Amidst the current chaos in college football, the Penn State Nittany Lions may finally have a conclusion to an ongoing coaching search in State College.
The Nittany Lions have sought to replace James Franklin who was dismissed midseason. Interim coach Terry Smith has handled duties since, as the Nittany Lions are one win away from capping a winning season after beginning the year with immense national title expectations as the preseason's No.2-ranked team.
Reports from ESPN's Pete Thamel surfaced Friday about the Nittany Lions' willingness to hire Iowa State Cyclones coach Matt Campbell.
A deal has not been reached, according to Thamel. However, there appears to be interest from both sides.
Thamel's colleague, Kirk Herbstreit, has since weighed in.
"I was under the assumption that he was almost untouchable at this point, you know. And I know Penn State can pay whatever that is they need to pay if this ends up happening," Herbstreit said on "The Pat McAfee Show."
Herbstreit said he is genuinely surprised how open the Cyclones brass is to potential make a leadership change.
"But, I kind of thought, you know, maybe five years ago when he built Iowa State up, I thought that maybe somebody is going to come in and swoop him up," Herbstreit said. "But I thought Iowa State has done a pretty good job of making it pretty clear, hey, the buyout is ridiculous, no one can come in here and take him, he’s our guy,”
Herbstreit said should Campbell replace the Franklin/Smith era it'd be a good hire.
"So, if this happens, that would be a major effort by Penn State to make this happen," Herbstreit added.
For now, though, the dominoes have to fall into place. It remains to be seen if they actually will.