Davis did have a couple of lines in there saying that he wasn't comparing the awful history that Indiana had in the past, but more so, how the Hoosiers just completely turned it around out of nowhere.
Davis argued the following points:
Davis makes a very compelling argument, one that should really excite a lot of Penn State fans. The only thing that I would add to this list is the fact that Campbell, like Cignetti, has a lot to prove.
Cignetti has a desperation factor that is hard to replicate. This was likely his only chance after so many years on the rise.
Campbell comes to Penn State after his program plateaued and got stagnant at Iowa State, and he is looking to take massive steps forward in his career at a school that has ridiculous growth potential.
Now, with great expectation comes great responsibility. As we inch closer to the start of the regular season, the reality is that the Nittany Lions could have an amazingly fun year back to the playoffs, but there is also a reality where they stub their toe and the program is left scratching its head again.
The former scenario is simply just what it has to be without question. Penn State needs next year to be a winning program and if they do what they are supposed to, who knows, maybe they make a run at the entire thing.
Continue reading...
Matt Campbell is taking the controls of a program that was as low as it could have possibly been last year after being one play away from the National Championship game in 2024.
Now, after a mass exodus of players to both the draft and the transfer portal, Matt Campbell has a clean slate to make this opportunity as good as it possibly could be. ESPN's Rece Davis has ideas for just how good it could be next year in Happy Valley.
On ESPN's College Football Podcast, Davis posed the question, "If you are of the belief that there is someone that could make an Indiana-like, unexpected run... but one who might follow the blueprint that Indiana established. I submit to you, the Penn State (Nittany Lions)."
It is important that Davis did have a couple of lines in there saying that he wasn't comparing the awful history that Indiana had in the past, but more so, how the Hoosiers just completely turned it around out of nowhere.
Davis argued the following points:
- Campbell brought over 24 transfers from Iowa State for his continuity
- D'Anton Lynn hired as the defensive coordinator, a former Nittany Lion himself
- A quick start to the season is very possible. They could be 4-0 through September and their schedule after that is very favorable.
Davis makes a very compelling argument, one that should really excite a lot of Penn State fans. The only thing that I would add to this list is the fact that Campbell, like Cignetti, has a lot to prove.
Cignetti has a desperation factor that is hard to replicate. This was likely his only chance after so many years on the rise.
Campbell comes to Penn State after his program plateaued and got stagnant at Iowa State, and he is looking to take massive steps forward in his career at a school that has ridiculous growth potential.
Now, with great expectation comes great responsibility. As we inch closer to the start of the regular season, the reality is that the Nittany Lions could have an amazingly fun year back to the playoffs, but there is also a reality where they stub their toe and the program is left scratching its head again.
The former scenario is simply just what it has to be without question. Penn State needs next year to be a winning program and if they do what they are supposed to, who knows, maybe they make a run at the entire thing.
Continue reading...
