It’s that season again, and the transfer-portal shivers are back. The Iowa State Cyclones find themselves on the brink, with cornerback Quentin Taylor ready to smash the ‘SWAP’ button. But what nobody in Cyclone country expected was head coach Matt Campbell bailing out, too.

“Iowa State redshirt freshman cornerback Quentin Taylor is entering the transfer portal, his agency @thebizofathlete tells @chris_hummer and me,” reported CBS Sports’ analyst Matt Zenitz on December 5. 

Football is in Quentin Taylor’s DNA. As the nephew of Brandon Merriweather, a 2007 first-round pick and two-time Pro Bowl safety, he is no stranger to the game. He redshirted in 2024, appearing in two games against the Houston Cougars and the Baylor Bears, and finished the season with one tackle.

Notably, Taylor pledged to Campbell’s squad in May 2023. The 6-foot, 180-pound safety from Lake Minneola, Florida, ranked No. 128 in the state and No. 93 nationally at his position per 247Sports. Iowa State was the first Division I school to offer him, back in December 2022.

With a keen eye for talent, Campbell added Taylor to his wishlist. At Lake Minneola, Taylor led his team to a 10-2 record and a regional finals appearance as a junior, recording 31 tackles, three pass breakups, and an interception in the first 10 games.

Back then, he held offers from Akron Zips, Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, Columbia Lions, Duke Blue Devils, among others. Yet, he was wooed by Iowa State. Cut to 2025 with Campbell heading out, Taylor’s future at Cyclones might look uncertain.

“Sources: Penn State is finalizing an 8-year deal to make Matt Campbell the school’s next head coach,” reported ESPN analyst Pete Thamel. “Campbell has agreed to be Penn State’s coach and the sides have hammered out terms.”

The Penn State Nittany Lions reportedly weighed Campbell against interim coach Terry Smith. However, after a 50-day search, they ultimately chose Campbell for the top job. Meanwhile, the Cyclones will have to build things from scratch. After a decade of leading Iowa State, the program will launch its first head coaching search since 2015. 

According to the buzz, they are vying for Nathan Scheelhaase, the Los Angeles Rams’ passing game coordinator. However, the standard Campbell has set is relatively high.

Campbell lifting the Fiesta Bowl trophy after the 2020 season might just be the crowning moment in Iowa State football history. When he arrived, 6-6 was considered solid. Under his leadership, the Cyclones notched their first-ever 10-win season.

He eventually became the winningest coach in program history, surpassing Dan McCarney during a magical 2024 season, finishing his 10-year tenure with a 72-55 record. Now that he will be stepping into Happy Valley, what awaits him?

Matt Campbell’s challenge to maintain James Franklin’s legacy

Significantly, Campbell is set to sit in James Franklin’s old seat. However, the former Penn State head coach has sparked a domino effect in the players’ roster. As reported by PSU Recruiting on November 16, 17 players decommitted since Franklin’s departure. Going by CBS Sports’ latest report on December 3, the number rose to 23.

Some gates have already closed for Campbell. Moreover, 11 of those decommits reunited with Franklin at Virginia Tech Hokies, including four-star linebacker Terry Wiggins, who flipped on Wednesday, December 3. Now, Campbell stays on high alert with the coaches, too.

Kevin Threlkel and Andy Frank are reportedly bound for Blacksburg, Virginia, according to the Daily Collegian. On3’s Sean Fitz first broke the news, and neither name appears in the current staff directory. 

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Arriving at Penn State in 2014, both were crucial in the background. Threlkel followed Franklin from the Kansas State Wildcats to the Maryland Terrapins and the Vanderbilt Commodores. Frank was also part of the Vanderbilt staff. Campbell knows he must engage in business right away to earn the coaches’ trust.

Talking about earning the trust? Campbell still has a long way to go to catch up with Franklin. 

“The biggest question is how he would manage the roster? He could probably bring 10-15 players with him,” said Penn State alum Landon Tangwell. “But looking at their rankings, the talent is lacking.”

The top commit in Matt Campbell’s Iowa State class ranks just 463rd nationally, and 11 of the 21 commits fall below 1000. By comparison, Penn State has only signed two players ranked below 1000 since 2016. Can Campbell restore and improve the Nittany Lions’ roster, or will the charm Franklin left behind slip away?