The laurels for Penn State heading into the 2025 season keep coming.
FOX Sportsโ Joel Klatt placed Penn State No. 1 in his post-spring rankings. This was off the heels of Pro Football Focusโ Max Chadwick have seven Penn State players amongst the Americaโs top 10 returning starters.ย
Chadwick had quarterback Drew Allar (No. 4), running backs Nicholas Singleton (No. 3) and Kaytron Allen (No. 6), offensive lineman Vega Ioane (No.8), EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton (No. 9), defensive tackle Zane Durant (No. 2), and cornerback A.J. Harris (No. 7) all making PFFโs lists at their respective positions.
Under James Franklin, Penn Stateโs highest preseason ranking came before the 2017 season when pollsters placed Penn State No. 6. This season should mark the sixth time in the Franklin era Penn State begins in the Top 10 and should be the highest mark since the Paterno era.
The expectations entering the Big Ten Championship seasons of 2005, 2008, and 2016 were low and full of hope not heightened at all ultimately rewarded. When you rewind a little bit further, the expectations of 1997 and 1999 were a bit higher than 1994. Keep this in mind, 1994 had expectations to be great because the talent was there. But 1997 was the last time Penn State was preseason No. 1 and 1999 had the publicized Top 5 Kickoff Classic showdown with Arizona.
Late season swoons for those 1997 and 1999 teams dampened the great expectations. There was one thing in common for both those teams that while they possessed national championship defenses: ย the offenses lacked the firepower in critical moments.
I often say that the 1994 team is the greatest in Penn Stateโs long history. I donโt have a recency bias with them. I get that the 1982 and 1986 teams that won national championships and the 1978 and 1985 teams played them. There were other undefeated but uncrowned teams of 1968, 1969 and 1973 that had a stake or even 1947 team that had six shutouts and tied SMU in the Cotton Bowl as its only blemish.
What I say about 1994 is whatever that team wanted to do on a football field, it simply did. This 2025 team has a similar aura around them.
The 1993 team had to deal with heartbreak falling short midseason to Ohio State and Michigan before taking those lessons into 1994.
Similarly, Penn State had three heartbreakers throughout 2024. Whether it was coming up short late in the fourth quarter against Ohio State, one too many bridges to comeback from against Oregon in the Big Ten Championship, and then the ill fated interception in the Orange Bowl all were growing experiences.
As fans continue to see the shower of laurels that should happen all preseason leading up to Nevada Aug. 30 in Beaver Stadium, the comparisons are there.ย
Penn State hasnโt had a quarterback at the caliber of Allar since Kerry Collins. ย Singleton has Ki-Jana Carter type vibes if he can stay healthy. This club has someone equal to Singletonโs finesse in Allenโs power.
The offensive lines from both are talented where both squads had a two-deep full at all positions. I would say 1994 Penn State as of now has the distinct advantage at wide receiver and tight end but 2025 will have an opportunity to measure up. I feel this 2025 defense is superior to 1994. I see more dynamic defensive athletes at all positions.
What 1994 can always say is it went undefeated, its hard to imagine in todayโs college football someone going 17-0 especially with the amount of breaks in between the final games and with the level of difficulty being at the highest.ย
Penn State has to qualify for the College Football Playoff to make the season a success that is the line of demarcation. The expectations are even greater. There will be more written between now and when the season kicks off, but as we inch closer the comparisons wonโt be going away anytime soon. This team has way too much talent that comparisons are unavoidable between the present and the past.
