ATLANTA (Aug. 25, 2025) - Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today announced that Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell has been selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Presented by PNC Bank.
The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.
Campbell and the Cyclones held off a late rally from No. 17 Kansas State to earn a 24-21 victory on Saturday in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin. The game turned in favor of Iowa State when the Cyclones' defense stopped Kansas State on downs deep in its own territory, setting up a short drive capped by a 7-yard touchdown run from quarterback Rocco Becht to give Iowa State a 24-14 lead late into the fourth quarter. Kansas State answered with a 65-yard touchdown, but Campbell's squad sealed the win on a gutsy fourth-and-three call with just over two minutes left, as Becht connected with Carson Hansen for 15 yards to ice the game.
Becht finished 14-of-28 passing for 183 yards and two touchdowns through the air while adding a rushing score. Dominic Overby and Brett Eskildsen each hauled in touchdown catches for the Cyclones, and Hansen led the ground attack with 71 rushing yards.
Saturday's win not only marked Campbell's 100th career coaching victory, but also continued Iowa State's recent dominance over Kansas State, with the Cyclones now winning five of the past six meetings.
Campbell, the winningest coach in program history, is now in his 10th season at Iowa State. He's led the Cyclones to an impressive 65-51 record and has elevated the program to the most successful stretch in Iowa State's 134-year history. Campbell has guided the program to seven winning seasons in the last eight years, highlighted by a school-record 11 wins and a share of the Big 12 regular-season title in 2024. His 45 Big 12 victories are tied for the seventh-most in league history, and he has led Iowa State to four wins over top-10 opponents after the school had only eight such victories prior to his arrival.
"Coach Campbell continues to set the standard at Iowa State, reaching his 100th career win with a statement victory over a ranked opponent to open both the season and conference play," said Chairman of the Boddy Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation Jim Terry. "We're looking forward to seeing what other milestones he's able to achieve as he continues to lead the Cyclones in Ames."
Off the football field, Campbell's players have had success in the classroom, recording a 991 Academic Progress Rate and a 91 Graduation Success Rate during the 2024 season. The Graduation Success Rate measures the number of student-athletes who graduate from their school within six years of entering.
In the community, Campbell helped create the Campbell's Kids Foundation, which focuses on organizations, initiatives and programs that assist youth by helping them reach their full potential through education, community, health and quality of life.
"This was a huge game that had implications for not only in the Big 12, but also nationally," said Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President Gary Stokan. "Coach Campbell's leadership and consistency at Iowa State are apparent. The future remains bright in Ames, and we're certainly looking forward to following coach Campbell and the Cyclones moving forward this season."
The Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank – along with the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Award – celebrates the head coach of a FBS team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary this season, the award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.
A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The winner of the 2025 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
