STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — In the modern era of college football, a coaching change usually means a “Year Zero”—a painful season of installing new systems, purging mismatched personnel, and suffering through growing pains.
Matt Campbell doesn’t have time for Year Zero.
On Friday, the January transfer portal window officially slammed shut, sealing what is undeniably the most radical roster transformation in the 139-year history of Penn State football. The sheer numbers are staggering: 39 incoming transfers. 11 early enrollees. A total of 50 new faces in the Lasch Building in less than six weeks.
But look closer at those 39 transfers, and a distinct pattern emerges. A pattern that suggests this isn’t just a rebuild; it’s a transplant.
23 of the 39 transfers played for Matt Campbell at Iowa State.
Welcome to “Ames East.”
The Culture Transplant
When James Franklin was fired in October 2025, the program was criticized for a lack of identity. The “Dominate The State” mantra had hollowed out into regional complacency. The team was talented but brittle.
Campbell’s response wasn’t to scour the nation for the highest-rated mercenaries. He imported his own culture.
By bringing nearly two dozen former Cyclones—including starting quarterback Rocco Becht, linebackers, and key offensive linemen—Campbell has effectively bypassed the “install” phase of his tenure. He doesn’t need to teach the locker room his expectations for practice intensity, accountability, or scheme. He has 23 lieutenants who already know the drill.
The Connector: Rocco Becht
The centerpiece of this transplant is Rocco Becht. The 2023 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year didn’t just transfer to find a starting job; he transferred to finish what he started with Campbell.
“It’s the same language,” Becht told reporters earlier this week. “The same plays. The same standard. We just changed the colors of the jersey. We aren’t here to learn how to practice. We’re here to win.”
This is a luxury few first-year head coaches enjoy. Usually, a new QB is learning the playbook alongside the freshmen. Becht already knows Taylor Mouser’s Air Raid concepts better than some of the inherited Penn State veterans.
Calculated Gambles
Critics will argue that an Iowa State roster went 7-6 in the Big 12, so why would it win in the Big Ten? It’s a valid question, but it misses the nuance of Campbell’s strategy.
He hasn’t replaced the elite Penn State talent; he’s supported it.
Stars like Kaytron Allen (who broke the rushing record), Tony Rojas, and Dani Dennis-Sutton remained. Campbell kept the blue-chip ceiling of the Nittany Lions and raised the floor with the high-motor, developmental consistency of his Iowa State veterans.
He isn’t asking the Iowa State transfers to be the superstars. He’s asking them to be the glue.
- The Offensive Line: Bringing in veterans like Jim Bonifas creates instant stability for a unit that struggled with depth.
- The Linebacker Room: In a 4-2-5 system, communication is everything. Having guys who know Tyson Veidt’s calls allows the freak athletes like Rojas to play fast, not think.
The Risks of Tribalism
The danger, of course, is locker room division. The “Old Guard” (Penn State holdovers) vs. The “Invaders” (Iowa State transfers).
Winning cures everything, but adversity reveals cracks. If Rocco Becht throws three interceptions in the Blue-White game, will the fans clamor for a “true” Penn State QB? If an Iowa State transfer gets playing time over a highly-rated Penn State recruit, will the transfer portal exodus continue?
Campbell is betting that his culture is strong enough to assimilate the two tribes into one.
The Outcome
For better or worse, we will know quickly. The 2026 schedule is unforgiving. But Matt Campbell has made his statement. He isn’t interested in a three-year rebuild. By turning State College into Ames East, he’s daring the Big Ten to stop a team that is new on paper, but veteran in spirit.
The experiment has begun.