The Penn State Nittany Lions experienced a challenging 2025 campaign, but optimism has followed the hiring of Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. Penn State dismissed former head coach James Franklin after a 3-3 start, which included losses to UCLA and Northwestern.
After last season’s College Football Playoff semifinals appearance, Penn State anticipated further advancement.
How Did Pat Kraft Respond to the Leaked Audio?
When the team dropped out of contention midseason, Athletic Director Pat Kraft replaced Franklin, who is now the head coach at Virginia Tech. This change, and the subsequent extended coaching search, added pressure to an athletic department already under scrutiny. Last Thursday, audio from Kraft leaked to the public on “Dead Air Sports,” drawing unwanted attention for both Kraft and Penn State.
“I want y’all to know this too: If I don’t get this right, my career is over,” the person leading the alleged meeting says in the recording per the USA Today. “Understand that. If I don’t hire the right person, my career is over. So it’s very serious to me… If I don’t hire the right person, in two years they will fire my ***. And I don’t get another AD job. ‘How could you (expletive) up Penn State?’”
Penn State reportedly pursued BYU coach Kalani Sitake, but Crumbl Cookie CEO Jason McGowan reportedly intervened to keep Sitake at his alma mater. Amid these developments, the leaked audio underscored the significance of Kraft’s coaching hire decision.
“What’s happened here too many times at Penn State, is they (expletive) settle for second-best,” Kraft said. “That’s why we made the move.”
Kraft also criticized Big Ten rivals, including Oregon, calling them ‘frauds.’ The leader of the session, which included Kraft and the Penn State players, referred to Oregon fans as ‘weirdos.’ He even provided his input on what is considered the standard in college football at the moment.
“Ohio State is Ohio State. But (expletive) A, it’s not like they’re lightyears better than us, talented-wise. Just can’t be able to get over the (expletive) hump! Michigan (expletive) stinks. (Expletive) joke. Cheating their balls off. That’s real by the way what they did. Oregon? Their (expletive) quarterback was shaking in overtime. But we have to win those (expletive) games.”
In response to the leak, Kraft addressed his comments during Campbell’s introductory press conference, marking his first public statement since the audio was released.
Pat Kraft on the leaked audio last week: “What I will tell you about that is I’m embarrassed. I apologize to anyone I might have offended with that video that leaked. Personally, it’s been challenging for me. But I am very passionate about Penn State. … I fell short of the…
— Daniel Gallen (@danieljtgallen) December 8, 2025
“What I will tell you about that is I’m embarrassed. I apologize to anyone I might have offended with that video that leaked,” Kraft said. “Personally, it’s been challenging for me. But I am very passionate about Penn State. … I fell short of the standard that I should represent…We’re moving on. We handle it in the family.”
The Nittany Lions finished the season 6-6, earning a PFSN CFB Offense Impact score of 84.9, good for a B, and a PFSN CFB Defense Impact score of 79.8, good for a C+. Now, with Campbell at the helm, Penn State fans may more easily move past the controversy that has overshadowed the season.
