The hype train for Penn State football in 2025 continues to go at full speed with heightened expectations coming in left and right for the Nittany Lions.
Fresh off a run to the national semifinal and an appearance in the Big Ten championship game last season, the bar is officially set high for James Franklin and his program next fall.
In the latest effort to build the hype for Penn State in 2025, USA TODAY Sports writer Paul Myerberg shared his Big Ten power rankings leading up to spring football practices around the conference. And lo and behold, the Nittany Lions are starting the year off on top of the Big Ten.
Myerberg noted Penn State has the kind of roster coming back in 2025 that offers the right blend of experience and talent that most college football contenders dream of having. Despite losing some notable players like Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren, both likely to go in the first half of the first round of the NFL draft in April, Penn State’s roster does bring back some key players on both sides of the football this fall.
There’s talent, coaching and plenty of motivation after coming close to an appearance against OSU in the championship game,” Myerberg wrote. “Can the Nittany Lions use that pain to reach new heights under James Franklin? Look for the offense to be the best of his tenure while the defense still has several all-conference or even All-America performers.”
Penn State’s offense returns both star running backs with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen each deciding to return this seasonrather than enter the NFL draft or submit their name to the NCAA transfer portal. Quarterback Drew Allar is also coming back for his third year as the starter, and he will get the luxury of working with offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki for a second season. Penn State does have a lot to prove with the wide receiver position but the additions from the transfer portal with Kyron Hudson from USC and Devonte Ross from Troy should be more than capable of improving on the receiver production and consistency from last season.
