Penn State safety King Mack (16) during an NCAA college football game against Villanova, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
The players returning to the Penn State football team in 2026 will find a different culture than the one that existed previously.
So says safety King Mack, who told reportersx Wednesday during preparation for the Dec. 27 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium against Clemson that the Lions’ inner structure needs rebuilt.
Mack openly shared his thoughts that stemmed from a meeting with new coach Matt Campbell, a one-on-one process that all the players are participating in this month.
“Coach Matt Campbell plans on changing the culture,” Mack said. “He sees where we went wrong this year, and his job is to get it fixed as soon as possible and to use all the seniors as one big group to fix all those issues.”
Mack traced the Lions’ 6-6 season that included the firing of James Franklin after a midseason three-game losing streak as a “lack of people buying in.”
He felt “lack of leadership” undermined the season.
“There’s more inside that goes on in a football team that outsiders don’t see as much,” he said. “Some lack of people buying in doesn’t seem like a big issue, but it is — not having 100 people locked in.”
One example, Mack said, was the leaked audio of a 35-minute meeting between athletic director Pat Kraft and about 10 of the Lions’ leaders prior to PSU’s final game of the season at Rutgers.
The players were advocating for interim coach Terry Smith’s promotion, but it also included candid and at times profane comments from Kraft that disparaged other Big Ten teams.
King was not in the meeting and was “shocked” to hear about it when his parents called him on Friday, Dec. 5.
“100 percent — that should have never been broadcasted,” he said. “The fact that someone in that room would jeopardize everyone … That’s part of the selfishness and lack of leadership around the team that we have to fix.”
Like a number of players, though he expressed confidence in Campbell, Mack said he hasn’t decided his future yet, although he is playing in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Players are eligible to enter the transfer portal on Jan. 2.
“We had a team meeting,” Campbell said. “(He was) very clear. (He said) Like, if you don’t want to be here, the door is open.”
Mack, who was fourth on the team with 56 tackles this season, said he’ll make a decision after he “talks to God, my parents and my family.”
He’s met new safeties coach Deon Broomfield. He called him “a great dude” who likes to teach.
“Just off the conversations I’ve had with Coach Campbell and Coach Broom, I can see the culture they had at Iowa State,” Mack said. “Everybody loved each other. And everyone got coached – and they did it with only half the talent we have here. If they were successful, there’s no reason we can’t be with the talent we have. I’m honestly excited.”
Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, like Mack, isn’t certain of his return, but he sounded positive about the experience he gained as the starter after Drew Allar’s season-ending injury.
Grunk was recruited by Campbell at Iowa State and attended a football camp there, which he’s factoring into his decision.
“I’m trying to figure out what’s best for my future,” he said. “I’m excited to spend Christmas with the guys in New York City and play in such a historic stadium.”