How Long is Matt Campbell's Leash in Happy Valley?

Six weeks into the Matt Campbell era, there are several fair questions that need to be asked about the state of the Penn State program. 

The Nittany Lions sit here with a 3-3 record, with all three of their wins coming against far inferior opponents that they easily handled. When push comes to shove in Big Ten play, it has been a complete disaster for the Nittany Lions.

Three straight losses in three different humiliating ways. The first one was a meltdown against the Wisconsin Badgers that was as embarrassing a loss as you can get. They were up 17-0 against an opponent they were 10-point favorites against at the start of the game.

Then, they were the team that got the opportunity to open the new Ryan Field against the Northwestern Wildcats in a game that they got absolutely steamrolled in. It was never close in that game, and the Nittany Lions were never even close in. 

Finally, in the whiteout at home with the eyes of the Nation on the game, Penn State battled against the USC Trojans but simply ran out of gas, enough to lose 31-23.

Now, the Nittany Lions are 3-3 on the year, and this is the exact spot last year when they fired James Franklin after a very similar start. So the question becomes: how long is the leash for Matt Campbell?

I am in the camp that believes that Campbell is going to be safe this year and will get an opportunity in a second season, but there is a price for everything at the end of the day. It's not getting any easier for the Nittany Lions as the teams they have left on their schedule are very tough, still.

A game at Michigan this week before hosting the Purdue Boilermakers, who are 2-1 in the conference. After that, it's a trip out west to Washington before games against Minnesota, Rutgers, and Maryland. There are some winnable games on this schedule, but Penn State is not in a position at all to circle any of them as wins.

They could beat every one of those teams just as they could lose to each one of those teams. 

For me, the seat underneath Campbell gets scorching hot if they lose the next two before heading out west to Washington. If they are still winless in the conference, I think that game becomes a potential focal point.

Maybe I am right, maybe I am wrong about this, but it is getting quite uncomfortable around the Penn State program and the conversations surrounding the head coach. They better find a win and find it quickly, or else it is going to continue to get louder.