The Penn State coaching search is becoming an abject disaster. Candidates are being poached by other schools or receiving massive contract extensions to stay with their programs. The latest coach to turn down an offer at Penn State is Kalani Sitake, who signed a huge extension to remain at BYU. It’s National Signing Day, and Penn State still needs to find their next head coach. Here are three potential candidates for the job.
Terry Smith
Is it time to just hire Terry Smith? pic.twitter.com/0wHkC9ZOV2
— Barstool Penn State (@PSUBarstool) December 2, 2025
Could Penn State already have its next head coach in the building?
Terry Smith is currently Penn State’s interim head coach. Smith took over for James Franklin, who was fired following the Oct. 11 loss to Northwestern.
Smith’s tenure started rocky, losing three consecutive games after Franklin’s firing. However, two of those losses were by three points or less, including a heartbreaker at home to No. 2 Indiana.
Smith closed out the season strong, guiding Penn State to three straight wins. Smith has clearly won over the players, with many holding up “Hire Terry Smith” signs after the 37–10 victory over Nebraska on Nov. 22.
As crazy as it sounds, it might be too late in the college football cycle to hire a new coach. Perhaps Penn State signs Smith to a one-year deal and tries to poach the top candidates this time next year.
Matt Campbell
Penn State should have targeted Matt Campbell weeks ago & instead opted to chase unicorns
What a disaster
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) December 2, 2025
Iowa State’s Matt Campbell feels like the top candidate left on the market.
Campbell is highly respected in coaching circles because of the job he’s done at Iowa State.
Since taking over in 2016, Campbell has guided the Cyclones to their two best seasons in school history. In 2020, Iowa State won nine games, including their first New Year’s Six bowl game in school history — a 34-17 victory over Oregon.
In 2024, Iowa State set a program record with 11 wins.
Campbell has a track record of overachieving with his teams. He’s proved that he can build a consistent winner.
Penn State was extremely consistent under Franklin. Now, the Nittany Lions need someone to take them over the top. Campbell might be the guy to do it.
Brian Daboll
"I love Brian Daboll and he did a great job here for us..
He's a very good a coach and he's a great recruiter..
I think he would be an outstanding hire for Penn State" ~ Coach Saban #PMSLive https://t.co/gmqYpuhV2P pic.twitter.com/4tbV8eJdCu
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 26, 2025
This hire is definitely more unconventional.
Brian Daboll is the recently fired coach of the New York Giants. While in the NFL, Daboll transformed Josh Allen into an elite quarterback and coached Daniel Jones to his best seasons as a pro, ending with a trip to the Divisional Round.
Daboll is a fantastic offensive mind who gets the best out of his quarterbacks.
In 2017, Daboll was the offensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide, which won the national championship. If Daboll wants to be a head coach again, Penn State might offer the quickest path.
