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2025 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

2025 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Big Ten Conference
7–6 (3–6 Big Ten)
James Franklin (12th season; first 6 games)Terry Smith (interim, remainder of season)
Andy Kotelnicki (2nd season)
Ty Howle (3rd season)
Pro spread
Jim Knowles (1st season)
Anthony Poindexter (5th season)
4–2–5
Drew Allar
Nick Dawkins
Dominic DeLuca
Zane Durant
Tyler Duzansky
Beaver Stadium

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. 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.

The Penn State Nittany Lions drew an average home attendance of 107,093, the 2nd-highest of all American football teams in the world.

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 303:30 p.m.Nevada*No. 2Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PACBSW 46–11106,915
September 612:00 p.m.FIU*No. 2Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PABTNW 34–0103,817
September 133:30 p.m.No. 11 (FCS) Villanova*No. 2Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PAFS1W 52–6109,516
September 277:30 p.m.No. 6 OregonNo. 3Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA (College GameDay, White Out)NBCL 24–30 2OT111,015
October 43:30 p.m.at UCLANo. 7Rose BowlPasadena, CACBSL 37–4239,256
October 113:30 p.m.NorthwesternBeaver StadiumUniversity Park, PAFS1L 21–22108,121
October 187:00 p.m.at IowaKinnick StadiumIowa City, IAPeacockL 24–2569,250
November 112:00 p.m.at No. 1 Ohio StateOhio StadiumColumbus, OH (rivalry, Big Noon Kickoff)FOXL 14–38105,517
November 812:00 p.m.No. 2 IndianaBeaver StadiumUniversity Park, PAFOXL 24–27105,231
November 153:30 p.m.at Michigan StateSpartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI (rivalry)CBSW 28–1061,671
November 227:00 p.m.NebraskaBeaver StadiumUniversity Park, PANBCW 37–10105,038
November 293:30 p.m.at RutgersSHI StadiumPiscataway, NJBTNW 40–3655,212
December 2712:00 p.m.vs. Clemson*Yankee StadiumBronx, NY (Pinstripe Bowl)ABCW 22–1041,101
*Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 4) - Released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern timeSource:

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.

StatisticsNEVPSU
First downs1325
Plays–yards52–20371–438
Rushes–yards31–7836–135
Passing yards125303
Passing: comp–att–int11–21–129–35–0
Time of possession26:2033:40
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingChubba Purdy7/15, 97 yards, INT
RushingChubba Purdy14 carries, 55 yards
ReceivingMarcus Bellon6 receptions, 76 yards, TD
PassingDrew Allar22/26, 217 yards, TD
RushingKaytron Allen8 carries, 43 yards, TD
ReceivingKyron Hudson6 receptions, 89 yards, TD
StatisticsFIUPSU
First downs1420
Plays–yards72–29064–409
Rushes–yards39–14131–209
Passing yards149200
Passing: comp–att–int18–33–119–33–0
Time of possession34:1725:43
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingKeyone Jenkins15/28, 127 yards, INT
RushingKejon Owens15 carries, 78 yards
ReceivingJoJo Stone1 reception, 27 yards
PassingDrew Allar19/33, 200 yards, 2 TD
RushingKaytron Allen16 carries, 144 yards, TD
ReceivingDevonte Ross3 receptions, 61 yards, TD
StatisticsVUPSU
First downs1128
Plays–yards63–17969–465
Rushes–yards36–8338–237
Passing yards96228
Passing: comp–att–int13–27–217–31–1
Time of possession31:4428:16
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingTanner Maddocks6/12, 69 yards, TD, INT
RushingDavid Avit10 carries, 53 yards
ReceivingBraden Reed2 receptions, 41 yards
PassingDrew Allar16/29, 209 yards, TD, INT
RushingKaytron Allen10 carries, 86 yards, TD
ReceivingLuke Reynolds4 receptions, 73 yards
StatisticsOREPSU
First downs2015
Plays–yards78–42460–276
Rushes–yards39–17635–139
Passing yards248137
Passing: comp–att–int29–39–014–25–1
Time of possession33:5226:08
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingDante Moore29/39, 248 yards, 3 TD
RushingDierre Hill Jr.10 carries, 82 yards
ReceivingDakorien Moore7 receptions, 89 yards
PassingDrew Allar14/25, 137 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingKaytron Allen12 carries, 54 yards, TD
ReceivingDevonte Ross4 receptions, 48 yards, 2 TD
StatisticsPSUUCLA
First downs2122
Plays–yards57–35777–435
Rushes–yards31–15753–269
Passing yards200166
Passing: comp–att–int19–26–017–24–0
Time of possession20:4339:17
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingDrew Allar19/26, 200 yards, 2 TD
RushingDrew Allar11 carries, 78 yards
ReceivingKyron Hudson4 receptions, 52 yards, TD
PassingNico Iamaleava17/24, 166 yards, 2 TD
RushingNico Iamaleava16 carries, 128 yards, 3 TD
ReceivingKwazi Gilmer5 receptions, 79 yards, TD
StatisticsNUPSU
First downs2313
Plays–yards68–28251–274
Rushes–yards42–11931–137
Passing yards163137
Passing: comp–att–int17–26–013–20–1
Time of possession34:4625:14
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingPreston Stone17/26, 163 yards, TD
RushingCaleb Komolafe19 carries, 72 yards TD
ReceivingGriffin Wilde7 receptions, 94 yards, TD
PassingDrew Allar13/20, 137 yards, INT
RushingKaytron Allen16 carries, 90 yards, TD
ReceivingDevonte Ross7 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.

StatisticsPSUIOWA
First downs1911
Plays–yards74–26649–313
Rushes–yards46–17333–245
Passing yards9368
Passing: comp–att–int15–28–210–16–1
Time of possession36:1223:48
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingEthan Grunkemeyer15/28, 93 yards, 2 INT
RushingKaytron Allen28 carries, 145 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingTrebor Peña3 receptions, 19 yards
PassingMark Gronowski10/16, 68 yards, INT
RushingMark Gronowski9 carries, 130 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingKaden Wetjen2 receptions, 21 yards
StatisticsPSUOSU
First downs1522
Plays–yards60–20055–480
Rushes–yards31–5532–164
Passing yards145316
Passing: comp–att–int19–29–120–23–0
Time of possession29:5330:07
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingEthan Grunkemeyer19/28, 145 yards, INT
RushingKaytron Allen21 carries, 76 yards, TD
ReceivingNicholas Singleton3 receptions, 28 yards
PassingJulian Sayin20/23, 316 yards, 4 TD
RushingBo Jackson13 carries, 105 yards
ReceivingCarnell Tate5 receptions, 124 yards, TD
StatisticsIUPSU
First downs2017
Plays–yards62–32664–336
Rushes–yards31–10833–117
Passing yards218219
Passing: comp–att–int19–31–122–31–1
Time of possession30:3729:23
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingFernando Mendoza19/30, 218 yards, TD, INT
RushingRoman Hemby12 carries, 55 yards
ReceivingCharlie Becker7 receptions, 118 yards
PassingEthan Grunkemeyer22/31, 219 yards, TD, INT
RushingNicholas Singleton10 carries, 71 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingTrebor Peña6 receptions, 99 yards
StatisticsPSUMSU
First downs1913
Plays–yards63–36749–229
Rushes–yards50–24022–101
Passing yards127128
Passing: comp–att–int8–13–017–27–0
Time of possession37:1922:41
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingEthan Grunkemeyer8/13, 127 yards, 2 TD
RushingKaytron Allen25 carries, 181 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingDevonte Ross2 receptions, 79 yards, 2 TD
PassingAlessio Milivojevic17/27, 128 yards
RushingElijah Tau-Tolliver6 carries, 79 yards, TD
ReceivingElijah Tau-Tolliver8 receptions, 73 yards
StatisticsNEBPSU
First downs1721
Plays–yards69–31851–412
Rushes–yards32–13139–231
Passing yards187181
Passing: comp–att–int21–37–011–12–0
Time of possession29:3830:22
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingTJ Lateef21/37, 187 yards
RushingEmmett Johnson19 carries, 103 yards
ReceivingJacory Barney Jr.5 receptions, 55 yards
PassingEthan Grunkemeyer11/12, 181 yards, TD
RushingKaytron Allen25 carries, 160 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingNicholas Singleton3 receptions, 51 yards
StatisticsPSURUTG
First downs2327
Plays–yards54–50964–533
Rushes–yards33–30042–195
Passing yards209338
Passing: comp–att–int17–21–016–22–0
Time of possession27:3532:25
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingEthan Grunkemeyer17/21, 209 yards, TD
RushingKaytron Allen22 carries, 226 yards, TD
ReceivingAndrew Rappleyea4 receptions, 75 yards, TD
PassingAthan Kaliakmanis16/22, 338 yards, 3 TD
RushingAntwan Raymond29 carries, 189 yards, TD
ReceivingKJ Duff5 receptions, 127 yards, TD
StatisticsPSUCLEM
First downs2016
Plays–yards76–39765–236
Rushes–yards41–13525–43
Passing yards262193
Passing: comp–att–int23–35–022–40–0
Time of possession33:0126:59
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingEthan Grunkemeyer23/34, 262 yards, 2 TD
RushingQuinton Martin Jr.20 carries, 101 yards
ReceivingTrebor Peña5 receptions, 100 yards, TD
PassingCade Klubnik22/39, 193 yards
RushingAdam Randall11 carries, 35 yards, TD
ReceivingT. J. Moore6 receptions, 83 yards
PlayerPositionDestination
Mehki FlowersSAkron
Chase MeyerKCalifornia
Feyisayo OluleyeWRClarion
Tyler JohnsonWREast Carolina
T.A. CunninghamDLGarden City CC
Jon MitchellCBGeorgia Tech
JB NelsonIOLKansas State
Beckham DeeLBLafayette
Jerry CrossTEMemphis
Beau PribulaQBMissouri
Joseph MupoyiEDGENorth Carolina
Smith VilbertEDGENorth Carolina
Harrison Wallace IIIWROle Miss
Cam MillerCBRutgers
Tyrece MillsSUConn
Ta'Mere RobinsonLBUSC
Omari EvansWRWashington
Jason EstrellaWRUnknown
PlayerPositionFormer Team
King MackSAlabama
Owen WafleEDGEMichigan
Amare CampbellLBNorth Carolina
Trebor PeñaWRSyracuse
Enai WhiteEDGETexas A&M
TJ Shanahan Jr.IOLTexas A&M
Devonte RossWRTroy
Kyron HudsonWRUSC
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