Matt Campbell already proved willing to wade into the shark-infested waters.
It's how, in part, Campbell nabbed star defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn away from Big Ten Conference foe the USC Trojans to run Campbell's first-ever Penn State Nittany Lions defense.
Since that time, Lynn also has brought home former Penn State standout-offensive lineman DeOn'Tae Pannell into a defensive role.
Now, sources tell FootballScoop, Penn State, with Campbell and Lynn leading the charge, is seeking to snag another Big Ten Conference coach.
Northwestern defensive line coach Christian Smith is being targeted to join the Penn State Nittany Lions staff in a similar role, multiple sources told FootballScoop Sunday night.
Additionally, per sources, Northwestern is making its own preparations to fill some holes on its defensive coaching staff.
As for Smith, he's a former star player for the Toledo Rockets who's carved a steady path of growth in collegiate coaching.
After earning his graduate degree from Ohio State, where he worked in the Buckeyes' strength and conditioning program, Smith also has coached at Football Championship Subdivision powerhouse South Dakota State. He spent six years with the Jackrabbits before joining the Northwestern Wildcats of David Braun, the former North Dakota State defensive coordinator.
Braun's Northwestern staffs the past three years have featured a strong lineage of both North and South Dakota State coaches.
The Wildcats just wrapped up a winning season under Braun when they dispatched Central Michigan in their bowl game, 34-7.
Penn State, meanwhile, turned to Campbell to lead its program after the school fired long-time coach James Franklin midseason during a 3-3 start that featured a three-game losing streak.
The Nittany Lions conducted one of college football's longest searches of the 2025-26 carousel before they settled on Campbell, the record-setting former Iowa State and Toledo head coach.
Penn State did win its postseason bowl game, beating Atlantic Coast Conference program Clemson by double digits in the Pinstripe Bowl in New York's Yankees Stadium.
Campbell takes over at Penn State after a combined 15 years and 107 wins as head coach at FBS programs Toledo and Iowa State. A total of 72 of Campbell's wins unfolded the past decade at Big 12 Conference member Iowa State, which won 26 games in Campbell's final three seasons at the helm.
Penn State is scheduled to open the Campbell era and its 2026 season Sept. 5 at home against Tony Gibson's Marshall program, followed by a road trip to in-state foe Temple and then a final non-conference game against Mid-American Conference program Buffalo before entering into Big Ten Conference play.