Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542734
FEBRUARY 2026/VOL. 41, NO. 6 MANAGING EDITOR Matt Herb CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Stu Coman Cathy Jones Chris Riffer WEBSITE PUBLISHER Sean Fitz WEBSITE EDITOR Nate Bauer STAFF WRITER Greg Pickel RECRUITING REPORTER Ryan Snyder FOOTBALL ANALYST Thomas Frank Carr CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jim Carlson PHOTOGRAPHY Steve Manuel, Mark Selders, Frank Hyatt COVER PHOTO Steve Manuel DESIGN Jeanette Blankenship Chris Miller, Shelby Cragg F F F PUBLISHER Mark Panus BUSINESS ANALYST Sarah Boone CIRCULATION COORDINATOR Beverly Taylor ADVERTISING SALES Maria Taustine (502) 552-4390 CUSTOMER SERVICE Shelby Cragg, Macduff Henry, Cathy Jones (800) 421-7751 BLUE WHITE ILLUSTRATED (USPS 742-550) is published monthly, except June, by Coman Publishing Co., a division of On3 Media, Inc., located at 922 Broad St., Suite D, Durham, NC 27705. A one-year (11 issues) subscription is $75.00. First-class, digital and foreign rates available on request. Periodicals postage paid at Durham, NC 27701 and additional mailing offices. Printed by The Papers, Milford, Ind. POSTMASTER: Please send address correc- tions/changes to BLUE WHITE ILLUSTRATED, PO Box 2331, Durham NC 27702-2331. For advertising or subscription information call 1-919-688-0218 or write BLUE WHITE ILLUSTRATED, PO Box 2331, Durham NC 27702-2331. Site Lines C O M M E N T S F R O M T H E L I O N S D E N A T B L U E W H I T E I L L U S T R A T E D . C O M W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M ON PENN STATE'S TRANSFER-FUELED ROSTER OVERHAUL … Having to replace half your roster, you have to bargain- shop. But now that [Matt Campbell] has done that, moving forward in recruiting, I just hope he offers top targets NIL offers that are competitive with Notre Dame, Michigan, USC, etc. Not Franklin-competitive but actually competitive. A re- peat of 2026 cannot happen where they let [top prospects] all walk out the door because of NIL. — TonyBender The talent needs to match up to what we're competing against, and I'm not saying it doesn't, we just don't know until they hit the field. It's not a negative thing at all, just a "We'll see." — lyndj I'm not sure we'll know how the Iowa State kids will look compared to what we're used to until the season. I do think the average level of competition in the Big 12 is lesser. We're all excited to see it, but we also have to admit that some of the players we think may be good might not translate to the highest level. It's a crazy amount of turnover, but this was always going to be the case. None of it is a surprise, and he is going about it the best way a coach can. — Augusta2003 The only areas where the 2026 Lions will be lacking vs. the 2025 version is at running back, which shouldn't be a surprise, and probably the offensive line. Of course, our OL was pretty underwhelm- ing for most of the year. All other position groups have been upgraded. I hope the offensive coordinator can find a way to use two backs more effectively than Andy Ko- telnicki did. Like many folks here, I am glad AK is someone else's problem. I am not seeing anyone who would have been eligible to play for us in 2026 who we have not replaced with someone bet- ter.— SRATH Coach C. seems to be putting together solid talent. That, together with his ability to get more out of what he has than James Franklin did, might make for a pretty good year despite all the turmoil/ outflow/influx. If he can do it, there will be plenty of smiling going on in Happy Valley. I take some assurance from the fact that he is apparently emulating what Indiana did the past two years. If he can duplicate their success, we will be the talk of the town. I'd be happy if he can just come close to that. — bobe It's frustrating to see so many younger guys transfer out. I would have expected them to stay and see if they get things sorted out, although maybe some got encouraged to move on. This whole process would make for a fascinating "30 for 30." — DCPSU I thought 30 transferring out would be an alarmingly high number. We are over 40. — CJPhilly College football is now win at all costs, and the Penn State program has bought into that mindset. Now it's like the NFL where business is business. … There's sadness because we as fans no longer have a choice between Saturdays or Sundays. — NLE24 If we are going to be like the NFL, then we need contracts. Otherwise, not like NFL. — ericjpro The talent here was much better than 6-6. The whole point was to get them a coach who could maximize their talent, not replace them all with three-stars. I hate the direction we're going right now. There are maybe two guys on this team who could start for Ohio State. What happened to splashing on difference-makers? — cfbinsider Scheme also matters! If Matt Campbell values certain positions and certain types of players for said schemes, let him shop. If you were having a seafood chef cook dinner, would you want him shopping for the ingredients himself or have him use the ingredients left there from a vegetarian chef? Some ingredients will work, some won't. Let the man cook. — NittanybluBlood11 4 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 6 Since arriving at Penn State, Matt Campbell has brought 24 players with him from Iowa State. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER