Penn State’s 2025 story reads like a cautionary tale about how quickly college football fortunes can flip. What began with national-title expectations has transformed into a desperate scramble to salvage bowl eligibility after injuries and upheaval ripped through the program.
The Preseason Optimism
When the 2025 college football season began, Penn State entered as one of the nation’s elite programs. Ranked in the top 3 with aspirations of reaching the College Football Playoff, the Nittany Lions had the pieces in place: a senior quarterback in Drew Allar who had led them to the Playoff semifinal just months earlier, a dynamic running back duo of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and one of the nation’s most talented offensive lines.
Head Coach James Franklin had built a program that appeared to be on the cusp of championship-level success. The 2024 season ended with a heartbreaking loss to Notre Dame in the Playoff semifinals, but that loss only seemed to fuel expectations that 2025 would be the year Penn State broke through to a national title game.
The Perfect Start
Penn State’s season began exactly as hoped. The Nittany Lions dominated their first three opponents with convincing victories:
- 46-11 over Nevada
- 34-0 over FIU
- 52-6 over Villanova
These wins showcased a team firing on all cylinders. Drew Allar was efficient and precise. The running backs were powerful. The defense was dominant. Bowl projections weren’t necessary—Penn State was being discussed as a true national title contender.
The Conference Gauntlet Begins
When Penn State entered Big Ten play, the reality of competing at the highest level quickly set in. Three consecutive conference losses would flip the entire narrative:
- September 27: Lost to Oregon 30-24 in double overtime at the White Out
- October 4: Lost to UCLA 42-37 at the Rose Bowl
- October 11: Lost to Northwestern 22-21 at home
With each loss, the sense of urgency intensified. What had seemed like a championship team was struggling against conference opponents. However, none of the losses were catastrophic—each was competitive and came down to final moments or extra periods. The program still had time to course-correct.
The Injury That Changed Everything
The Northwestern game on October 11 will forever mark the turning point of Penn State’s 2025 season. Late in the fourth quarter, with Penn State trying to mount a comeback, senior quarterback Drew Allar suffered a season-ending leg injury. In one play, the heart and soul of the Penn State offense was lost.
Allar had been the face of the program. He ranked first all-time at Penn State in completion percentage (62.9%) and had been a precise, pro-quality passer. His injury meant that redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer, a four-star prospect with limited game experience, would be thrust into starting duty.
The Coaching Crisis
Just 24 hours after the Northwestern loss, Penn State announced that Head Coach James Franklin had been dismissed. Franklin’s 11-year tenure at Penn State had been marked by significant accomplishments—a 104-45 overall record that tied him for the second-winningest coach in Penn State history—but the 2025 season had gone sideways.
After reaching the Playoff semifinals in 2024, expectations for 2025 were championship-or-bust. With a 3-3 record and the program in turmoil, the administration made the difficult decision to part ways with Franklin. Associate Head Coach Terry Smith, who had served as the team’s defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator, was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
The Interim Era Begins
Terry Smith’s first game as head coach came on October 18 against Iowa, with Ethan Grunkemeyer making his first career start. The combination of a new quarterback and new head coach created enormous challenges. Though Penn State kept the game competitive, Iowa ultimately prevailed 25-24 in a heartbreaking loss that extended Penn State’s skid to four consecutive defeats.
Grunkemeyer’s performance showed both promise and significant limitations. He completed 15 of 28 passes for 93 yards and threw two interceptions. In just his second appearance, he would face the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes—an extremely difficult matchup for any developing quarterback, let alone one learning on the job.
The Bowl Eligibility Reality
From a position of College Football Playoff consideration, Penn State has now fallen to the point where bowl eligibility is uncertain. Currently 3-4, the Nittany Lions need three wins in their final five games to reach the minimum 6-6 record required for a bowl invitation.
The remaining schedule is daunting:
- Nov. 1: at No. 1 Ohio State (8-0)
- Nov. 8: vs. Indiana
- Nov. 15: at Michigan State
- Nov. 22: vs. Nebraska
- Nov. 29: at Rutgers
Realistically, victories over Indiana, Nebraska, and Rutgers would provide the three wins needed for bowl eligibility. A win over Ohio State would be an enormous bonus, but it remains a significant long shot.
The Question of Momentum
One of the most challenging aspects of Penn State’s current situation is the lack of positive momentum. A team that entered the season with championship aspirations is now searching for wins to stay eligible for a bowl game. The loss of Allar, the departure of Franklin, and the four consecutive losses have created a perfect storm of challenge.
However, there is a small silver lining: changes in leadership can sometimes catalyze positive change. Terry Smith is a Penn State alumni who understands the program’s tradition. Under his leadership, the Nittany Lions have an opportunity to salvage something from what has become a lost season.
Looking Ahead
Penn State will need to focus on what it can control moving forward. Ethan Grunkemeyer must develop rapidly. The defense, which has been competitive despite the losses, needs to continue performing at a high level. And the running back duo of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen—who have continued to produce despite the team’s struggles—need to step up as the program’s leaders.
The path to bowl eligibility is still there. It won’t be easy, but Penn State has shown in their losses that they can compete with quality opponents. The question now is whether the program can channel the resilience shown in those competitive losses into actual victories in the games ahead.
Conclusion
Penn State’s 2025 season serves as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in college football. From playoff aspirations to fighting for bowl eligibility in just six weeks, the Nittany Lions have experienced one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent college football history.
The road ahead is challenging, but Penn State has the talent to still salvage something from this season. Whether the Nittany Lions can channel this adversity into positive results remains to be seen, but the next five games will define not only the 2025 season, but likely the trajectory of the program for years to come.