Where Penn State's Matt Campbell ranks among Big Ten coaches in 2026

There is little debate that new Penn State head coach Matt Campbell is a well-respected coach in the college game. His hiring at Penn State, although arguably a bit delayed in the process, is regarded as one of the better coaching hires of the most recent round on the coaching carousel. But where does Campbell, most recently among the best coaches in the Big 12, now rank compared to his new Big Ten coaching circle?

USA TODAY writer Paul Myerberg shared his ranking of Big Ten coaches ahead of the 2026 season, and Campbell sits in the middle of the pack of Big Ten coaches. In fact, he sits almost smack dab in the middle of the Big Ten coaching hierarchy ahead of the upcoming season, ranked No. 8 in Myerberg's coaching rankings.

"After a decade at Iowa State, Campbell takes on a much tougher level of competition and distinctly higher expectations as James Franklin’s successor with the Nittany Lions," Myerberg writes in his coach rankings. "The track record is very strong: ISU went 72-55 under Campbell and had some of the best seasons in program history, including a school-record 11 wins in 2024."

Campbell's track record at a program with far fewer amenities and luxuries as Penn State is as solid as you can find. What Campbell does with the resources available to him at Penn State is one thing to watch closely as he and his staff get going with establishing their mark on the program moving forward and connecting on the recruiting trail.

As for where other coaches in the Big Ten rank, it is no surprise who the top three coaches are in the Big Ten heading into the 2026 season. Reigning national championship head coach Curt Cignetti at Indiana tops this year's ranking from Meyerberg. He is followed by Ohio State's Ryan Day and Oregon's Dan Lanning, respectively. Campbell is one spot behind Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and one spot ahead of Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule.

Kevin McGuire is the lead writer for Nittany Lions Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on BlueSky, Threads or any of these other platforms.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Where Penn State's Matt Campbell ranks among Big Ten coaches in 2026