A Penn State Player Just Explained the 2025 Collapse... Can Matt Campbell Fix Those Issues?

Tony Rojas offered revealing insight into the leadership and communication problems that contributed to Penn State football’s disappointing 2025 season. His comments also highlighted why the early relationship between Penn State’s players and new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn could be one of the most important developments of the Matt Campbell era. Zach Seyko and Patrick Koerbler (https://x.com/Poerbler) discuss Rojas’s role in the defense, Lynn’s collaborative coaching style, Jim Knowles’s complicated system, last season’s player burnout and the leadership failures that may have started with James Franklin’s staff. They also examine Matt Campbell’s personality, Curt Cignetti’s comments about the SEC and Penn State’s approach at Big Ten Media Day. The final segment explores Penn State athletics finances, Pat Kraft’s support of 31 varsity sports and why football revenue remains essential to wrestling, hockey, volleyball and the university’s Olympic-sport programs. What do you believe was the biggest reason Penn State fell apart in 2025: coaching, leadership, scheme or pressure? Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Become an every-dayer! Subscribe to Locked On Nittany Lions on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lockedonnittanylions?sub\_confirmation=1 Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! KALSHI For a limited time, Download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get up to $500 in bonus credits when you trade $25. The Game Don't miss this chance to celebrate 40 years of The Game with 40% off your entire order. Visit https://TheGameCaps.com and use promo code LOCKEDON at checkout. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LONittanyLions?sid=YouTube Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege Follow the show on X! https://x.com/LockedOnNittany https://x.com/zach\_seyko #lockedonnittanylions #pennstate #nittanylions #pennstatefootball #collegefootball #bigtenfootball #ncaafootball #lockedon #weare #football 0:00 Intro 1:30 Tony Rojas Reveals Penn State’s 2025 Leadership Problem 3:37 What Derailed Penn State Last Season? 4:51 James Franklin, Jim Knowles and Accountability 7:26 Did Penn State’s Defense Become Too Complicated? 9:05 Why Tony Rojas Is Irreplaceable 10:50 Matt Campbell’s Big Ten Media Day Approach 12:23 Curt Cignetti Takes a Shot at the SEC 15:14 Does Matt Campbell Need More Personality? 17:40 Matt Campbell Compared With James Franklin 19:09 Should Pat Kraft Cut Penn State Sports? 22:12 Why Olympic Sports Operate at a Loss 24:10 Why Penn State Should Add Women’s Wrestling 26:04 Could College Football Eventually Separate? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.