They hired Jim Tressel from Youngstown State. He was a D-1AA coach, even if previously an assistant at Ohio State, when they brought him on-board.
I know the world has changed since 2001, but the idea that Ohio State would never hire from Iowa State (and Earle Bruce, anybody?) is not really sensible.
Everybody knows Campbell is a rising star, a Boy Scout, and a consummate Ohio boy.
We all know they can buy Campbell out easily, if they wanted to, too.
It has happened twice. Earl Bruce and Sam Willaman (the coach who brought Jack Trice to Iowa State) both left Iowa State for Ohio State.
And three head coaches have left Iowa State and soon won national championships: Earl Bruce, Johnny Majors, and Gene Chizik. Ames is the cradle of championship coaches.