Pretty clear that Campbell has put PSU in a great position to have a vey successful 2026 Season with the talent he has brought over in mass

[JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws]

The talent Campbell brought over more than replaces what was lost in transition - this talent mixed with the talent PSU kept will give Campbell a much better talent-base than what he won with at ISU. Watching Howard (a PSU legacy for Campbell) have a career day (6 receptions for 161 yards and a TD) catching balls from Becht (13-18, 271 yards, 4 TD Passes and 0 INTs) is a perfect example.

 

[Moogy]

When did PSU move to Massachusetts?

 

[LMTLION]

The talent Campbell brought over more than replaces what was lost in transition - this talent mixed with the talent PSU kept will give Campbell a much better talent-base than what he won with at ISU. Watching Howard (a PSU legacy for Campbell) have a career day (6 receptions for 161 yards and a TD) catching balls from Becht (13-18, 271 yards, 4 TD Passes and 0 INTs) is a perfect example.

It is clear the former Iowa St players can play. I was super impressed with Becht, Ebel, and Bacon. I felt that I knew nothing about Ebel and this guy plays like a traditional linebacker u type of backer. It is also clear there are a number of younger players that Campbell recruited that will compete at the highest levels in the future - such as Manske, Zay Rob, AmarionJackson, and Zayas. I want to reiterate a point made by a number of players and coaches over the last few years is that the biggest difference between the top half of the SEC or B1G vs the Big 12 is depth. The 1s are not that far apart between the conferences. It is also clear that Campbell and his staff are much better gameday coaches than much of what we saw from Franklin. I cannot remember the last time we saw that level of execution. Last year’s team would have beaten Marshall badly as well, but it would have looked totally different - struggles and mistakes early with the athletes taking over later in the game.

 

[massimoManca II]

“In mass”

jfc

 

[massimoManca II]

When did PSU move to Massachusetts?

 

[Ram20]

I just thought the whole operation was.....professional. Best opening game tackling we've seen in 10+ years. Qb was decisive and sharp, we didnt need 2 quarters to stumble around looking for an "identity." Receivers that can both catch and run. Very little in the way of penalties or execution issues. No long pauses where the qb looks to the sideline for 15 seconds, consults his wrist band, runs the ball into an 8 man front. Very little in the way of grandstanding and acting obnoxious. We played cream puffs last year too, and beat them by a lot, but I think most of us saw major red flags even against the likes of Villinova.

 

[JoeBagobagels]

I just thought the whole operation was.....professional. Best opening game tackling we've seen in 10+ years. Qb was decisive and sharp, we didnt need 2 quarters to stumble around looking for an "identity." Receivers that can both catch and run. Very little in the way of penalties or execution issues. No long pauses where the qb looks to the sideline for 15 seconds, consults his wrist band, runs the ball into an 8 man front. Very little in the way of grandstanding and acting obnoxious. We played cream puffs last year too, and beat them by a lot, but I think most of us saw major red flags even against the likes of Villinova.

My wife and I were heading up to Scranton, Pennsylvania to see the Goo Goo Dolls. We listened to it on the radio and then I got to kind of watch a little bit at the stadium until about 6 o'clock. I said kind of watch because my table had a weird view of the one TV with the game on. A ceiling light was hanging right in the middle of my view so I honestly couldn't see the play develop and play out.

I use the ESPN app just to keep track of it, but honestly, to me they played great to me.

One thing that I was cautiously optimistic about was that I had no idea how well they would look or how well they would do. With all the players that came in from the portal, including the Iowa State transfers, I had no idea how this team would come together.

I knew a little bit about some players, but this was a total surprise for me. Everyone met my expectations for a first day. My big hope for this year is that they'll be competitive in all their games and they have a chance to win some of the biggest games.

 

[Rocco3]

My wife and I were heading up to Scranton, Pennsylvania to see the Goo Goo Dolls. We listened to it on the radio and then I got to kind of watch a little bit at the stadium until about 6 o'clock. I said kind of watch because my table had a weird view of the one TV with the game on. A ceiling light was hanging right in the middle of my view so I honestly couldn't see the play develop and play out.

I use the ESPN app just to keep track of it, but honestly, to me they played great to me.

One thing that I was cautiously optimistic about was that I had no idea how well they would look or how well they would do. With all the players that came in from the portal, including the Iowa State transfers, I had no idea how this team would come together.

I knew a little bit about some players, but this was a total surprise for me. Everyone met my expectations for a first day. My big hope for this year is that they'll be competitive in all their games and they have a chance to win some of the biggest games.

One of the better PS opener's I have seen in a long time considering all the shakeups and turmoil this program went through to get to where we are. I'm breathing a big sigh of relief. I think our future is bright. Maybe very bright.

 

[DaytonRickster]

It is clear the former Iowa St players can play. I was super impressed with Becht, Ebel, and Bacon. I felt that I knew nothing about Ebel and this guy plays like a traditional linebacker u type of backer. It is also clear there are a number of younger players that Campbell recruited that will compete at the highest levels in the future - such as Manske, Zay Rob, AmarionJackson, and Zayas. I want to reiterate a point made by a number of players and coaches over the last few years is that the biggest difference between the top half of the SEC or B1G vs the Big 12 is depth. The 1s are not that far apart between the conferences. It is also clear that Campbell and his staff are much better gameday coaches than much of what we saw from Franklin. I cannot remember the last time we saw that level of execution. Last year’s team would have beaten Marshall badly as well, but it would have looked totally different - struggles and mistakes early with the athletes taking over later in the game.

Jack Ham was very impressed with Cooper Ebel's (LBer) overall ability against the run and pass. Rojas and Ebel are an excellent combination. Ham also liked what he saw from Cam Smith in the limited snaps he received. When Tatsch returns to play, the LBers will have six dependable players: Ebel, Rojas, Smith, Tatsch, Brezina, and Bacon (part time DE & LBer).

 

[JoeBagobagels]

One of the better PS opener's I have seen in a long time considering all the shakeups and turmoil this program went through to get to where we are. I'm breathing a big sigh of relief. I think our future is bright. Maybe very bright.

I agree, I was very satisfied and happy about the result. And it just seems that there's a general consensus that we have a pretty good coach and he's getting these guys ready to play.

 

[cntblvitsbutter]

I'm going big on Iowa +14 against visiting Iowa State! Seems we took their best players.

 

[Rocco3]

I'm going big on Iowa +14 against visiting Iowa State! Seems we took their best players.

Will ISU score? They may never get close to the spread. Iowa is much improved. I have them as one of my dark horses.

 

[DaytonRickster]

The talent Campbell brought over more than replaces what was lost in transition - this talent mixed with the talent PSU kept will give Campbell a much better talent-base than what he won with at ISU. Watching Howard (a PSU legacy for Campbell) have a career day (6 receptions for 161 yards and a TD) catching balls from Becht (13-18, 271 yards, 4 TD Passes and 0 INTs) is a perfect example.

I liked what I heard Saturday listening to the radio broadcast and agree the talent that came over via the portal is strong. Depth must be built for this team to win in the B1G. That needs to occur during this OOC schedule. I'll temper my enthusiasm until we watch them against Wisky and Northwestern.

 

[OKLALionsFan]

It’s very easy to draw an analogy to the Cignetti strategy last year. Veteran highly experienced coach, a large number of experienced players he had good evaluations on meshed with veteran players still there, EXCEPT in CMC’s case he brought just about the number of new players, and they came from Iowa State not James Madison. He has far more experience coaching at the D-1 level.
.

 

[ChiTownLionPSU]

 

[doctornick]

I'm going big on Iowa +14 against visiting Iowa State! Seems we took their best players.

I honestly feel really bad for Iowa St. Not only taking their coach but decimating their roster, both their best players but also their depth. I know that just the reality of college football today but it really isn't fair for them and they always seemed like a reasonable likeable program.

 

[LMTLION]

We all want 4 and 5 stars, and rightly so. You need top talent to win. But the reality is that we are not top 10 for NIL so we need other advantages, like elite talent evaluation. I really think Campbell’s skills are translating here in that regard. He started a true freshman in the secondary, and the kid played like an upperclassman. And our highest graded offensive player in week one is an FCS transfer.

 

[DaytonRickster]

We all want 4 and 5 stars, and rightly so. You need top talent to win. But the reality is that we are not top 10 for NIL so we need other advantages, like elite talent evaluation. I really think Campbell’s skills are translating here in that regard. He started a true freshman in the secondary, and the kid played like an upperclassman. And our highest graded offensive player in week one is an FCS transfer.

Texas State is not FCS. They are D1, FBS

 

[LMTLION]

Texas State is not FCS. They are D1, FBS

You’re right. Sometimes I use FCS incorrectly to describe non-power conferences. But the point stands, he’s a great talent evaluator, getting solid players from non-power conferences and recruiting talented kids that are overlooked.

 

[OKLALionsFan]

This is about the best news we could get out of the Ball State game. There were many expressed concerns about River all through camp. So we learned that Koby Howard was everything we thought he was, and Brock Riker is everything we hoped he’d be. This offense could be pretty good.

 

[Ram20]

We all want 4 and 5 stars, and rightly so. You need top talent to win. But the reality is that we are not top 10 for NIL so we need other advantages, like elite talent evaluation. I really think Campbell’s skills are translating here in that regard. He started a true freshman in the secondary, and the kid played like an upperclassman. And our highest graded offensive player in week one is an FCS transfer.

Good point. For nearly everyone there is only so much NIL dollars to splash around. 5* high school juniors cost as much or more than productive experienced college guys. Seems like there are very few programs that are going to be able to constantly have top 5 recruiting classes AND top 5 transfer classes. So what do you value, how do you win at the margins? You develop 3 and 4* High school guys that maybe come a little cheaper and try to have to 15 type transfer portal classes with mature productive guys. And most of all, you are going to have to COACH them up, Develop your talent. Pure talent does not always win out. Campbell said something in an interview that stuck with me, he said even in this big money climate, it's still going to come down to connectivity, teams, development, fundamentals, roles. It's much more complicated now, but there may be more ways to skin the cat today then there was 10 years ago where by the Blue chip recruiting schools were the only teams capable of getting to the mountaintop.

 

[SkiSkiSki]

It's much more complicated now, but there may be more ways to skin the cat today then there was 10 years ago where by the Blue chip recruiting schools were the only teams capable of getting to the mountaintop.

As one of my dear departed uncles used to say, "It don't matter how you skinned the cat. You are still eating pu$$y."