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Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft was on hand to introduce new football coach Matt Campbell on Monday. The hire was not the only topic discussed at the podium.
Kraft was also forced to apologize for audio of a meeting with players that unexpectedly leaked on social media. That clip might’ve created a new rivalry.
The Nittany Lions have been at the center of the college football world for the wrong reasons in 2025. They entered the season with national title ambitions. They were eliminated from contention very early on.
Penn State started the year 3-3. Head coach James Franklin was fired midseason.
Administration swung and missed on top replacement targets before landing on Campbell. Now, a new era begins.
The school extended an eight-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $70.5 million to nab the coach. He will be expected to do what Franklin couldn’t – lead the Nittany Lions to a national championship.
Pat Kraft trashed James Franklin.
A meeting with 10 or so football players took place amid a lengthy coaching search. Penn State was turned down by candidates to include Kalani Sitake, Matt Rhule, Curt Cignetti, and Mike Elko.
Rather than accept offers, those coaches leveraged interest into raises at their current schools. The Nittany Lions were forced to continue working down their list.
Kraft attempted to express the importance of making the right hire to players. His job depends on it.
Audio from the conversation was leaked. Much of the meeting centered around Penn State’s future outlook.
He spoke to team members to about getting to the level of Ohio State and Michigan, asked for input in recruiting, and explained what he would look for in the next hire – all while trashing James Franklin.
Kraft pointed to Franklin’s failed NIL plan, his recent recruiting slips, and his inability to win big games.
He also went out of his way to create an enemy, though, and one that his next head coach will be forced to deal with on a regular basis.
Penn State’s athletic director hates Oregon.
He called the Ducks “fraudulent” as a national title contender while disparaging the city of Eugene.
“Have y’all been to Oregon?” he asked when addressing his own team’s recruiting woes. “Ain’t s— going on, it’s a bunch of f— weirdos.”
Pat Kraft created bulletin board material for a coach in Dan Lanning that’s always open to using outside motivation.
Oregon joined the Big Ten in 2024. They have played and beaten the Nittany Lions twice in two tries, one in which a conference title was on the line.
Still, he does not believe the Ducks are a tough football program. He was not afraid to admit it to Penn State players.
Kraft, of course, did not intend for his conversation to go public. Nonetheless, he’s made Matt Campbell’s job more difficult in his first meeting with Oregon.
He apologized on Monday.
Pat Kraft on the leaked audio:
“I apologize to anyone that I may have offended with that video that leaked, and it was nine or 10 football players that asked him to come in and sit down, and we had an open and honest discussion.” pic.twitter.com/1Ji2sxonwa
— Lyle Alenstein (@LAlenstein) December 8, 2025
That first matchup won’t come in 2026 unless both sides make the Big Ten Championship. The Nittany Lions will travel to Oregon in 2027. This audio will undoubtedly resurface.