Will the Penn State coaching search end on Friday? Day 54 starts with a top target

Is today the day the Penn State football coaching search ends? Friday marks the 54th day of athletic director Pat Kraft’s search to find the next leader of the Lions and a replacement for James Franklin. Dec. 5 starts with Iowa State’s Matt Campbell in focus. If Kraft and co., are able to get him across the finish line and pry the Ohio native away from Ames, where he’s coached the Cyclones for the last 10 seasons, it would be well received, based on the initial reaction to the news from Thursday night that Campbell, a three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year who owns a 50-40 record, is the new top target.

NEW: Read the latest from BWI’s Nate Bauer here.

“Should Penn State close the deal with Campbell, it would bring a splendid conclusion to a coaching search that turned sour as candidate after candidate brushed off interest in the Penn State job,” Carter Bahns writes for CBS Sports. “Eight presumptive candidates locked up contract extensions or engaged in such conversations with their current schools instead of taking the position. On Thursday, Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer became the latest to deny ties to the Nittany Lions.”

Adds Matt Hayes for USA Today:

“For years, members of Campbell’s coaching fraternity wondered what he could do with a blue blood budget, and the ability to recruit and coach elite-level talent. Now he’s closer than ever to getting that opportunity if he wants it.

“Unless Kraft fails to read the room again.”

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Penn State headlines of the day

The Penn State Football Coaching Hot Board, v. 10.0: Fitz, BWI

Iowa State’s Matt Campbell is the name to know now in the Penn State football head coaching search: Pickel, BWI

Buzzworthy: New targets, new momentum as Penn State reboots search: Bauer, BWI

Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer shuts down Penn State job talk: ‘There’s never been any interest either way’: Pickel, BWI

From 26 to 2: The decisions that doomed Penn State’s recruiting class: Snyder, BWI

Penn State wrestling rankings update: Where are the Lions to start December?: Pickel, BWI

Quote of the day

“We’re extremely happy at Alabama, … we’re extremely happy here, love the challenge, love the grind, love this place, and there’s never been any link, there’s never been any conversation, there’s never been any interest either way (with Penn State). So I’m glad we can put that to bed right now.”

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer on reports that have linked him to the PSU job.