2025 College Football Thread

[WhiteTrash]

I'm not going to say the Penn State HC hire will end up being bad, but if you were to script a bad outcome, this would be the storyline.

[Hards Alumni]

Nothing better for a sports agent than a coach getting fired
https://x.com/On3sports/status/1996397870681919843?s=20

I am interested in the Penn State job.

[CreightonWarrior]

I am interested in the Penn State job.

congrats on your $40 million raise!
The best one in here is Rhule. Signs an extension he didn't earn only because he went to school there. Promptly finishes the regular season 1-3, only beating out a coachless UCLA. And finishes it off with the second worst recruiting class in the Big Ten, only ahead of Penn State.

[Pakuni]

I am interested in the Penn State job.

The way it's going, you may get it.

[Hards Alumni]

The way it's going, you may get it.

Hell yes, I want to move to Happy Valley.  Sounds like an alright place to coach a couple of games and then retire early.

[The Sultan]

Hell yes, I want to move to Happy Valley.  Sounds like an alright place to coach a couple of games and then retire early.

It's a strange, strange place.

[JWags85]

I'm not going to say the Penn State HC hire will end up being bad, but if you were to script a bad outcome, this would be the storyline.

If the rumors about them zeroing in on Daboll are true, what a hilarious outcome.  Can a very successful coach cause you think you should be winning national titles...only to hire a NFL coach who flamed out spectacularly and got chopped mid season.  I assume Terry Pegula has a hand in it given he knows Daboll from his time with the Bills, but sheesh.  Though, to be fair, Pegula has done a great job owning the Bills and is the godfather of Penn St hockey which has turned into a solid D-1 program from a club sport in less than decade.

I saw buzz about Willie Fritz, but that seems like it turned out to be false.  That would be a thoroughly unsexy hire but maybe the best that's been rumored.  He's more of a southern guy, but what an absolute winner.  Already fixed Holgerson's mess at UH in just 2 years and the stocked pantry he left at Tulane got Sumrall the UF job.

[The Sultan]

If the rumors about them zeroing in on Daboll are true, what a hilarious outcome.  Can a very successful coach cause you think you should be winning national titles...only to hire a NFL coach who flamed out spectacularly and got chopped mid season.  I assume Terry Pegula has a hand in it given he knows Daboll from his time with the Bills, but sheesh.  Though, to be fair, Pegula has done a great job owning the Bills and is the godfather of Penn St hockey which has turned into a solid D-1 program from a club sport in less than decade.

I saw buzz about Willie Fritz, but that seems like it turned out to be false.  That would be a thoroughly unsexy hire but maybe the best that's been rumored.  He's more of a southern guy, but what an absolute winner.  Already fixed Holgerson's mess at UH in just 2 years and the stocked pantry he left at Tulane got Sumrall the UF job.

Rumors are that Matt Campbell might be interviewing there, as well as Jeff Hafely. Hafley was hired by PSU's AD at Boston College.

Daboll spent one year in college as the OC for one of Alabama's championships with Tua. I could have coordinated that offense.

[JWags85]

Rumors are that Matt Campbell might be interviewing there, as well as Jeff Hafely. Hafley was hired by PSU's AD at Boston College.

Daboll spent one year in college as the OC for one of Alabama's championships with Tua. I could have coordinated that offense.

Continues to get funnier.  Hafley who was 22-26 at BC and left before he would eventually get fired.  Campbell who has only had one 10 win season in 10 years in Ames and was perennially outside of the top 3 in the conference until the big dogs left last year and then still managed to lose to everyone good they played this year.  He was a hot name, understandably 5-6 years ago, but he's topped out at ISU...which is fine, not an easy place to win, but not exactly an inspiring hire if so.

And totally agree about Daboll.  But maybe they were inspired by the collegiate success of his successors as Bama OC, Mike Locksley and Bill O Brien, combined 17-32 the last 2 years at Maryland and BC.

[Hards Alumni]

Rumors are that Matt Campbell might be interviewing there, as well as Jeff Hafely. Hafley was hired by PSU's AD at Boston College.

Daboll spent one year in college as the OC for one of Alabama's championships with Tua. I could have coordinated that offense.

If Hafley goes back to college he is objectively dumb as hell.  He will get a chance to be a head coach this year or next in the NFL.

[The Sultan]

If Hafley goes back to college he is objectively dumb as hell.  He will get a chance to be a head coach this year or next in the NFL.

Kinda wonder if that's just being floated around because of their past connection.

[Pakuni]

It ought to be fireable offense for Penn State's AD to get a head start on this and be the guy left standing without a chair when the music stops.

When it fired Franklin in October, Penn State had 26 commitments for the 2026 class. They ended signing day yesterday with two.

[Billy Hoyle]

A possible interesting development: Chesney has not signed his deal with UCLA yet (California bureaucracy holding it up). PSU is reportedly trying to get in before he signs.

[MU82]

It ought to be fireable offense for Penn State's AD to get a head start on this and be the guy left standing without a chair when the music stops.

When it fired Franklin in October, Penn State had 26 commitments for the 2026 class. They ended signing day yesterday with two.

From The Athletic:

The other huge reason for Penn State's recruiting-class depletion is likewise a simple one: nearby Virginia Tech's hire of Franklin. Yesterday in Blacksburg, he received paperwork from most of the recruits who were originally assembled by his old Penn State staff, including several four-stars. Two weeks after hiring him, the Hokies rank No. 22, their highest spot since 2013.

The signing party even included Penn State's meme nemesis, Big Cookie, as Franklin put out boxes of Crumbl cookies on the tables.

[Billy Hoyle]

has Penn State called Brad Stevens yet?

[cheebs09]

has Penn State called Brad Stevens yet?

They did not want to rush Billy Donovan's response.

[Billy Hoyle]

They did not want to rush Billy Donovan's response.

they have to make them both say "no."

[MU82]

Penn State still could end up with a pretty darn good coach in Iowa State's Matt Campbell. He'd be behind the 8-ball early, though, for all the reasons stated in this thread.

[cheebs09]

Penn State still could end up with a pretty darn good coach in Iowa State's Matt Campbell. He'd be behind the 8-ball early, though, for all the reasons stated in this thread.

I think that would be quite a letdown and not sure if it's an improvement over Franklin.

[Billy Hoyle]

I think that would be quite a letdown and not sure if it's an improvement over Franklin.

true, but Pete Carroll was quite a letdown when he was USC's fourth choice. Not saying Campbell is going to duplicate the success Carroll had, but a first choice doesn't always work out (see: the last two Nebraska hires).

[WhiteTrash]

Penn State still could end up with a pretty darn good coach in Iowa State's Matt Campbell. He'd be behind the 8-ball early, though, for all the reasons stated in this thread.

Is his resume better than Fickell's was?

I don't think its worse, but not sure much better of or different.

I like Campbell, but I also praised Bucky for the Fickell hire.

[JWags85]

Is his resume better than Fickell's was?

I don't think its worse, but not sure much better of or different.

I like Campbell, but I also praised Bucky for the Fickell hire.

Fickell's was better.  He had 2 years at Cincy that were better, with better teams, than any year that Campbell has done at ISU.

Like I said previously, ISU isn't an easy place to win, so to create a consistent winner is commendable, but in 10 years he's only won 9 games twice.  He's basically winning 7-8 games each year and finishing mid range in the B12.  He was a hot name 5 years ago when he beat UT and OU and made the B12 championship game with Purdy and Breece Hall.

But since then he's had 2 7 win seasons, a losing 4-8 year, an 8 win season this year, and a fugazi 11-3 year last year where their best win was over an overrated Iowa team who ended being mid range in the B10 and ended up getting womped by 26 by ASU in the B12 championship game.

I think he's a pretty good coach and won't flame out at PSU if he's hired, but I don't think he's gonna be better than Franklin or offer the same upside.

[Billy Hoyle]

Pat Fitzgerald gets a nice boost at MSU. $100 million for NIL. Where is our $401 million donor? How about $40.1 million? This is the kind of challenge MU and schools like us are facing in the new era of professionalized college sports. 

https://msuspartans.com/news/2025/12/5/general-greg-and-dawn-williams-make-historic-401m-commitment-to-michigan-state-university-and-spartan-athletics

[MU82]

There weren't many people Penn State could have hired who would have been "better than Franklin." Franklin had a tremendous record at Penn State, year in and year out. He just couldn't win the big one and the boosters finally revolted.

No matter who they hired, it would be asking a lot for him to duplicate what Franklin did, let alone be better than he was at Penn State.

Campbell, if he's the choice, will have a tough start. But he'll have a brand name to recruit to (unlike at Iowa State) and a huge budget and top-of-the-line facilities at his disposal.

I am making absolutely no predictions. I'm not sure I saw 10 minutes of ISU football during Campbell's entire time coaching there. But I do know it's a tough place to win, and he did pretty well. Whether that translates to something that placates Penn State boosters, who knows?

[wadesworld]

Pat Fitzgerald gets a nice boost at MSU. $100 million for NIL. Where is our $401 million donor? How about $40.1 million? This is the kind of challenge MU and schools like us are facing in the new era of professionalized college sports. 

https://msuspartans.com/news/2025/12/5/general-greg-and-dawn-williams-make-historic-401m-commitment-to-michigan-state-university-and-spartan-athletics

Our football team is effed.