2025 Penn State Predictions on the HG
Jake Wimberly
Ross Gaskin Contributing:
What’s to like:
Well it was another successful season for Penn State in 2024. Legendary Head Coach James Franklin will be looking for more though in 2025, and they will have a great QB returning with Drew Allar that can hopefully bring them a championship. Allar in 2024 threw for 3,327 yards and 24 TDs and rushed for 302 yards and 6 TDs while leading the Nittany Lions to 2 playoff wins.
Also returning for the Nittany Lions is their incredible RB duo Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. This two headed monster of a back field combined for 2,207 rushing yards and 20 TDs. Expect these RBs to continue to dominate the BIG 10.
What’s not to like:
While the Offense will be electric next year with all of the returners, the defense will have an entirely different feel next season. The biggest Nittany Lion that is headed to the NFL is their star DE Abdul Carter. Carter racked up 68 tackles, 23.5 TFLs, and 12 sacks.
Penn State will also be without their leader and star safety Jaylen Reed. Reed totaled 98 tackles (led the team), 6.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, and 3 INTs returning one for a TD. Penn State still has some quality players on defense, but James Franklin will have to find replacements for these 2.
What does the Hourglass say?
Penn State- Big 10 (12-0)
Power ranking 129.58. 13th toughest schedule in the Big 10.
2025 Penn State Analytics
National recruiting rating (three year metric): #15- inside the boundary of a National Championship Roster.
National Coaching Ranking:
James Franklin- 4th in Power 5 and 2nd in the Big 10.
2024 coaching value= 20 (average 2025 Power 5 coaching value=9.3) James Franklin ranks as one of the best coaches in college football.
ODE analytics 2024 Nationally:
Offensive Ranking: 5th
Defensive Ranking: 7th
Quarterback Play: Allar- ranked 10th in the Power 4, 1st in the Big 10; 2024 QB value= 21.5 (Power 4 average- 14.41)
Impact Ball Catcher Metric: Penn State has an Impact Ball Catcher Metric of 3. This puts the Nittany Lions at the upper level for the Big 10 in this metric.
From Vegas:
Penn State ATS in 2024: 8-8
Penn State at home: 4-4
Penn State on the road: 3-2
Penn State neutral site: 1-2
Final thoughts:
James Franklin and his Nittany Lions are looking great heading into 2025. They have a bunch of stars returning, and honestly, James Franklin can coach a cat into water. People say he can’t win the big game, but get ready for Coach Franklin to shut everybody up. The Nittany Lions will dominate the BIG 10 and will be back in the playoffs in 2025.
2025 Schedule analysis:
Projected Hourglass W/L record: Games in red denote games that could be a one possession game or even a different outcome than projection.
Editors Note: All photos courtesy of 247sports.com
