Is Matt Campbell the next Urban Meyer or the Next Luke Fickell/Rich /Rodriguez/Scott Frost?

Ripcord

Junior
Aug 30, 2016
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it could go either way, IMO.

I admit to being a bit naive about his career aspirations in the last year or two, as I somewhat believed he was happy being the proverbial "big fish in a small pond" at Iowa State. But, as another poster postulated, he was waiting for either Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, or Notre Dame to come open, and that is precisely what he did. So, Iowa State conintues to be just a steppingstone job (i.e., Johnny Majors, Earl Bruce) to bigger & better things.

Seriously, I have no idea how this will work out for him, but they are touting him in the PSU media almost as the Second Coming of Jesus. We shall see.
 

Cidhawkeye

All-Conference
Jan 1, 2023
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it could go either way, IMO.

I admit to being a bit naive about his career aspirations in the last year or two, as I somewhat believed he was happy being the proverbial "big fish in a small pond" at Iowa State. But, as another poster postulated, he was waiting for either Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, or Notre Dame to come open, and that is precisely what he did. So, Iowa State conintues to be just a steppingstone job (i.e., Johnny Majors, Earl Bruce) to bigger & better things.

Seriously, I have no idea how this will work out for him, but they are touting him in the PSU media almost as the Second Coming of Jesus. We shall see.
I think he would have stayed at ISU if they would’ve been able to stay moderately competitive financially. He sees the writing on the wall. The next 4-5 years the financial separation will widen.
 

ChiefRhoads

Sophomore
Jan 6, 2019
69
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I think Campbell is one hell of a coach and his resources at ISU were paltry. Now with PSU resources I think he is going to be an even bigger pain in our butt being in conference. It will make winning the instate game easier of course.
 

Fight4Iowa

Junior
Nov 25, 2025
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I don't think Matt Campbell Will win a title, but I think he'll make numerous playoffs.
 

52317Hawk

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
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I think Campbell is one hell of a coach and his resources at ISU were paltry. Now with PSU resources I think he is going to be an even bigger pain in our butt being in conference. It will make winning the instate game easier of course.
Agree and add in the recruiting footprint PSU has I'd like to think he should succeed.

Rich Rod was not a fit at UM, Fickel doesn't appear to be at Wisky. Frost was in over his head at Nebby.
 
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2D

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Oct 8, 2013
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He'll make plenty of noise his first year thanks to the weenie hut jr. schedule he's got. I'd be willing to say he's the betting favorite for B1G COTY because he'll probably go 9-3 with a chance at the playoff thanks to how bad the schedule is. But when the going gets tough, there's a reason why there's a meme of him looking dumbfounded. He won't get Ped State to the promised land.
 

rchawk

All-American
Oct 27, 2001
73,752
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Campbell hasn't coached a game on the truly big stage yet, but there's no doubt this was a very good move for an ambitious coach. Big-time money, great recruiting territory, fine school academically (another ag school to boot). He is taking care of his family. He also won't be scraping for nickels and dimes for his program. Got to bring his assistants and best players along as well.

Iowa was playing him every year anyway, now the other Big Ten coaches will go up against him.
 

FanInBlack

All-Conference
Nov 9, 2001
1,802
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If he was the next Urban Meyer he would have

went 17-6 in two seasons in the MAC. he didnt. He went 35-15 in 4 seasons.

Then he would have went 22-2 - including 12-0 , in 2 seasons at a group of 5 team. He didnt he went 35-15 in 4 seasons in the MAC.

Then he would have went 65-15 with 2 conference titles and 2 NCs in 6 seasons at a power 5. He didnt. He went 72-55 in 10 seasons and didnt win any championships.

They both went to the B1G after all of the above. Thats about the only thing they have in common.
 
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Herky T Hawk

Senior
Feb 5, 2003
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Will be interesting to see if taking half of his ISU roster with him is going to be a good thing or bad thing. They weren’t exactly amazing this season.

The thing with PSU is that he’ll have to deliver early or the pressure will be cranked up. They’re not going to give him 9 years to produce his first double-digit win season like ISU did. If he’s not winning 10+ games a year and challenging for the playoffs it won’t go over well with the fan base.
 

HawkInDenver

Senior
Apr 16, 2024
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Neither. He obviously has more resources at PSU and richer recruiting territory. He is a solid coach and will do well at PSU.
He got the most out of ISU that he could, and the results were good but not great.
I expect the results for PSU going forward (at least in the near term) to also be good but not great because the core of the team will still be ISU players.
I don't think Campbell will do any better than Franklin would've. That said, I think Franklin will do very well in the weak ACC -especially with all the PSU transfers and recruits who followed him.
 

r_desihawk

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Jul 3, 2025
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only thing i know is iowa will be psu's super bowl as long as he's there
 

joelbc1

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it could go either way, IMO.

I admit to being a bit naive about his career aspirations in the last year or two, as I somewhat believed he was happy being the proverbial "big fish in a small pond" at Iowa State. But, as another poster postulated, he was waiting for either Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, or Notre Dame to come open, and that is precisely what he did. So, Iowa State conintues to be just a steppingstone job (i.e., Johnny Majors, Earl Bruce) to bigger & better things.

Seriously, I have no idea how this will work out for him, but they are touting him in the PSU media almost as the Second Coming of Jesus. We shall see.
He’s a solid FB coach who has shown an ability to upgrade FB progress via recruiting and identifying talented assistants. Campbell is in a great location to recruit really good footballers.
PSU FB and alumni are specialists in Blue Skies and hype.
Campbell is coaching in the B10 now. We….and the Penn State faithful shall see.
 

DukeSlater

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2023
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it could go either way, IMO.

I admit to being a bit naive about his career aspirations in the last year or two, as I somewhat believed he was happy being the proverbial "big fish in a small pond" at Iowa State. But, as another poster postulated, he was waiting for either Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, or Notre Dame to come open, and that is precisely what he did. So, Iowa State conintues to be just a steppingstone job (i.e., Johnny Majors, Earl Bruce) to bigger & better things.

Seriously, I have no idea how this will work out for him, but they are touting him in the PSU media almost as the Second Coming of Jesus. We shall see.
Yes, it could, and I have no idea how it will turn out. But my opinion is that Campbell may be over his head in the BIG. As Franklin and others prove every year, just because you're at PSU or Nebraska or wherever, winning ain't automatic. Campbell and the weak Big 12 made a good match. But many coaches find out that making even a small step up is more than they can handle. The pressure at PSU, not to mention the actual competition, is something many coaches cannot truly appreciate until they're in the middle of it. Whether Campbell will be able to succeed in that environment will be interesting to watch.
 

DukeSlater

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He'll make plenty of noise his first year thanks to the weenie hut jr. schedule he's got. I'd be willing to say he's the betting favorite for B1G COTY because he'll probably go 9-3 with a chance at the playoff thanks to how bad the schedule is. But when the going gets tough, there's a reason why there's a meme of him looking dumbfounded. He won't get Ped State to the promised land.
I tend to agree. His mom couldn't have given him a kinder first-year schedule. But if I had to guess, I'd say he won't be able to handle the pressure, and he'll be gone in less than five years. We'll see. I could be totally wrong.
 

Palmerhawk

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I expect PSU to make playoffs this year with easy schedule.
That will jump-start his program and recruiting.
His tenure will depend on how they do vs OSU and Mich...that tripped up Franklin.

I never really disliked Campbell....just ISU and their fans .
When we play PSU ..just want to beat PSU,not MC.
 

HawksRule73

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Jun 26, 2025
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Campbell always struck me as a guy who could take average and make it above average, but not necessarily take above average/really good and make it great. The Rich Rod comparison is actually not a bad one. Rich Rod is/was a helluva innovator and a really good coach at a middling school like West Virginia. But once he got to Michigan, it was a completely different ballgame and it just wasn't a good fit. I sense that with the Campbell hire. I think he'll take above average/really good at PSU and keep it there, but I don't think he's at all an upgrade over Franklin. Franklin at Vandy, a school that is basically the Iowa State of the SEC, did about the same as Campbell did at ISU.
 
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Outbackbowl2017

All-Conference
Dec 4, 2016
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I give him four years. It won’t be good enough for those pedo abusers and he’s already doing himself no favors with the be the best person you are and not worry about the star quality of a player. That’s not going to work there. All about W’s and not taking the L’s. And for the love of God, go to an orthodontist to get your hillbilly teeth fixed.
 

Gonzo_Bloor

All-Conference
Jun 30, 2025
695
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I think he could do well but not immediately. ISU fans think he's going to run through the B1G in his first season with a roster full of former ISU players, many predicting a 10-win season. Lol. I don't see it. This is the same coach and players who got handled by a godawful Colorado team last year. Thinking he and they will do better in their first season playing in the B1G than they did last year in a much weaker Big 12 seems pretty delusional.