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By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
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It’s not been a banner week for the Penn State Nittany Lions.
The team was one of the first to fire its head coach during the season to get a jump start on finding James Franklin’s replacement, but in the two-plus months since, the school has experienced disappointment after disappointment in its search.
Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer was believed to be the leading candidate approximately two weeks ago, but with the Crimson Tide playing Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, it’s looking less and less likely that DeBoer will be leaving Tuscaloosa.
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Former James Madison head coach Bob Chesney was also thought to be the team’s top target before he ultimately took the HC job at UCLA.
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Then PSU reportedly zeroed in on BYU’s Kalani Sitake, and the school was allegedly in negotiations with the 50-year-old coach, but the day those reports came out, BYU offered him a lucrative contract extension to stay, which he took.
Then 24 hours later, the school reportedly offered the job to Louisville’s Jeff Brohm, who turned it down to remain with the Cardinals.
And now, things appear to be getting more dire as Penn State is running out of legitimate top-tier names.
However, according to betting market Kalshi, there’s a new favorite surging up the board as Iowa State’s Matt Campbell has drastically seen his odds of landing the Penn State job jump from 6% on Wednesday to 20% on Thursday morning — a 14% spike in less than 24 hours.
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Interim head coach Terry Smith is still considered the favorite by most sportsbooks, but Campell is making a strong late-game surge. Former New York Giants coach Brian Daboll is also believed to be in the mix as well.
In 10 seasons with the Cyclones, Campbell compiled a 72-55 record with seven bowl appearances, three bowl wins, and an 11-3 season just last year.
According to top college football insider Josh Pate, Campbell is the coach PSU should’ve been targeting from the get-go.
“Penn State should have targeted Matt Campbell weeks ago & instead opted to chase unicorns,” Pate said. “What a disaster.
“Iowa State football has existed 134 years…Campbell has them in the midst of the best 3-year run in program history His DNA blends perfectly with what PSU needs. How are you this blind?”
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