The 2025 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team played home games at Beaver Stadium located in College Township, Pennsylvania, with a mailing address of University Park, Pennsylvania.
Despite high preseason expectations, including a No. 2 Week 0 ranking in the AP poll and a 3–0 start, Penn State's season would collapse starting in week 5 with a home loss in double overtime against No. 6 Oregon. This was followed by a 42–37 loss at a winless UCLA team, despite being 25.5-point favorites. The defeat is widely considered one of the worst in program history and one of the largest upsets in college football history. As a result of this loss, the team dropped out of the AP Top 25.
On October 11, Penn State suffered another home loss against Northwestern after quarterback Drew Allar suffered a season-ending leg injury late in the fourth quarter, forcing redshirt freshman backup quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer to the starting role. Three additional losses followed: at Iowa, 25–24; at then-No. 1 Ohio State, 38–14; and vs. then-No. 2 Indiana, 27–24. These extended the team's losing streak to six games.
By the end of week 7, Penn State's 2025 season had been characterized as a "historic collapse" by multiple sports publications as the Nittany Lions became the first NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program to lose back-to-back matchups as a 20-point favorite. The Nittany Lions eventually rebounded by winning their last 3 games to finish the regular season 6–6, their worst record since also going 6–6 in 2014 outside the 4–5 pandemic year in 2020. They secured a 7–6 record by defeating Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl 22–10.
The team was led by 12th-year head coach James Franklin for the first six games of the season; Franklin was fired on October 12 following the loss to Northwestern. Associate head coach Terry Smith was named the Nittany Lions' interim head coach.
Schedule
Rankings
Preseason Big Ten media poll The annual Cleveland.com Preseason Big Ten Media Poll was released on July 21, 2025. The Nittany Lions were predicted to finish the regular season first in the conference.
Game summaries vs Nevada
Statistics NEVPSU First downs 13 25 Plays–yards 52–203 71–438 Rushes–yards 31–78 36–135 Passing yards 125 303 Passing: –– 11–21–1 29–35–0 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 26:20 33:40 Team Category Player Statistics Nevada Passing Chubba Purdy 7/15, 97 yards, INT Rushing Chubba Purdy 14 carries, 55 yards Receiving Marcus Bellon 6 receptions, 76 yards, TD Penn State Passing Drew Allar 22/26, 217 yards, TD Rushing Kaytron Allen 8 carries, 43 yards, TD Receiving Kyron Hudson 6 receptions, 89 yards, TD
vs FIU
Statistics FIUPSU First downs 14 20 Plays–yards 72–290 64–409 Rushes–yards 39–141 31–209 Passing yards 149 200 Passing: –– 18–33–1 19–33–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 34:17 25:43 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Keyone Jenkins 15/28, 127 yards, INT Rushing Kejon Owens 15 carries, 78 yards Receiving JoJo Stone 1 reception, 27 yards Penn State Passing Drew Allar 19/33, 200 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kaytron Allen 16 carries, 144 yards, TD Receiving Devonte Ross 3 receptions, 61 yards, TD
vs No. 11 (FCS) Villanova
Statistics VILLPSU First downs 11 28 Plays–yards 63–179 69–465 Rushes–yards 36–83 38–237 Passing yards 96 228 Passing: –– 13–27–2 17–31–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 31:44 28:16 Team Category Player Statistics Villanova Passing Tanner Maddocks 6/12, 69 yards, TD, INT Rushing David Avit 10 carries, 53 yards Receiving Braden Reed 2 receptions, 41 yards Penn State Passing Drew Allar 16/29, 209 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kaytron Allen 10 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving Luke Reynolds 4 receptions, 73 yards
vs No. 6 Oregon
Statistics OREPSU First downs 20 15 Plays–yards 78–424 60–276 Rushes–yards 39–176 35–139 Passing yards 248 137 Passing: –– 29–39–0 14–25–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 33:52 26:08 Team Category Player Statistics Oregon Passing Dante Moore 29/39, 248 yards, 3 TD Rushing Dierre Hill Jr. 10 carries, 82 yards Receiving Dakorien Moore 7 receptions, 89 yards Penn State Passing Drew Allar 14/25, 137 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kaytron Allen 12 carries, 54 yards, TD Receiving Devonte Ross 4 receptions, 48 yards, 2 TD
at UCLA
Statistics PSUUCLA First downs 21 22 Plays–yards 57–357 77–435 Rushes–yards 31–157 53–269 Passing yards 200 166 Passing: –– 19–26–0 17–24–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 20:43 39:17 Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Drew Allar 19/26, 200 yards, 2 TD Rushing Drew Allar 11 carries, 78 yards Receiving Kyron Hudson 4 receptions, 52 yards, TD UCLA Passing Nico Iamaleava 17/24, 166 yards, 2 TD Rushing Nico Iamaleava 16 carries, 128 yards, 3 TD Receiving Kwazi Gilmer 5 receptions, 79 yards, TD
vs Northwestern
Statistics NUPSU First downs 23 13 Plays–yards 68–282 51–274 Rushes–yards 42–119 31–137 Passing yards 163 137 Passing: –– 17–26–0 13–20–1 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 34:46 25:14 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Preston Stone 17/26, 163 yards, TD Rushing Caleb Komolafe 19 carries, 72 yards TD Receiving Griffin Wilde 7 receptions, 94 yards, TDPenn State Passing Drew Allar 13/20, 137 yards, INT Rushing Kaytron Allen 16 carries, 90 yards, TD Receiving Devonte Ross 7 receptions, 115 yards
Quarterback Drew Allar suffered a leg injury late in the fourth quarter and was later ruled out for the remainder of the season. The day following the loss to Northwestern, head coach James Franklin was fired.
at Iowa
Statistics PSUIOWA First downs 19 11 Plays–yards 74–266 49–313 Rushes–yards 46–173 33–245 Passing yards 93 68 Passing: –– 15–28–2 10–16–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 36:12 23:48 Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Ethan Grunkemeyer 15/28, 93 yards, 2 INT Rushing Kaytron Allen 28 carries, 145 yards, 2 TD Receiving Trebor Peña 3 receptions, 19 yards Iowa Passing Mark Gronowski 10/16, 68 yards, INT Rushing Mark Gronowski 9 carries, 130 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kaden Wetjen 2 receptions, 21 yards
at No. 1 Ohio State (rivalry)
Statistics PSUOSU First downs 15 22 Plays–yards 60–200 55–480 Rushes–yards 31–55 32–164 Passing yards 145 316 Passing: –– 19–29–1 20–23–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 29:53 30:07 Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Ethan Grunkemeyer 19/28, 145 yards, INT Rushing Kaytron Allen 21 carries, 76 yards, TD Receiving Nicholas Singleton 3 receptions, 28 yards Ohio State Passing Julian Sayin 20/23, 316 yards, 4 TD Rushing Bo Jackson 13 carries, 105 yards Receiving Carnell Tate 5 receptions, 124 yards, TD
vs No. 2 Indiana
Statistics IUPSU First downs 20 17 Plays–yards 62–326 64–336 Rushes–yards 31–108 33–117 Passing yards 218 219 Passing: –– 19–31–1 22–31–1 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 30:37 29:23 Team Category Player Statistics Indiana Passing Fernando Mendoza 19/30, 218 yards, TD, INT Rushing Roman Hemby 12 carries, 55 yards Receiving Charlie Becker 7 receptions, 118 yards Penn State Passing Ethan Grunkemeyer 22/31, 219 yards, TD, INT Rushing Nicholas Singleton 10 carries, 71 yards, 2 TD Receiving Trebor Peña 6 receptions, 99 yards
at Michigan State (Land Grant Trophy)
Statistics PSUMSU First downs 19 13 Plays–yards 63–367 49–229 Rushes–yards 50–240 22–101 Passing yards 127 128 Passing: –– 8–13–0 17–27–0 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 37:19 22:41 Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Ethan Grunkemeyer 8/13, 127 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kaytron Allen 25 carries, 181 yards, 2 TD Receiving Devonte Ross 2 receptions, 79 yards, 2 TD Michigan State Passing Alessio Milivojevic 17/27, 128 yards Rushing Elijah Tau-Tolliver 6 carries, 79 yards, TD Receiving Elijah Tau-Tolliver 8 receptions, 73 yards
vs Nebraska
Statistics NEBPSU First downs 17 21 Plays–yards 69–318 51–412 Rushes–yards 32–131 39–231 Passing yards 187 181 Passing: –– 21–37–0 11–12–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 29:38 30:22 Team Category Player Statistics Nebraska Passing TJ Lateef 21/37, 187 yards Rushing Emmett Johnson 19 carries, 103 yards Receiving Jacory Barney Jr. 5 receptions, 55 yards Penn State Passing Ethan Grunkemeyer 11/12, 181 yards, TD Rushing Kaytron Allen 25 carries, 160 yards, 2 TD Receiving Nicholas Singleton 3 receptions, 51 yards
at Rutgers
Statistics PSURUTG First downs 23 27 Plays–yards 54–509 64–533 Rushes–yards 33–300 42–195 Passing yards 209 338 Passing: –– 17–21–0 16–22–0 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 27:35 32:25 Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Ethan Grunkemeyer 17/21, 209 yards, TD Rushing Kaytron Allen 22 carries, 226 yards, TD Receiving Andrew Rappleyea 4 receptions, 75 yards, TD Rutgers Passing Athan Kaliakmanis 16/22, 338 yards, 3 TD Rushing Antwan Raymond 29 carries, 189 yards, TD Receiving KJ Duff 5 receptions, 127 yards, TD
vs Clemson (Pinstripe Bowl)
Statistics PSUCLEM First downs 20 16 Plays–yards 76–397 65–236 Rushes–yards 41–135 25–43 Passing yards 262 193 Passing: –– 23–35–0 22–40–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 33:01 26:59 Team Category Player Statistics Penn State Passing Ethan Grunkemeyer 23/34, 262 yards, 2 TD Rushing Quinton Martin Jr. 20 carries, 101 yards Receiving Trebor Peña 5 receptions, 100 yards, TD Clemson Passing Cade Klubnik 22/39, 193 yards Rushing Adam Randall 11 carries, 35 yards, TD Receiving T. J. Moore 6 receptions, 83 yards
Personnel Roster
Transfers Outgoing Mehki FlowersSAkronChase MeyerKCaliforniaFeyisayo OluleyeWRClarionTyler JohnsonWREast CarolinaT.A. CunninghamDLGarden City CCJon MitchellCBGeorgia TechJB NelsonIOLKansas StateBeckham DeeLBLafayetteJerry CrossTEMemphisBeau PribulaQBMissouriJoseph MupoyiEDGENorth CarolinaSmith VilbertEDGENorth CarolinaHarrison Wallace IIIWROle MissCam MillerCBRutgersTyrece MillsSUConnTa'Mere RobinsonLBUSCOmari EvansWRWashingtonJason EstrellaWRUnknown
Incoming King MackSAlabamaOwen WafleEDGEMichiganAmare CampbellLBNorth CarolinaTrebor PeñaWRSyracuseEnai WhiteEDGETexas A&MTJ Shanahan Jr.IOLTexas A&MDevonte RossWRTroyKyron HudsonWRUSC
References