Penn State Football Primed for National Title Bid in 2025

As of August 14, 2025, Penn State football is widely regarded as a national title favorite for the upcoming season. The team boasts a unique combination of talent, experience, and depth - the best seen yet under head coach James Franklin.

The preseason rankings and hype fully support this assessment. Penn State's 2025 schedule also provides the near-perfect foundation for a championship run. The Nittany Lions have a cushy runway to acclimate their new transfer receivers and the defense, led by first-year coordinator Jim Knowles. There are two well-placed bye weeks, and just enough high-end challenges spread evenly throughout the season.

The schedule begins with three overmatched non-conference opponents, allowing the superior Nittany Lions to test and fine-tune their game. The real tests start in October, with a primetime White Out game against a reloading Oregon team, followed by matchups against UCLA, Northwestern, Iowa, and Ohio State. If Penn State can navigate this gauntlet, a potential undefeated season and Big Ten Championship Game berth could be in the cards.