Penn State’s football team is undergoing a transformation under new coach Matt Campbell. After a disappointing 2025 season, Campbell is focusing on rebuilding the team’s identity and culture.

Rebuilding from the Ground Up

Campbell has instituted a team competition to build camaraderie and accountability among players. The competition involves dividing the team into small groups and earning points for winning head-to-head battles and doing the right thing, such as attending classes on time and participating in community service.

The team’s GPA has also seen a significant improvement, rising from 2.3 to a program record 3.32. Players are now required to sit in the first two rows of the classroom, and online classes are discouraged. Campbell has also implemented an open-door policy, shrinking his own office space to create a larger conference room for team meetings.

A New Era for Penn State Football

Under Campbell’s leadership, Penn State’s football team is shifting its focus from solely winning games to building a strong team culture. The team is learning to prioritize the little things, such as attending classes and participating in community service, in order to achieve success on the field.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.