Here’s everything you need to know after Penn State football turned over its program
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Penn State replaced most coaches and a large portion of its roster in 2026.
- Rocco Becht and Cyclone transfers will lead an offense adding more vertical shots.
- Defense will simplify under D’Anton Lynn with a bigger front and returning linebackers.
Penn State has turned over nearly its entire coaching staff and a massive chunk of its roster in new head coach Matt Campbell’s first offseason since he was hired by the program from Iowa State in early December.
Let’s take a look at the biggest changes with the program and what to expect from the Nittany Lions in 2026 with so much turnover.
Who’s the starting quarterback?
Former Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht will lead the offense in 2026. Becht followed Campbell to State College after spending four seasons with the Cyclones, including three as a starter. He’s amassed 9,274 passing yards, 64 passing touchdowns and 27 interceptions in that time — including 2,584 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2025. He brings a wealth of experience and should help the offense reach a baseline of competency, at the very least, in 2026.
Will the offense be different next year?
Taylor Mouser, like much of the offensive staff, is joining Campbell from Iowa State and will replace Andy Kotelnicki as offensive coordinator. But fans who want a completely different offense will be disappointed. Mouser runs a similar offense to Kotelnicki, but without the massive amount of pre-snap deception his predecessor used. There will still be plenty of 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends and two receivers), but with some adding vertical shots down the field to help create space for Becht to work.
Will it be better?
This is the ultimate question for the Nittany Lions next season. Their season success will hinge on just how good Becht and the rest of the Cyclone transfers are on offense. He’s joined by several key pieces, including tight end Benjamin Brahmer, wide receivers Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen and running back Carson Hansen, who are all likely to play major roles. The first three are highly likely to start, while Hansen will combine with James Peoples and Quinton Martin Jr. to soak up most of the snaps at running back. There’s a decent shot this group is better than last year’s, largely because of the improvements at quarterback, receiver and tight end. If the offensive line can take a step forward, it will raise the offense’s ceiling significantly.
What about the defense?
The defense lost a lot of talent from a good group in 2025 that still underperformed expectations. D’Anton Lynn will now lead the unit as its defensive coordinator, replacing Jim Knowles. Knowles is one of the best in the country, but his scheme takes time to adjust to, and Penn State was unable to do that. Lynn will still used varied coverages and personnel groupings, but should be able to simplify the defense enough to allow for a quicker start. That, along with a strong group of returners like linebacker Tony Rojas, defensive ends Yvan Kemajou and Max Granville and cornerback Daryus Dixson, should allow Penn State to have a very good defense in Campbell’s first season.
Who are the best transfers on that side of the ball?
Campbell’s additions on defense are good but not great, with the primary contributors coming from Iowa State. That group is led by safeties Marcus Neal Jr. and Jeremiah Cooper, along with linebacker Caleb Bacon, who should all come in and start right away. Those three should help solidify the back seven for Penn State, while additions from elsewhere will help on the defensive line. Colorado’s Alexander McPherson, UCLA’s Keanu Williams and Utah’s Dallas Vakalahi will help up front, with McPherson on the edge and the other two on the interior. In general, this should be a much bigger frontline for the Nittany Lions than they’ve had in recent years which should help against the run.
Is Penn State done adding coaches and players?
While there are still plenty of players left in the portal, Penn State is mostly done with the heavy lifting on its coaching staff and roster. There remain high school players they could target ahead of National Signing Day in February, and even the possibility of 2027 players reclassifying to join the program sooner, but it’s unlikely that the Nittany Lions will bring in big-time players from the portal — though not impossible. The same goes for the coaching staff, where the major positions have been filled. Now it’s about being opportunistic with adding both players and coaches the rest of the offseason.
How good can this team be?
That’s the ultimate question coming off a season that began with national title aspirations and ended with the program going 6-6 in the regular season. The roster is less talented than it was last year, but it could be better schematically on both sides of the ball. It remains to be seen how the offense and defense will mesh with so many new players, but there’s enough talent to get to at least eight wins in a normal year. That being said, Penn State has a very light schedule in 2026, and getting to as many as 10 wins is on the table. That’s far from a guarantee, but there should be some hope that everything can come together for the program in a way that puts it on the College Football Playoff bubble.
