What’s next for Penn State football as it heads into the offseason? Take a look
Penn State’s 2025 season came to a close over the weekend, which means it’s time to look ahead to 2026 — the first year of the Matt Campbell era for the Nittany Lions.
What’s left to do for Campbell as he turns the page? And what comes next for the program? Let’s take a look.
Which coaching positions need filled?
Campbell has only a few spots left to fill, with D’Anton Lynn set to join his staff as its new defensive coordinator. That leaves running backs coach, defensive line coach and linebackers coach as the only openings, assuming associate head coach Terry Smith coaches the corners like he did under James Franklin.
It would be a surprise if assistant coach Dan Connor did not stay on at this point, which should fill the void in the linebacker room, leaving the defensive line coach and the running backs coach as the primary roles that have yet to be filled.
Here’s an overview of Campbell’s staff so far:
- Offensive coordinator/tight ends: Taylor Mouser
- Defensive coordinator: D’Anton Lynn
- Quarterbacks: Jake Waters
- Wide receivers: Noah Pauley
- Offensive line: Ryan Clanton
- Secondary: Deon Broomfield
- TBD: Terry Smith
What’s next for the roster?
The transfer portal is set to open Jan. 2 and will stay open until Jan. 16, and that’s when Campbell will have to build out his roster. For the time being, discussions are ongoing between Penn State and players about what comes next. Announcements will trickle out over the next few days about players staying or leaving, with important pieces like offensive tackle Anthony Donkoh and interior offensive lineman Cooper Cousins already announcing their intent to return. Roster retention will be the focus for the rest of the week.
Among the key PSU players who have already expressed their desire to enter the portal are CB AJ Harris, CB Elliot Washington II, DE Chaz Coleman and DE Zuriah Fisher.
Inevitably, more players will announce their intentions to enter the transfer portal. Some will be players who did not have a path to playing time under Campbell and are best suited elsewhere, and some will be players who the new head coach and his staff try to retain but are unable to for various reasons.
What’s the goal for 2026?
Now that Campbell is in the throes of his first offseason, it’s worth looking at what it means for his first season and what expectations should be. A lot will change between now and the beginning of spring ball (let alone fall camp and the regular season) but things are trending in a positive direction for what 2026 could look like.
The Nittany Lions have a relatively favorable schedule, avoiding both Ohio State and Oregon next year. A road matchup with Michigan and a home contest with USC are the two most daunting games on the slate. That bodes well for Campbell, who should be able to bring in some of his best players from an Iowa State team that won eight games last season.
Those additions, which could include players like QB Rocco Becht, should help stabilize the roster and give Campbell and his staff a strong foundation to work with this season. Eight wins should be the bar as long as the team’s transfer portal class isn’t a disaster. There’s room for plenty of upside if the new staff can bring in some high-end talent from other schools and retain Penn State’s most talented players.
