Now the double-talking geniuses on the board are telling us PSU's NIL budget is not competitive with top of b1g/FBS.... making MC's job impossible.

[JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws]

Speaking of comical, you never answered my question because you have no idea (call me shocked). Checked on line and official financial information released by the university reported that slightly more than 13.3 million in NIL money was allocated to the football program in 2024-2025. The article said that figure was not representative of the 2025-2026 budget which was expected to be approximately 30 million. Two conclusions can be drawn: (1) Penn State gave far more NIL money to Campbell than Franklin and (2) Penn State isn’t spending 45 to 50 million like OSU and Oregon.

Well, we know one other thing - Load-O is full of crap as per usual.

The Franklin-bile spewing fans are so full of it on this board. As you just laid out, we've paid-up for drastically less across the board (coaching staff and roster). Franklin complains about NIL budget being uncompetitive and underfunded, but consistently produces Nationally relevant and extremelycompetitive teams - you fire him. Campbell provided with far more funding for a completely uncompetitive team against mediocre b1g teams, you defend him???? Some really illogical bozos on this board.

 

[NitFan89]

NIL didn't become a factor until the last 1.25 years of Franklin's career at PSU. During his last 0.25 career year at PSU he spent $1.0 million on a WR who happened to be the brother of his ex-QB.

I'm putting you ignore because I no longer want to deal with your ranting idiocy.

This isn’t true at all.

 

[Marshall2323]

This isn’t true at all.

The BWICAC talk crap and they all repeat it and swear it's true. LOL

 

[bdgan]

But Franklin was in the same position relative to the top-spenders and clearly punched well-above his NIL budget ranking in terms of roster talent and average annual results. How does this work when one of Franklin's main beefs was an underfunded NIL budget relative to FBS's top decile spenders???

PSU has enough NIL money to compete with Wisconsin and Northwestern. The problem is our recruiting class fell apart while Kraft was striking out on one candidate after another. By the time Campbell was hired and got his staff in place a lot of the portal players were gone so his only option if he wanted a competiive team for 2026 was to offer a lot of money for players like Becht, Hansen, Brahmer, Bacon, and Neal to come to State College. I think he would have been better off focusing on keeping guys like Grunk, Reynolds, Campbell, and Harris.

 

[bdgan]

We were told Campbell would have lots of NIL money to spend this year.

On who? He and his staff (including GM) arrived pretty late in the process.

 

[bdgan]

Where is the money coming from to spend in the transfer portal?

A lot of people seem to think we can buy a whole new team from the portal. I think that's ridiculous. I think you need a base built on solid high school recruiting then supplement that with 6 or 7 from the portal. That's why it will likely take PSU several more years to rebuild. We don't have a base to rebuild from. Most of our 2026 class left and our H.S. class was ranked 64th which was worse than Iowa State, Tulane, App State, Temple, etc.

Next year we lost the top Iowa State transfers like Becht, Hansen, Sowell, Brahmer, Burkle, and Bacon. The cupboards are bare.

 

[KingLando]

A lot of people seem to think we can buy a whole new team from the portal. I think that's ridiculous. I think you need a base built on solid high school recruiting then supplement that with 6 or 7 from the portal. That's why it will likely take PSU several more years to rebuild. We don't have a base to rebuild from. Most of our 2026 class left and our H.S. class was ranked 64th which was worse than Iowa State, Tulane, App State, Temple, etc.

Next year we lost the top Iowa State transfers like Becht, Hansen, Sowell, Brahmer, Burkle, and Bacon. The cupboards are bare.

Hansen has a year left if he wants it--5 in 5. I don't know about the others off the top of my head

 

[JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws]

A lot of people seem to think we can buy a whole new team from the portal. I think that's ridiculous. I think you need a base built on solid high school recruiting then supplement that with 6 or 7 from the portal. That's why it will likely take PSU several more years to rebuild. We don't have a base to rebuild from. Most of our 2026 class left and our H.S. class was ranked 64th which was worse than Iowa State, Tulane, App State, Temple, etc.

Next year we lost the top Iowa State transfers like Becht, Hansen, Sowell, Brahmer, Burkle, and Bacon. The cupboards are bare.

Really??? You have to "buy" high school recruits to. Beyond that, $$$ spent on high school recruits is a gamble as they're completely unproven and...... the ones that do prove themselves can hold an auction for their services and are very difficult to hold if you are uncompetitive nationally.

Take a look at scUM - they're attempting your model and paid Underwood huge $$$ out of high school (and are still paying him a massive amount) - now they're benching him.

 

[bdgan]

Really??? You have to "buy" high school recruits to. Beyond that, $$$ spent on high school recruits is a gamble as they're completely unproven and...... the ones that do prove themselves can hold an auction for their services and are very difficult to hold if you are uncompetitive nationally.

Take a look at scUM - they're attempting your model and paid Underwood huge $$$ out of high school (and are still paying him a massive amount) - now they're benching him.

Tell me one top 10 team that got there with all portal players. Indy did it but nobody else that I can think of.

 

[bdgan]

does anyone really know if PSU spent $30M on NIL for this season?

How do you think we got 24 Iowa State players to transfer?

 

[LMTLION]

Yikes

 

[Marshall2323]

NIL didn't become a factor until the last 1.25 years of Franklin's career at PSU. During his last 0.25 career year at PSU he spent $1.0 million on a WR who happened to be the brother of his ex-QB.

I'm putting you ignore because I no longer want to deal with your ranting idiocy.

Source?

 

[Marshall2323]

What is your source for your claim that Franklin paid a million dollars on Liam Clifford? Figment of your imagination and Franklin Derangement Syndrome don’t count.

The voices in his head.

 

[Marshall2323]

I actually hope that PSU is dead last in the Big Ten in NIL spending. It's dirty business. Play with real student athletes. Success with honor.

0-12 with honor.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

0-12 with honor.

The resident VT has spoken. When does fugazi09 show up?

 

[LMTLION]

Obviously Pate is getting this from his friend Campbell. This is getting ugly.

 

[Ram20]

Obviously Pate is getting this from his friend Campbell. This is getting ugly.

Obviously Pate is getting this from his friend Campbell. This is getting ugly.

I'm a little confused by Pate and Dohn. So before the season, Pate thinks CMC is the perfect fit, incredible coach. Think he was complementary of the guys CMC brought in...coupled with the light schedule, thought this was a 9-10 win team. Now that it's fallen apart so spectacularly, the issue is that the school isn't investing? Speaking of the money, the theory was that the roster as constructed and this coaching staff were good enough to win 9 or 10 games but now there is a $$ problem? I'd get it in the off-season where the team is doing roster creation, are they attracting top transfers, but in the middle of the season I fail to see how this is a $ issue all of a sudden. Seems like a lot of these guys have graduated from the Franklin school of excuse making. If we can't win these games, it's because the school didn't invest enough. I'm willing to admit that the money can certainly be a component of this, but $ didn't lose that game against Wisconsin with a 2nd half lead. Money alone didn't allow Northwestern(how much was their roster) to run for 400 plus yards. Kraft appears to be a total buffoon, but even he has to be surprised to rid himself of Franklin, hire a new coach, and have the same tired excuse being trotted out again....."we are losing because you don't invest."

 

[LMTLION]

I'm a little confused by Pate and Dohn. So before the season, Pate thinks CMC is the perfect fit, incredible coach. Think he was complementary of the guys CMC brought in...coupled with the light schedule, thought this was a 9-10 win team. Now that it's fallen apart so spectacularly, the issue is that the school isn't investing? Speaking of the money, the theory was that the roster as constructed and this coaching staff were good enough to win 9 or 10 games but now there is a $$ problem? I'd get it in the off-season where the team is doing roster creation, are they attracting top transfers, but in the middle of the season I fail to see how this is a $ issue all of a sudden. Seems like a lot of these guys have graduated from the Franklin school of excuse making. If we can't win these games, it's because the school didn't invest enough. I'm willing to admit that the money can certainly be a component of this, but $ didn't lose that game against Wisconsin with a 2nd half lead. Money alone didn't allow Northwestern(how much was their roster) to run for 400 plus yards. Kraft appears to be a total buffoon, but even he has to be surprised to rid himself of Franklin, hire a new coach, and have the same tired excuse being trotted out again....."we are losing because you don't invest."

Good post, agree with all of it. I think the media is completely miffed that this has failed so spectacularly thus far. Even with the roster issues, we should only have 1 loss. Wisconsin and USC are completely on Campbell’s decision-making. Riley, with that smug look on his face, pantsed Campbell on that 4th down timeout.

 

[Bvillebaron]

How was your question not answered
"I checked online" for things that aren't shared with the public

Lando the $13 million plus figure was a financial report released by Penn State. My question wasn’t answered because you keep making vague claims about Penn State’s NIL money being competitive with the other Big Ten teams but never cite any figures.

 

[MtNittany]

How soon before a CFB team's payroll exceeds the Marlins'? A couple of years?

 

[Bvillebaron]

PSU has enough NIL money to compete with Wisconsin and Northwestern. The problem is our recruiting class fell apart while Kraft was striking out on one candidate after another. By the time Campbell was hired and got his staff in place a lot of the portal players were gone so his only option if he wanted a competiive team for 2026 was to offer a lot of money for players like Becht, Hansen, Brahmer, Bacon, and Neal to come to State College. I think he would have been better off focusing on keeping guys like Grunk, Reynolds, Campbell, and Harris.

Oh so now we have enough NIL to compete with Wisky and Northwestern. What the hell ever happened to Big Ten and National Championships being the standard at Penn State?

 

[bdgan]

Oh so now we have enough NIL to compete with Wisky and Northwestern. What the hell ever happened to Big Ten and National Championships being the standard at Penn State?

Based on what I've read PSU spent more money on this year's roster than Wisconsin & Northwestern. If we beat those teams we would be 5-1 even after losing to USC. We would be looking forward to the Michigan game and an outside chance at a playoff spot.

National championships haven't been the standard at PSU since the 80s. We got screwed in 1994 so I'll be generous and use that date. It's still 22 years ago. That said I'd like to think PSU would remain a top 6 program in the BiG and that we could make a playoff run half of the seasons. I think we have enough money to do that. The problem is we lost all of our recruits. The cupboards are bare so it's going to take a few years.

 

[BCS PSU]

Based on what I've read PSU spent more money on this year's roster than Wisconsin & Northwestern. If we beat those teams we would be 5-1 even after losing to USC. We would be looking forward to the Michigan game and an outside chance at a playoff spot.

National championships haven't been the standard at PSU since the 80s. We got screwed in 1994 so I'll be generous and use that date. It's still 22 years ago. That said I'd like to think PSU would remain a top 6 program in the BiG and that we could make a playoff run half of the seasons. I think we have enough money to do that. The problem is we lost all of our recruits. The cupboards are bare so it's going to take a few years.

I agree with everything that you posted. I'm now resigned to a several season rebuilding project, and there is no guarantee that it will be successful. If it isn't in that time span, I think that both the AD and Campbell will be gone, and PSU will have become the Northeast version of Nebraska. That's why it's important that Campbell starts finding a way to win most of the remaining games this season to create some positive momentum, which even with the current roster he should be able to do. As matters stand right now, I'd take a 7-5 season, which definitely is viable.

 

[Psumatt85]

How soon before a CFB team's payroll exceeds the Marlins'? A couple of years?

I’m guessing next year

 

[JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws]

I agree with everything that you posted. I'm now resigned to a several season rebuilding project, and there is no guarantee that it will be successful. If it isn't in that time span, I think that both the AD and Campbell will be gone, and PSU will have become the Northeast version of Nebraska. That's why it's important that Campbell starts finding a way to win most of the remaining games this season to create some positive momentum, which even with the current roster he should be able to do. As matters stand right now, I'd take a 7-5 season, which definitely is viable.

Respectfully disagree. 7-5 is a longshot with this defense and an offense that only kicks FGs in the Redzone. Where precisely are we getting 4 wins out of our remaining 6???

 

[BCS PSU]

Respectfully disagree. 7-5 is a longshot with this defense and an offense that only kicks FGs in the Redzone. Where precisely are we getting 4 wins out of our remaining 6???

IMO, the Purdue, Minnesota, Rutgers and Maryland games all are winnable. I'm not saying that they'll win all of them, but they're winnable. I mean, look at how Minnesota played on the road last week against Purdue. Also, I know that Purdue is improved and they won at Illinois, but that's a home game.

Remember, this team did have a 20-10 lead against Wisconsin with 8 minutes to go, and Wisconsin is better or just as good as any of the aforementioned teams, and they also were in a one score game until the end of the USC game, and USC is better than any of the aforementioned teams. I also am hopeful that the staff will improve this team as the season progresses.

 

[KingLando]

Lando the $13 million plus figure was a financial report released by Penn State. My question wasn’t answered because you keep making vague claims about Penn State’s NIL money being competitive with the other Big Ten teams but never cite any figures.

because there are no real numbers--you get that right? 13M (which wasn't my reply) is not even close to the full amount we spent or have to spend. You know that, right?

Again, in 2025 we spent as much as anyone--that includes Ohio State and Oregon. McAfee, Herbie and countless others have confirmed this. You're all focused on this year when the reality is you don't just spend money to spend money. We had a late start and weren't going to give someone 5M to say we spent more money.

I really believe our fan base has no understanding of NIL--largely because they hate it

 

[o_PSUALREADYKNOW]

The NIL landscape changes dramatically year-to-year around college football. You really can’t compare this year versus last year or the year before. We are upper mid-level this year for the conference with some of our peers really getting their programs up and running, but next year looks better. We are going to be a very large spender in the transfer portal. The whole system sucks. Hopefully the college sports act passes this year. That will level the playing field.

What players on the roster will be our studs next year? Our peers? When CJF was here we were at worse a top 4 team in the Big 10. Now we’re probably near the bottom. Tell everyone WHY next year is going to be so amazing. And remember-next year there is a full slate of Big 10 games. What is going to be so good next year?

 

[o_PSUALREADYKNOW]

A lot of people seem to think we can buy a whole new team from the portal. I think that's ridiculous. I think you need a base built on solid high school recruiting then supplement that with 6 or 7 from the portal. That's why it will likely take PSU several more years to rebuild. We don't have a base to rebuild from. Most of our 2026 class left and our H.S. class was ranked 64th which was worse than Iowa State, Tulane, App State, Temple, etc.

Next year we lost the top Iowa State transfers like Becht, Hansen, Sowell, Brahmer, Burkle, and Bacon. The cupboards are bare.

“Bare” is the understatement of the century. Name one stud who will be on the roster next season? I fear 2027 will be the worst season in PSU history. It will make the sanction teams look like Big 10 Champions. If anyone wants to use facts or information to “shut me up,” I’d love that. I adore Penn State football so much…that this conscious directional shift embraced by so many of you makes me livid. My beloved has been destroyed. I was “OK” with Penn State football as it was. Which is similar to how it had always been…but for some reason some of you thought we deserved better. That we could do better…are you happy now?

 

[o_PSUALREADYKNOW]

Hansen has a year left if he wants it--5 in 5. I don't know about the others off the top of my head

I think Hanson’s stats flashed late in the game at 14 carries for 28 yards…he was returning kick offs. Kickoffs. Returning kickoffs. What team am I even watching? You watch an NFL Sunday and all you hear are names of recent PSU players past…so how many NFL players are on this team? How many will be on next years? If you aren’t getting better, you’re getting worse. So how is PSU football getting better? Is it the coaching staff? The recruiting? On the field performance?

 

[o_PSUALREADYKNOW]

A lot of people seem to think we can buy a whole new team from the portal. I think that's ridiculous. I think you need a base built on solid high school recruiting then supplement that with 6 or 7 from the portal. That's why it will likely take PSU several more years to rebuild. We don't have a base to rebuild from. Most of our 2026 class left and our H.S. class was ranked 64th which was worse than Iowa State, Tulane, App State, Temple, etc.

Next year we lost the top Iowa State transfers like Becht, Hansen, Sowell, Brahmer, Burkle, and Bacon. The cupboards are bare.

“Bare” is the understatement of the year. It’s going to be a blood bath next year, especially. It might be the worst season of Penn State Football in history in 2027. I love Penn State fo

Oh so now we have enough NIL to compete with Wisky and Northwestern. What the hell ever happened to Big Ten and National Championships being the standard at Penn State?

“The standard is the problem.” The prior coach actually had been in tune with what the standard Penn State always had-great, but not dominant. Penn State was able to skate buy with amazing history and lore and way above average coaching and recruiting. PSU was able to succeed without spending as much money as the others. Once NIL started, it became 100% about keeping up with the Joneses. PSU needs to now for the first time do that. The landscape is insanely more competitive now than it was even a few years ago. This was the wrong time to give up on Franklin. And that’s not what Penn State does…give up on people. Not after one single “bad year” that was bad for good reasons. It happens. **** hits the fan sometimes. You honestly don’t think Franklin wanted to win as bad as anybody else? If he was checked out it was because he was made to feel under appreciated. That’s why he was checked out. Why would he “give up on the team?” You guys who shun Franklin are all hypocrites. If YOU had been fired you would be livid. You would say…after all of the consistent success? They can’t support me through a hellish season??? We gave up. After over a decade. And THAT isn’t the PSU I know and love. This new PSU is gonna be awful. Now we can be like all of the others. We had a very good thing. Not OSU good…but we never truly spent like them so how could we be that good? We are delusional as a fan base.

 

[KingLando]

I think Hanson’s stats flashed late in the game at 14 carries for 28 yards…he was returning kick offs. Kickoffs. Returning kickoffs. What team am I even watching? You watch an NFL Sunday and all you hear are names of recent PSU players past…so how many NFL players are on this team? How many will be on next years? If you aren’t getting better, you’re getting worse. So how is PSU football getting better? Is it the coaching staff? The recruiting? On the field performance?

What does this ave to do with me saying he'd have 5 years of eligibility?
Teams are taking away the run against us and daring Becht to beat them--which is a great strategy without Howard but if Becht has the success he had last week that will change
Who said they're getting better--that wasn't even the expectation over night given when the hire took place.
Your post illustrates the issue with the fan base right now.
We're also not any worse than last year.

 

[Marshall2323]

IMO, the Purdue, Minnesota, Rutgers and Maryland games all are winnable. I'm not saying that they'll win all of them, but they're winnable. I mean, look at how Minnesota played on the road last week against Purdue. Also, I know that Purdue is improved and they won at Illinois, but that's a home game.

Remember, this team did have a 20-10 lead against Wisconsin with 8 minutes to go, and Wisconsin is better or just as good as any of the aforementioned teams, and they also were in a one score game until the end of the USC game, and USC is better than any of the aforementioned teams. I also am hopeful that the staff will improve this team as the season progresses.

This team could win any game remaining on the schedule. Most will be.500 or worse. In reality, Michigan is 2-3. Winning that game isn't exactly the impossible dream. The down side is that they could also find a way to lose any of the games remaining.

 

[Marshall2323]

What players on the roster will be our studs next year? Our peers? When CJF was here we were at worse a top 4 team in the Big 10. Now we’re probably near the bottom. Tell everyone WHY next year is going to be so amazing. And remember-next year there is a full slate of Big 10 games. What is going to be so good next year?

I star. Howard. Imagine being his agent right now? Would you allow him to roll the dice and stay at PSU or go for big $$ and team up with a proven QB?

 

[Marshall2323]

I think Hanson’s stats flashed late in the game at 14 carries for 28 yards…he was returning kick offs. Kickoffs. Returning kickoffs. What team am I even watching? You watch an NFL Sunday and all you hear are names of recent PSU players past…so how many NFL players are on this team? How many will be on next years? If you aren’t getting better, you’re getting worse. So how is PSU football getting better? Is it the coaching staff? The recruiting? On the field performance?

It's a dumpster

 

[lions1995]

does anyone really know if PSU spent $30M on NIL for this season?

According to this website PSU is at 26.7M and ranked 19th

College Football Team NIL Valuations — Program Rankings | The NIL Standard Football

College football programs ranked by estimated roster value.

thenilstandard.com

 

[bdgan]

“Bare” is the understatement of the year. It’s going to be a blood bath next year, especially. It might be the worst season of Penn State Football in history in 2027. I love Penn State fo

“The standard is the problem.” The prior coach actually had been in tune with what the standard Penn State always had-great, but not dominant. Penn State was able to skate buy with amazing history and lore and way above average coaching and recruiting. PSU was able to succeed without spending as much money as the others. Once NIL started, it became 100% about keeping up with the Joneses. PSU needs to now for the first time do that. The landscape is insanely more competitive now than it was even a few years ago. This was the wrong time to give up on Franklin. And that’s not what Penn State does…give up on people. Not after one single “bad year” that was bad for good reasons. It happens. **** hits the fan sometimes. You honestly don’t think Franklin wanted to win as bad as anybody else? If he was checked out it was because he was made to feel under appreciated. That’s why he was checked out. Why would he “give up on the team?” You guys who shun Franklin are all hypocrites. If YOU had been fired you would be livid. You would say…after all of the consistent success? They can’t support me through a hellish season??? We gave up. After over a decade. And THAT isn’t the PSU I know and love. This new PSU is gonna be awful. Now we can be like all of the others. We had a very good thing. Not OSU good…but we never truly spent like them so how could we be that good? We are delusional as a fan base.

Franklin seemed to struggle with the pressure that comes with DI football.at the highest level. He was getting into fights with fans after big game losses. The guy looked totally lost after 3 straight losses last year and this year was going to be bad even if we didn't make a coaching change. Franklin was living off the strength of the 6th ranked recruiting class of 2022 but those players would all be gone this year.

I suspect PSU would have done better this year if they kept Franklin but we still weren't likely to make the playoffs. 2027 would have been better too because we wouldn't have lost our entire 2026 recruiting class. Only time will tell is MC was a good long term decision. It's probably going to take 3 more years for PSU to get back on track because Campbell inherited a poor roster and he doesn't have recruiting connections in the region.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

Franklin was actually pale after that last loss. He knew his bullsh-it was all over.

 

[TheWizardofCamelot]

I'm sure some of you have seen Josh Pate's recent segment talking investment/PSU/Campbell.

In a nutshell - Pate claims that among those in the know within the BIG that the "word on the street" is that PSU is not and will not invest what's needed to make PSU a consistent winner vs peers in the conference. And by "peers", I think he was insinuating OSU, Oregon, UM, IU, USC, as the upper echelon of programs investing in their football programs.

I think everyone knows Pate/Campbell are good friends - so my initial take was that Pate is semi defending his buddy and the current results we're seeing. But it also seemed like a direct shot at Kraft and the admin to see if he could strike a nerve and / or ego.

Either way, it seems as though Kraft has dug himself into quite the hole. And there are a lot of people calling for his firing after this past year has transpired. But to have touted "elite" resources and that he's "in the business of winning championships" and then a bunch of negative press about lack of NIL and attendance. Plus the losing. You'd think he's going to a) get fired or b) have quite the pep in his step on the NIL front.

 

[JoePaMajorCFBrecord409Ws]

Franklin was actually pale after that last loss. He knew his bullsh-it was all over.

But we're just getting started with Krafty The Clown's bs.