Before Matt Campbell was appointed as Penn State football’s new head coach, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake was rumored to be in the position.
Campbell’s contract lasts eight years and provides $70. 5 million. He was also offered $30 million in NIL money and $17 million to recruit his personnel. Campbell’s decision to leave Iowa State and join Happy Valley was announced on December 6, 2025, only four days after the Nittany Lions failed to sign Sitake.
To ensure Sitake remained with the Cougars, the school offered him $9-$9. 5 million each year, as well as a $10-$15 million NIL fund. A $10 million yearly contract with Penn State would have been a huge step for the program, but one that was not certain to pay off in the long term.
At the end of the day, Sitake declined the Nittany Lions and remained at BYU. Months later, on May 16, he told On3 about what went into his choice to stay in Provo and how soon he had to consider his possibilities.
“It got real fast once people learned about it. Sitake stated that the decision-making process had to be completed practically overnight. I had to determine what I wanted, what I believed compensation for me was, and what I was pursuing based on what Penn State was doing and attempting to offer.
NEW: BYU head coach Kalani Sitake tells @PeteNakos why he chose to reject Penn State and stay in Provo:
Sitake has been a member of BYU’s program since 2016, compiling an 84-45 overall record in ten years. While remuneration is important, stability is another important consideration in making such a significant decision.
If he transferred, Sitake would be entering a completely new aspect of college football in the Big Ten. Sitake was hesitant to move from the Big 12 and rebuild Penn State football, since he didn’t believe he belonged in a new location that would compel him to leave behind everything he had created in Provo.
“It was quite difficult for me to leave, especially knowing how much the supporters love me here,” Sitake told Heavy. “Sometimes when you get caught up in business, you forget the important things. “
The Cougars were also on the verge of reaching the College Football Playoff, which would have been their first CFP participation. They eventually finished on the bubble of the 12 clubs, along with Notre Dame.
Sitake had greater reasons to remain at BYU than Campbell did at the end of the day, with a strong squad returning and the possibility of a playoff run.
When deciding, the possibility of a huge NIL fund was not on Sitake’s mind. He said that he does not want to build his program around being the highest bidder, and while Campbell does not like to offer NIL money in exchange of developing players, it demonstrates that money has never mattered to Sitake. Consistency and a bright future under his command did.
