Campbell's First Year Tested

Penn State’s new head coach, Matt Campbell, faces high expectations as he enters his first season with a team primed for a championship run. With a favorable 2026 schedule dodging heavyweights like Ohio State and Oregon, Campbell’s early window to make an immediate impact is wide open — but J.D. Pickell warns the timing might be too soon. He argues the schedule’s golden opportunity should’ve come after Campbell’s culture and system were fully established, like James Franklin might’ve used it for a playoff run. Now, Campbell must seize the moment — strong play could ignite recruiting and portal interest, while a stumble might just mean more time to build. The clock is ticking, and the pressure is on. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0a6e6c2e657ca16a