Matt Campbell’s Transfer Portal Budget at Penn State Revealed

New Penn State head coach Matt Campbell is getting something for the first time in his coaching career — a massive NIL budget to play with.

Campbell was a last resort for Penn State in its coaching search, though it happened to stumble upon a coach who consistently did more with less at Iowa State, who faced recruiting challenges and could not match the resources of a larger-profile school.

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Now, Campbell gets a chance to compete with the big boys for blue-chip players out of high school and in the transfer portal, and his first test will come on January 2, when he can nab a hodgepodge of talent.

Penn State is a true powerhouse in the sport, an established top school with high ambitions, a big national spotlight, and, according to the latest reports, the ability to pay players competitively.

Per college football insider Matt Fortuna, Campbell will be getting “roughly $30 million in NIL money,” a figure also mentioned in a story from The Athletic.

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While he will have the resources, Campbell stressed during his introductory press conference that the amount of money is not as significant as how it is spent.

“The financial aspect, I think, is certainly unique,” Campbell said. “One of the great things that we have here is the sacrifice that [Athletic Director] Pat [Kraft] and his team have made to be competitive at the highest level to give yourself a chance to build the best team.

“Now, I think sometimes in college football we can get lost on the financial piece of it. Do I think it’s important? Absolutely. But I think the reality is that it cannot be priority No. 1.

“It’s great to have the money, but it’s using the money wisely. It’s using the resources correctly, building the right team and knowing what you’re trying to spend those things on and making sure it’s about the right things.”

At the turn of the year, Campbell will get to show the ability to use money wisely on a large scale, and if he does, Penn State could quickly become a National Championship contender once again.

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