I don't want to put crazy expectations on Matt Campbell and Penn State in his first season, but I do think that if he's the man for the job, there's absolutely no reason why Penn State should lose more than a game next season.
The schedule is an absolute joke if we're being honest, something that Penn State needs to take advantage of.
This should be a College Football Playoff team, and if it isn't, there's something to be said about what needs to change in Happy Valley. Whether that be giving Campbell some more time and money to figure out his roster, or the donors really going all in to build this team through NIL, there would have to be some level of conversation, is what I mean.
Searching for what could be the best and worst outcomes, it sounds like others believe Penn State has a real opportunity to go 11-1. Outside of playing Michigan, there really isn't an excuse for Penn State to lose a game. Even against Michigan, amid all of the problems it is currently dealing with, I don't think it's crazy to say Penn State should finish without a loss.
“Best-case scenario: 11-1, 8-1. Matt Campbell will not have to deal with Ohio State, Indiana or Oregon during his first season in Happy Valley, so he needs to make the most of a somewhat favorable slate. Albeit unlikely, finishing with only one Big Ten loss would mean a 2-1 record against USC, Michigan and Washington for the Nittany Lions.
“Worst-case scenario: 7-5, 4-5. This two-deep at Penn State is essentially Campbell's best players from an Iowa State team that finished with eight wins last fall, so there could be regression in a more competitive conference. Outside of replacing Drew Allar, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen as the notable playmakers offensively, the Nittany Lions also lost Chaz Coleman, Amare Campbell and other expected impact defensive starters to the portal,” Brad Crawford of CBS wrote.
If Ohio State and Oregon were on the schedule, based on history, I can't sit here and say Penn State would win every game.
It’d just be unfair and biased.
However, neither program is on the schedule, so, aside from possibly playing them in the Big Ten title game, Penn State's regular-season schedule should put it in position to compete with the best of them in the country.