After spending nearly a decade in Ames, Matt Campbell left Iowa State for the Penn State job last week. After dozens of opportunities to leave in recent years, it was finally the Nittany Lions job that compelled Campbell enough to pick up his bags and leave the Big 12 for the Big Ten.
But, it’s amazing what one week of a news cycle can do, and I can’t help but wonder if Matt Campbell took the wrong job in the Big Ten. We now know that the Michigan Wolverines job is open after the firing of Sherrone Moore. And there may soon be an opening in South Bend, Indiana, where Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is one of the favorites to be the next head coach of the New York Giants, according to the Kalshi odds makers. Freeman’s odds are currently tied at the top with Chris Shula, and a few percentage points ahead of Mike McCarthy.
Now Penn State is clearly throwing all its support and money behind Matt Campbell. Campbell is reported to have access to $30 million in NIL money, along with a $17 million pool for staff, including assistant coaches and support staff. That will allow him to compete with almost any program in the country.
And while it was always believed that Campbell, who has deep roots in Ohio, would need to be enticed by a top-tier job in Big Ten country to leave, I thought that Ohio State and Notre Dame would top his list, with Michigan and Penn State being in that next tier. Obviously, one of those four opened, and Campbell felt the timing was right to move on from Iowa State.
However, Penn State, as great as a job as it is, is not Michigan. It’s also not Notre Dame.
And already, you’re seeing notable voices, like Michigan alum and Bussin’ With the Boys host, Taylor Lewan, say on ESPN, that he wants to see how dry the ink is on Matt Campbell’s contract.
Who knows how this ultimately ends up playing out, but if you’re Matt Campbell, and you’re looking at the incredible decision you just make for your future, there has to be a small part of him that is wondering, “What if?” It’s only human, right?
