The Iowa State football team lost its most successful coach on Friday, as Matt Campbell departed to take the Penn State job. Campbell's departure from Ames drew an emotional reaction from fans, as well as school officials. Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard reacted to the news with sadness .

“I get it, I have done this long enough, that these jobs are hard,” Pollard said, per KCCI News. “We make sacrifices that fans will never understand. We do.” Expand Tweet

Pollard holds no ill will toward Campbell, who led the Cyclones to the Big 12 championship game twice in his tenure.

“Matt Campbell owes Iowa State nothing,” Pollard added.

Iowa State football finished the 2025 regular season with an 8-4 record. He is replaced at Iowa State by Jimmie Rogers, who was the Washington Sta

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