Penn State7-6AP #74Franklin's top-2 Big Ten portal class adds Becht at QB and Brahmer at TE — filling gaps after 8 NFL exits in a program still rebuilding its identity.
Penn State spent a decade as the program that could win every big game except the biggest — and in 2025 the wait finally broke the man who embodied it, ending the Franklin era mid-season and handing the job to someone hired to do the one thing the program never could.
Fans will point to the scoreboard: a decade of being the Big Ten's clear third program behind Ohio State and Michigan, the two rivals who kept finding a way in the fourth quarter when Penn State could…
Approaching
30 days
until kickoff · vs Marshall · Sat Sep 5 · 19:30 UTC
Penn State is the program whose standard was built by one man's reputation and has to keep being rebuilt in his absence.
Despite a heavy NFL draft loss and net portal exporter status, Penn State's moderate continuity and depth class recruitment position it for a bowl game in 2026.
Happy Valley is quieter without kickoff. The patience is part of the work.
the open questiondo the new coordinators fit the roster?
James Franklin enters his 10th season at Penn State with a 7-6 record, tasked with maintaining the program's national power status built on a legacy that must continually be rebuilt in his absence.
Malachi Goodman (OT, #56 nationally) headlines Penn State's fourth straight top-15 class, filling NFL exit gaps with 88% QB production returning under James Franklin.
Campbell inherits a 7-6 roster and 56% returning production, but Penn State's standard was built by Franklin's legacy — the program must now prove it can thrive without him.
Franklin's top-2 Big Ten portal class adds Becht at QB and Brahmer at TE — filling gaps after 8 NFL exits in a program still rebuilding its identity.
James Franklin's sixth season sees Penn State's win total dip from 9.5 to 8.5, testing whether his reputation can sustain a program built by one man.
Kaytron Allen does NOT see a usage spike in garbage time -- his workload holds steady regardless of score, and he's also efficient in competitive snaps -- the production isn't just garbage-time padding.
Kaytron Allen: a short yardage signal screened this season.
Nicholas Singleton converts 3rd/4th-and-short at a below-average rate.
Matt Campbell begins his first season at Penn State, inheriting a 7-6 record and a program that must redefine its identity without its legendary predecessor.
Aiden Gibson flips to Rutgers
Eight draft exits and Franklin's EDGE room is still bleeding — Gibson flipping to Rutgers is a small wound, but a top-15 class and a top-5 transfer haul can't afford many of them.
Khalil Taylor flips to Nebraska
Eight draft exits and the EDGE room still thin — losing a flip to Lincoln hurts less about the player and more about what it signals when your win total is already down a full win.
Chaz Coleman dismissed from Tennessee
Eight starters gone to the draft and EDGE is still a pressure point — Coleman's dismissal from Tennessee reopens a door Franklin's portal class hasn't fully closed yet.
Alex Tatsch burning redshirt
Burning Tatsch's redshirt this early tells you Campbell's offense and defense have opposite problems — EDGE depth is thin enough that Franklin can't afford to wait a year to find out what he has.
QB James Armstrong commits to Penn State
Armstrong arrives as the foundational piece Franklin's rebuild needs under center — not just a class filler, but a QB1 candidate inheriting a room reset by attrition after eight starters walked out the door.
Penn State gains OT commit
Eight guys drafted and the offensive line depth chart has real questions — Franklin's class has to plug a pro pipeline that drained fast, and an OT commit at this velocity suggests the staff knows where the structural gap is.
Top 3 commits
Fan confidence lower than any point since 2025
12th percentile among FBS programs
Market outlook
Sportsbook consensus · best odds across multiple books · 2026-08-06
Penn State · Next-Season Outcome Band
Final-season-aware projection: floor / base / ceiling include conference title and CFP games where the model supports them, so a ceiling can exceed a 12-game regular season.
Penn State: coordinator change reshaping a unit.
The optimistic read: momentum, and the 'this is real' takes.
The analytical counter: rankings, results, and 'the hype is ahead of the tape' takes.
This event was in 330 of 1643 board posts (20%) over the last 60 days — a fanbase consumed by it. Fan text shown verbatim, attributed to the community not the individual poster.
Board health this week (591 posts): 15% positive · 47% neutral · 38% negative. Team-level weekly mood — not specific to this event. The boards ≠ the fanbase: a self-selected vocal slice.
Penn State signed a top-15 recruiting class. It is fourth consecutive top-15 recruiting class. A class ranked in the teens won the trail competition. The depth-chart work starts now. National coverage is split on what the ranking actually signals for this program.
The optimistic read: the class is real, the program is a destination again.
The 'rankings don't tell the whole story' counter -- development gaps, position holes still open.
This event was in 154 of 1643 board posts (9%) over the last 60 days — engaged but not consumed. Fan text shown verbatim, attributed to the community not the individual poster.
Board health this week (591 posts): 15% positive · 47% neutral · 38% negative. Team-level weekly mood — not specific to this event. The boards ≠ the fanbase: a self-selected vocal slice.
Recent Form · last 10 games
Four of five. The board favors this trend.
Opens Sep 5
vs Marshall · at home
✓ fact on line · ~ our read on style
Fan mood index · most recent r/cfb data
Recruiting Footprint · 2026
NE leads the 2026 class with 4 commits. National footprint reaching 9 states.
Where they recruit · 2023-2026
94 signees across 22 states, 2023-2026. PA leads the pull.
Top r/cfb community posts · last 12 months
12 games with TV coverage: 8 national broadcast, 2 cable, 2 conference network
Kickoff windows: 4 noon, 6 afternoon, 2 primetime
The bounces have gone their way on the fumbles they've forced: 78% recovered, vs. ~49% expected.
7 of 9 forced fumbles recovered; 7 of 10 own fumbles recovered themselves, 2025 only.
Deflections without payoff: 13% of disrupted passes intercepted, vs. ~19% league-wide.
4 interceptions of 31 disrupted passes (27 deflected, 4 intercepted), 2025 only.
The flags haven't favored them: 53 penalties committed vs. 47 drawn on opponents, 127 yards behind.
485 penalty yards committed vs. 358 drawn on opponents, 2025 season total.
What moved it — fall camp · last 14 days
Fanbase Signals
Position = mood · width = volume · color = the kind of feeling
Inside the fanbase — all 12 corners
The split, staged
How Penn State fans actually talk real · top-upvoted
Auburn rushing 2 players on 4th and a mile against Alabama in the Iron Bowl
The crowd’s loudest take by upvotes — read for mood, not as a side. The cohort read is the measured part.
Loudest in the room this week real · by engagement
All 12 corners of the fanbase
Cohort sentiment is a source-weighted model read — never a quote pinned to a person.
What this fanbase keeps coming back to our read · topic model
Topics are model-labeled from Reddit — a rough signal of what this fanbase is circling right now.
Fan reads
This commitment is crucial for Penn State as they rebuild after losing key players to the NFL Draft.
How will Case Alexander's addition impact Penn State's future lineup?
I'm sure the comments are coming on how we still don't have elite 5 stars, and this is just an example of Campbell barely being able to recruit. And if Case decides to flip, then we'll hear how we just lost a gem from the same people.YouTube · Penn State Football on Blue White Illustrated
Penn State was such a coaching s--tshow last year on offense and defense. It was such a spectacularly bad team for having 8 NFL draft picks. This year's team won't have the top end talent but they have good talent and probably better depth. If…YouTube · Penn State Football on Blue White Illustrated
Penn State adds a highly rated edge rusher to its roster, which could help offset recent NFL Draft losses.
How will Elijah Guertin's addition impact Penn State's defensive line next season?
oh man they're gonna fuck up Penn State LMAOr/CFB
Getting one 4 star commit would be great with 20 commits and 15 very low 3 star commits ! Very average class ! Wheres the upgrade in recruiting they went from franklin loosing all top recruits to campbell who cant get anyone in the top 250 !…YouTube · Penn State Football on Blue White Illustrated
~ our readPenn State fans are down on the program, and they're pointing to real stats and results to back it up — more than most fanbases right now.
✓ counted We read 591 posts from Penn State fans this week.
Fan mood across the 2025 season, both sides — our read
Shaded weeks show whose fanbase read warmer, our measure of what fans actually said, not a poll.
Fan claims · every quote verified verbatim
Penn State goes 11-1 and makes the CFP (on a weak schedule) but get bounced early. A healthy Rocco Becht returns to 2024 form and is one of the top 3 QBs in the B1G.
Based on 2 comments from 1 poster across 1 thread · Jul 28, 2026 · via CFB
I think Penn State will make the CFP this year, because of their easy schedule, and because Matt Campbell is a good coach.
Based on 1 comment from 1 poster across 1 thread · Jul 23, 2026 · via The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast
That was an informative and interesting interview. Very positive interview. As a Penn State grad, who cares about the total package and big picture, Hoodjer struck a balance, profile and confidence that feels very much like the fit of this new staff will raise the results for Penn State.
Based on 1 comment from 1 poster across 1 thread · Jul 23, 2026 · via Penn State Football on Blue White Illustrated
“Difficult to determine whether Knowles or Kotelnicki deserves more blame for this loss”— r/CFB
“PSU pursuing Rhule felt like media narrative. I feel like every Penn State fan was not interested in Rhule replacing Franklin before his extension.”— r/CFB
“We fucking suck. I have been a Franklin defender for a while, I was never really convinced he was truly going to bring us a natty but we have always been in contention and I thought that was enough. But now... It's over. We may very easily not win another game this season, big…”— r/CFB
“Most combined passing yards ever for a service academy game and they still finish with plenty of time to spare before the next CBS game.”— r/CFB
“From an IU perspective: I’m glad we won and didn’t fall victim to UCLA’s magic From a Penn State perspective: Fuck…”— r/CFB
Five Lenses
What people are saying right now
Fanbase Health Index · Penn State · high confidence
Audrey Snyder
Penn State football reporter
No financial relationship with any outlet listed. If we have a reporter wrong or missing, please let us know.
“Penn State head coach Matt Campbell says he grew up in the Big Ten and calls it the best conference in the country.”
Matt Zollers is still in Columbia, the new QB in town is going to be former Ole Miss
matters if the team is on the bubble being compared to another team. And it's more likely
People are saying that the tougher schedule does not matter and that Texas had no real argument last year. What would your thoughts be if
The 2022 class beat them to the punch. Only a matter of time before a disgruntled 2021 kid who has to go pro in something other than
matter what they do, and whether it makes sense or not. They're going to get sued. We
matter though because it became clear Notre Dame wouldn’t budge.
Only a matter of time til Touchdown Jesus gets some ads
12 is a really good number. Makes the season matter while still not leaving out real contenders
Oh sure sure. I guess it helps that the sec was in all ~~three~~ zero of those B1G national championship games.
defense left their motivation on the bus
Love the defense getting pressure earlier
FBS rankings · 2025 season · all stats vs 136 FBS programs
| Player | # | G | Cmp/Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | INT | Rate | QBR | Adj ANY/A | Sack% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Passer · +0.30 EPA/play | 17 | 10 | 123 / 178 | 69.1 | 1339 | 7.5 | 8 | 4 | 142.6 | 77.6 | 6.5 | 6.3 | |
Yards by week → Pocket Passer· Money-downBalanced passer who operates within the system, without one standout number carrying the profile. saves his best for the money downs Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 97 of 183 QBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / attempt8.9 87th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Completion %73.6% 96th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Trait fingerprint Plays like View Ethan Grunkemeyer's full player page | |||||||||||||
| Scrambler · +0.25 EPA/play | 15 | 6 | 103 / 159 | 64.8 | 1100 | 6.9 | 8 | 3 | 135.7 | 53.2 | 6.6 | 3.6 | |
Yards by week → Scrambler· Money-downMakes plays with feet when the pocket collapses. Efficiency still on the rise. saves his best for the money downs 45 of 183 QBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Rush usage18.5% bottom 37th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Rush yards / carry4.8 88th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Trait fingerprint Plays like Aura Tax — perception-vs-production gap across 3 tracked snapshots, 670 mentions our readFading: his CFB Index score now sits at the 34th percentile among FBS QBs, up from the 98th | |||||||||||||
| Player | # | G | Car | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | 3rd Dn Use | Pass Dn Use | Stuff% | 10+% | Tgt Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed Merchant · +0.23 EPA/play | 13 | 12 | 210 | 1303 #12 FBS | 6.2 | 15 #13 FBS | 67 | 22.1 | 19.6 | 12.1 | 13.1 | 7.3% (20/273) | |
Yards by week → Speed MerchantCuts upfield fast. Designed to find the crease, not run through the line. All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started. 48 of 349 RBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / carry7.0 82th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Yards / reception3.8 bottom 12th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Trait fingerprint Plays like our readAscending: his CFB Index score moved from the 84th to 98th percentile among FBS RBs | |||||||||||||
| Power Back · +0.17 EPA/play | 10 | 12 | 123 | 549 | 4.5 | 13 #25 FBS | 59 | 16.2 | 20.6 | 14.9 | 7.9 | 11.0% (30/273) | |
Yards by week → Power Back· Boom-or-bustShort-yardage and goal-line specialist. Carries the load, owns the red zone. his yards come in chunks — feast or famine Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 10 of 349 RBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Rush TD rate10.6% 99th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Receiving share16.3% 76th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Trait fingerprint Plays like Aura Tax — perception-vs-production gap across 3 tracked snapshots, 105 mentions our readFading: his CFB Index score now sits at the 80th percentile among FBS RBs, up from the 98th | |||||||||||||
| 25 | 2 | 20 | 103 | 5.2 | 0 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
| Player | # | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | 3rd Dn Use | Pass Dn Use | Tgt Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot Technician · +0.45 EPA/play | 8 | 13 | 49 | 552 | 11.3 | 2 | 73 | 10.5 | 8.8 | 22.3% (61/273) | |
Yards by week → Slot Technician· Boom-or-bustRuns precise routes in tight quarters. Volume player who keeps chains moving. his yards come in chunks — feast or famine Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 97 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Reception volume49 78th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Plays like our readFading: his CFB Index score moved from the 97th to 71st percentile among FBS WRs | |||||||||||
| Possession Receiver · +0.81 EPA/play | 5 | 11 | 36 | 501 | 13.9 | 5 | 75 | 8.2 | 7.8 | 15.8% (43/273) | |
Yards by week → Possession Receiver· Boom-or-bustReliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive. his yards come in chunks — feast or famine 332 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception14.1 60th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions EPA / play (adj)0.8 90th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like our readFading: his CFB Index score went from the 98th percentile among FBS WRs to the 63rd | |||||||||||
| Possession Receiver · +0.45 EPA/play | 11 | 9 | 23 | 288 | 12.5 | 2 | 31 | 3.9 | 11.3 | 13.2% (36/273) | |
Yards by week → Possession ReceiverReliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive. 332 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception11.3 bottom 31th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Reception volume23 bottom 26th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Kyron Ware-Hudson's full player page | |||||||||||
| Complete TE · +0.52 EPA/play | 85 | 10 | 26 | 257 | 9.9 | 0 | 22 | 5.1 | 4.4 | 10.6% (29/273) | |
Yards by week → Complete TENo single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike. 177 of 223 TEs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception10.9 bottom 50th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions TD rate0.0% bottom 10th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Luke Reynolds's full player page | |||||||||||
| Complete TE · +0.57 EPA/play | 87 | 8 | 20 | 180 | 9 | 3 | 53 | 8.9 | 6.6 | 7.0% (19/273) | |
Yards by week → Complete TENo single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike. 177 of 223 TEs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception10.1 bottom 41th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions TD rate15.0% 77th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Andrew Rappleyea's full player page | |||||||||||
| Complete TE · +1.03 EPA/play | 16 | 7 | 14 | 167 | 11.9 | 2 | 40 | 0 | 4 | — | |
Yards by week → Complete TENo single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike. 177 of 223 TEs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception14.1 78th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions EPA / play (adj)1.0 93th percentile · FBS TEs, min. 8 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Khalil Dinkins's full player page | |||||||||||
| +1.15 EPA/play | 3 | 5 | 7 | 133 | 19 | 0 | 31 | 1.3 | 3.8 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
| Player | # | G | Tot | Solo | TFL | Sack | Hur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Rusher | 33 | 13 | 42 | 26 | 12 #51 FBS | 7.5 #34 FBS | 8 |
Power RusherBull-rushes through contact, winning with size and length at the point of attack. All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started. 10 of 200 EDGEs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate28.6% 79th percentile · FBS EDGE, min. 10 tackles Plays like our readAscending: his CFB Index score now sits at the 96th percentile among FBS EDGEs, up from the 77th | |||||||
| 3-Tech Penetrator | 28 | 8 | 25 | 14 | 4.5 | 4 | 1 |
3-Tech PenetratorDisruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield. 269 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate18.0% 64th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Zane Durant's full player page | |||||||
| Pressure Merchant | 36 | 9 | 19 | 11 | 3.5 | 2 | 5 |
Pressure MerchantCollapses the pocket even when the sack doesn't come. 23 of 200 EDGEs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Hurry rate0.3 76th percentile · FBS EDGE, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Zuriah Fisher's full player page | |||||||
| Nose Anchor | 50 | 10 | 18 | 8 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
Nose AnchorThe heaviest frame on the interior. Sack production is intentionally not the point of this profile. 152 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Weight305 lb 78th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like our readBreakout: his CFB Index score climbed from the 14th percentile to the 59th among FBS IDLs | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | 54 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 3 | 0.5 | 1 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. 388 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate18.8% 67th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Xavier Gilliam's full player page | |||||||
| Versatile End | 99 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 1.5 | 3 |
Versatile EndNo single standout number, but nothing missing either — competent across the board. 139 of 200 EDGEs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate38.5% 96th percentile · FBS EDGE, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Yvan Kemajou's full player page | |||||||
| 39 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 44 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | |
| 19 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
| 34 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | # | G | Tot | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sack | PD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sideline-to-Sideline | 24 | 13 | 103 | 64 | 39 | 9.5 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Sideline-to-SidelineRanges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles. All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started. 102 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Solo tackle rate0.6 87th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Tackle volume103 97th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like View Amare Campbell's full player page | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | — | 13 | 66 | 35 | 31 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. The most common profile in its group this season — 362 of 660 classified this way. Played in 13 of 21 games this season · senior View Dominic DeLuca's full player page | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | 32 | 10 | 28 | 16 | 12 | 2.5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. The most common profile in its group this season — 362 of 660 classified this way. Played in 10 of 21 games this season · junior · 3-star, 2022 class View Keon Wylie's full player page | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | 13 | 4 | 25 | 13 | 12 | 4.5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. The most common profile in its group this season — 362 of 660 classified this way. Played in 4 of 21 games this season · junior · 4-star, 2023 class View Tony Rojas's full player page | |||||||||
| 25 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 40 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | # | G | Tot | PD | INT | TFL | Sack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Safety | 6 | 12 | 74 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Box SafetyLives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker. Impact starter — above-average production for the conference. 166 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume74 94th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Zakee Wheatley's full player page | |||||||
| Box Safety | 16 | 13 | 58 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 |
Box SafetyLives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 166 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume58 78th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like our readBreakout: his CFB Index score went from the 0th percentile among FBS Ss to the 61st | |||||||
| Perimeter Tackler | 2 | 13 | 47 | 3 | 0 | 2.5 | 0 |
Perimeter TacklerTargeted often and asked to tackle in space on the perimeter. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 42 of 270 CBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume47 90th percentile · FBS corners, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Audavion Collins's full player page | |||||||
| Cover Corner | 4 | 10 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Cover CornerSteady in coverage; doesn't get beat deep and rarely gives up the big play. The most common profile in its group this season — 141 of 270 classified this way. Played in 10 of 21 games this season · junior our readFading: his CFB Index score climbed from the 65th percentile to the 12th among FBS CBs | |||||||
| Cover Corner | 7 | 10 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
Cover CornerSteady in coverage; doesn't get beat deep and rarely gives up the big play. The most common profile in its group this season — 141 of 270 classified this way. Played in 10 of 21 games this season · junior · 4-star, 2023 class View Zion Tracy's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | 10 | 10 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 2.5 | 1 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. 419 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate3.4% bottom 27th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Dejuan Lane's full player page | |||||||
| Ball Hawk | 5 | 8 | 24 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Ball HawkReads the quarterback's eyes and takes the ball away. 44 of 270 CBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate25.0% 88th percentile · FBS corners, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Daryus Dixson's full player page | |||||||
| Cover Corner | 9 | 9 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Cover CornerSteady in coverage; doesn't get beat deep and rarely gives up the big play. 141 of 270 CBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate16.7% 62th percentile · FBS corners, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Elliot Washington II's full player page | |||||||
| 3 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 21 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Cover Corner | 17 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 |
Cover CornerSteady in coverage; doesn't get beat deep and rarely gives up the big play. 141 of 270 CBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate10.0% bottom 36th percentile · FBS corners, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Kenny Woseley Jr.'s full player page | |||||||
| 31 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 0 | |
| 23 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | # | G | FG M/A | FG% | XP M/A | Pts | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic | 94 | 13 | 18/19 | 94.7 | 44/45 | 98 | 49 |
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | Long | In20 | TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannon | 99 | 12 | 38 | 1749 | 46 | 68 | 15 | 3 |
Net average is unavailable — CFBD's punting feed carries gross yards only, with no return-yardage or touchback deduction.
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Back · +0.17 EPA/play | 10 | 12 | 7 | 145 | 20.7 | 0 | 33 |
| Box Safety | 16 | 13 | 5 | 140 | 28 | 0 | 73 |
| -0.16 EPA/play | 24 | 6 | 6 | 137 | 22.8 | 0 | 34 |
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot Technician · +0.45 EPA/play | 8 | 13 | 8 | 71 | 8.9 | 0 | 21 |
| Possession Receiver · +0.81 EPA/play | 5 | 11 | 8 | 54 | 6.8 | 0 | 34 |
2025 stat leaders
finalRoster
2025+18 more
| Wk | Date | Us | Opp | Line | Opponent | Result | Record | Conf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 30 | #3 | #151 | -43.5 | Nevada | W 46–11 123 | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| 2 | Sep 6 | #9 | #138 | -41.5 | Florida International | W 34–0 136 | 2-0 | 0-0 |
| 3 | Sep 13 | #6 | #211 | -47.5 | Villanova | W 52–6 69 | 3-0 | 0-0 |
| 5 | Sep 27 | #6 | #2 | -4 | Oregon | L 24–30 138 | 3-1 | 0-1 |
| 6 | Oct 4 | #5 | #87 | -24.5 | @UCLA | L 37–42 134 | 3-2 | 0-2 |
| 7 | Oct 11 | #8 | #57 | -20.5 | Northwestern | L 21–22 116 | 3-3 | 0-3 |
| 8 | Oct 18 | #13 | #28 | +3 | @Iowa | L 24–25 123 | 3-4 | 0-4 |
| 10 | Nov 1 | #11 | #1 | +18 | @Ohio State | L 14–38 115 | 3-5 | 0-5 |
| 11 | Nov 8 | #12 | #4 | +14 | Indiana | L 24–27 126 | 3-6 | 0-6 |
| 12 | Nov 15 | #15 | #86 | -6.5 | @Michigan State | W 28–10 112 | 4-6 | 1-6 |
| 13 | Nov 23 | #13 | #56 | -7 | Nebraska | W 37–10 120 | 5-6 | 2-6 |
| 14 | Nov 29 | #10 | #87 | -14 | @Rutgers | W 40–36 118 | 6-6 | 3-6 |
| Bowl Season | ||||||||
| 18 | Dec 27 | #10 | #15 | +2.5 | Clemson (N) | W 22–10 | 7-6 | 3-6 |
| Date | Opp | Result | Yds | TO | TOP | EPA/play | Success% | Explosive% | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 27 | Clemson | W 22–10 | — | — | — | +0.072 | 35.4% | 137.8% | |
| Nov 29 | @Rutgers | W 40–36 | 509 | 0 | 27:36 | +0.462 | 53.7% | 130.1% | One-score win |
| Nov 23 | Nebraska | W 37–10 | 412 | 0 | 30:22 | +0.592 | 55.6% | 144.3% | Season-high EPA/play |
| Nov 15 | @Michigan State | W 28–10 | 367 | 0 | 37:19 | +0.157 | 50.0% | 106.0% | |
| Nov 8 | Indiana | L 24–27 | 336 | 2 | 29:23 | +0.183 | 45.6% | 125.6% | One-score loss |
| Nov 1 | @Ohio State | L 14–38 | 200 | 1 | 29:53 | +0.121 | 37.7% | 132.9% | Defense's roughest night |
| Oct 18 | @Iowa | L 24–25 | 266 | 2 | 36:12 | +0.067 | 41.1% | 99.7% | Season-low EPA/play |
| Oct 11 | Northwestern | L 21–22 | 274 | 2 | 25:14 | +0.248 | 42.0% | 123.9% | One-score loss |
| Oct 4 | @UCLA | L 37–42 | 357 | 1 | 20:42 | +0.220 | 51.7% | 105.9% | One-score loss |
| Sep 27 | Oregon | L 24–30 | 276 | 1 | 26:08 | +0.118 | 39.7% | 126.6% | One-score loss |
| Sep 13 | Villanova | W 52–6 | 465 | 1 | 28:16 | +0.305 | 54.0% | 115.0% | Best defensive stand |
| Sep 6 | Florida International | W 34–0 | 409 | 0 | 25:43 | +0.222 | 43.8% | 131.4% | Blowout win |
| Aug 30 | Nevada | W 46–11 | 438 | 0 | 33:40 | +0.354 | 56.3% | 94.7% | Best success rate |
| Season average (13 games) | 359 | 0.8 | +0.240 | 46.7% | 121.1% | ||||
Penn State fields an elite methodical, ball-control offense behind a strong, bend-don't-break defense.
Opponent-adjusted percentiles vs all FBS. Bar = where this team ranks — right is better.
Team identity · competitive snaps only
73rd percentile quality, 33rd percentile boom-dependency. Garbage time excluded from both axes — the same correction that changes the Q4 story below.
| Team | Quality percentile | Boom-share percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 86th | 11th |
| Akron | 12th | 89th |
| Alabama | 58th | 17th |
| App State | 35th | 47th |
| Arizona | 64th | 37th |
| Arizona State | 41st | 62nd |
| Arkansas | 90th | 12th |
| Arkansas State | 17th | 66th |
| Army | 57th | 43rd |
| Auburn | 47th | 53rd |
| BYU | 78th | 19th |
| Baylor | 69th | 25th |
| Boise State | 66th | 20th |
| Boston College | 37th | 54th |
| Bowling Green | 2nd | 98th |
| Buffalo | 11th | 88th |
| California | 28th | 48th |
| Central Michigan | 52nd | 64th |
| Cincinnati | 89th | 16th |
| Clemson | 51st | 48th |
| Coastal Carolina | 17th | 83rd |
| Colorado | 18th | 84th |
| Colorado State | 16th | 83rd |
| Delaware | 38th | 58th |
| Duke | 80th | 14th |
| East Carolina | 63rd | 36th |
| Eastern Michigan | 49th | 42nd |
| Florida | 30th | 67th |
| Florida Atlantic | 62nd | 59th |
| Florida International | 42nd | 50th |
| Florida State | 83rd | 32nd |
| Fresno State | 26th | 73rd |
| Georgia | 81st | 3rd |
| Georgia Southern | 73rd | 21st |
| Georgia State | 36th | 70th |
| Georgia Tech | 84th | 5th |
| Hawai'i | 64th | 41st |
| Houston | 27th | 65th |
| Illinois | 75th | 26th |
| Indiana | 95th | 1st |
| Iowa | 44th | 40th |
| Iowa State | 68th | 22nd |
| Jacksonville State | 54th | 38th |
| James Madison | 65th | 44th |
| Kansas | 85th | 28th |
| Kansas State | 71st | 49th |
| Kennesaw State | 56th | 30th |
| Kent State | 21st | 86th |
| Kentucky | 15th | 85th |
| LSU | 14th | 81st |
| Liberty | 43rd | 56th |
| Louisiana | 19th | 73rd |
| Louisiana Tech | 39th | 61st |
| Louisville | 48th | 64th |
| Marshall | 55th | 39th |
| Maryland | 30th | 74th |
| Memphis | 80th | 24th |
| Miami | 76th | 5th |
| Miami (OH) | 34th | 67th |
| Michigan | 67th | 33rd |
| Michigan State | 27th | 75th |
| Middle Tennessee | 39th | 52nd |
| Minnesota | 29th | 77th |
| Mississippi State | 22nd | 77th |
| Missouri | 61st | 30th |
| Missouri State | 55th | 46th |
| NC State | 86th | 23rd |
| Navy | 94th | 17th |
| Nebraska | 48th | 57th |
| Nevada | 3rd | 97th |
| New Mexico | 58th | 60th |
| New Mexico State | 9th | 87th |
| North Carolina | 13th | 89th |
| North Texas | 98th | 7th |
| Northern Illinois | 8th | 92nd |
| Northwestern | 52nd | 36th |
| Notre Dame | 99th | 20th |
| Ohio | 67th | 18th |
| Ohio State | 93rd | 4th |
| Oklahoma | 20th | 80th |
| Oklahoma State | 5th | 95th |
| Old Dominion | 83rd | 45th |
| Ole Miss | 89th | 2nd |
| Oregon | 91st | 10th |
| Oregon State | 2nd | 98th |
| Penn State | 73rd | 33rd |
| Pittsburgh | 60th | 39th |
| Purdue | 25th | 78th |
| Rice | 6th | 94th |
| Rutgers | 70th | 27th |
| SMU | 74th | 42nd |
| Sam Houston | 4th | 96th |
| San Diego State | 24th | 76th |
| San José State | 45th | 69th |
| South Alabama | 36th | 58th |
| South Carolina | 23rd | 86th |
| South Florida | 87th | 23rd |
| Southern Miss | 40th | 55th |
| Stanford | 10th | 90th |
| Syracuse | 5th | 95th |
| TCU | 72nd | 35th |
| Temple | 70th | 34th |
| Tennessee | 96th | 11th |
| Texas | 45th | 55th |
| Texas A&M | 82nd | 14th |
| Texas State | 92nd | 8th |
| Texas Tech | 77th | 31st |
| Toledo | 50th | 61st |
| Troy | 14th | 80th |
| Tulane | 79th | 15th |
| Tulsa | 20th | 70th |
| UAB | 61st | 45th |
| UCF | 33rd | 82nd |
| UCLA | 23rd | 79th |
| UConn | 95th | 13th |
| UL Monroe | 11th | 92nd |
| UNLV | 88th | 9th |
| USC | 98th | 2nd |
| UTEP | 1st | 99th |
| UTSA | 77th | 51st |
| Utah | 97th | 6th |
| Utah State | 46th | 63rd |
| Vanderbilt | 100th | 0th |
| Virginia | 59th | 27th |
| Virginia Tech | 32nd | 71st |
| Wake Forest | 42nd | 72nd |
| Washington | 92nd | 8th |
| Washington State | 33rd | 52nd |
| West Virginia | 7th | 93rd |
| Western Kentucky | 53rd | 29th |
| Western Michigan | 31st | 68th |
| Wisconsin | 0th | 100th |
| Wyoming | 8th | 91st |
Fourth-quarter reliability, corrected
Raw Q4 EPA/play ranks 97th percentile in FBS. Strip out snaps taken with a blowout margin and it climbs to the 98th — the correction is the finding, not a footnote.
Standard downs vs. passing downs
76th percentile success on standard downs, 73rd on passing downs — little dropoff between the two — a schedule-independent identity.
| Team | Standard-downs percentile | Passing-downs percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 82nd | 69th |
| Akron | 20th | 36th |
| Alabama | 47th | 76th |
| App State | 41st | 80th |
| Arizona | 54th | 54th |
| Arizona State | 40th | 37th |
| Arkansas | 90th | 97th |
| Arkansas State | 51st | 40th |
| Army | 37th | 44th |
| Auburn | 73rd | 24th |
| Austin Peay | 56th | 13th |
| BYU | 91st | 46th |
| Ball State | 5th | 3rd |
| Baylor | 70th | 77th |
| Boise State | 42nd | 63rd |
| Boston College | 56th | 54th |
| Bowling Green | 10th | 17th |
| Bryant | 7th | 2nd |
| Buffalo | 29th | 20th |
| California | 25th | 66th |
| Central Michigan | 57th | 11th |
| Charlotte | 7th | 7th |
| Cincinnati | 89th | 65th |
| Clemson | 49th | 34th |
| Coastal Carolina | 16th | 22nd |
| Colorado | 8th | 48th |
| Colorado State | 29th | 35th |
| Delaware | 66th | 31st |
| Duke | 82nd | 63rd |
| East Carolina | 63rd | 91st |
| Eastern Michigan | 46th | 67th |
| Florida | 52nd | 45th |
| Florida Atlantic | 44th | 61st |
| Florida International | 50th | 26th |
| Florida State | 65th | 90th |
| Fresno State | 22nd | 71st |
| Georgia | 95th | 69th |
| Georgia Southern | 64th | 84th |
| Georgia State | 22nd | 75th |
| Georgia Tech | 92nd | 89th |
| Hawai'i | 33rd | 87th |
| Houston | 61st | 29th |
| Idaho | 30th | 78th |
| Idaho State | 93rd | 14th |
| Illinois | 79th | 95th |
| Indiana | 97th | 98th |
| Iowa | 74th | 19th |
| Iowa State | 80th | 58th |
| Jacksonville State | 59th | 56th |
| James Madison | 77th | 52nd |
| Kansas | 99th | 82nd |
| Kansas State | 37th | 59th |
| Kennesaw State | 44th | 67th |
| Kent State | 15th | 5th |
| Kentucky | 62nd | 29th |
| LSU | 18th | 52nd |
| Lafayette | 0th | 12th |
| Liberty | 65th | 53rd |
| Lindenwood | 4th | 1st |
| Long Island University | 24th | 78th |
| Louisiana | 24th | 23rd |
| Louisiana Tech | 41st | 24th |
| Louisville | 84th | 32nd |
| Maine | 3rd | 18th |
| Marshall | 71st | 62nd |
| Maryland | 11th | 86th |
| Massachusetts | 5th | 9th |
| Memphis | 75th | 68th |
| Merrimack | 1st | 83rd |
| Miami | 80th | 64th |
| Miami (OH) | 33rd | 39th |
| Michigan | 73rd | 74th |
| Michigan State | 48th | 39th |
| Middle Tennessee | 69th | 47th |
| Minnesota | 35th | 33rd |
| Mississippi State | 52nd | 35th |
| Missouri | 76th | 50th |
| Missouri State | 32nd | 50th |
| Murray State | 1st | 6th |
| NC State | 58th | 71st |
| Navy | 95th | 72nd |
| Nebraska | 78th | 51st |
| Nevada | 17th | 16th |
| New Mexico | 38th | 60th |
| New Mexico State | 16th | 33rd |
| North Carolina | 14th | 30th |
| North Texas | 100th | 97th |
| Northern Illinois | 9th | 5th |
| Northwestern | 48th | 88th |
| Notre Dame | 88th | 99th |
| Ohio | 69th | 76th |
| Ohio State | 99th | 99th |
| Oklahoma | 39th | 41st |
| Oklahoma State | 14th | 7th |
| Old Dominion | 72nd | 79th |
| Ole Miss | 83rd | 95th |
| Oregon | 93rd | 55th |
| Oregon State | 54th | 25th |
| Penn State | 76th | 73rd |
| Pittsburgh | 35th | 56th |
| Purdue | 46th | 88th |
| Rice | 20th | 0th |
| Rutgers | 71st | 84th |
| SMU | 50th | 57th |
| Sam Houston | 26th | 4th |
| San Diego State | 84th | 1st |
| San José State | 68th | 70th |
| South Alabama | 53rd | 28th |
| South Carolina | 31st | 8th |
| South Carolina State | 10th | 3rd |
| South Florida | 86th | 46th |
| Southern Miss | 27th | 38th |
| Stanford | 12th | 12th |
| Syracuse | 19th | 10th |
| TCU | 63rd | 82nd |
| Temple | 85th | 22nd |
| Tennessee | 97th | 81st |
| Texas | 27th | 61st |
| Texas A&M | 88th | 59th |
| Texas State | 60th | 93rd |
| Texas Tech | 45th | 65th |
| Toledo | 67th | 42nd |
| Troy | 18th | 27th |
| Tulane | 81st | 86th |
| Tulsa | 43rd | 43rd |
| UAB | 34th | 94th |
| UCF | 39th | 20th |
| UCLA | 28th | 48th |
| UConn | 96th | 37th |
| UL Monroe | 13th | 14th |
| UNLV | 78th | 85th |
| USC | 94th | 90th |
| UT Martin | 2nd | 41st |
| UTEP | 3rd | 10th |
| UTSA | 67th | 92nd |
| Utah | 87th | 96th |
| Utah State | 31st | 49th |
| Vanderbilt | 90th | 100th |
| Virginia | 36th | 73rd |
| Virginia Tech | 59th | 21st |
| Wake Forest | 21st | 31st |
| Washington | 98th | 93rd |
| Washington State | 61st | 44th |
| West Virginia | 12th | 18th |
| Western Kentucky | 55th | 80th |
| Western Michigan | 86th | 16th |
| Wisconsin | 6th | 27th |
| Wyoming | 23rd | 15th |
Halftime identity
1st-half offense ranks 51st percentile in FBS; 2nd-half, 84th — competitive snaps only, garbage time excluded from both halves.
Schedule mirage
Raw EPA/play through week 21 is 0.24; 89th percentile once opponent strength is stripped out, it's 0.08. The widest gap came in week 1: 0.35 raw vs. 0.03 adjusted.
Penn State reads strongest in rushing epa (top 15%) and success rate (top 16%); the crux lives in explosive plays, where Penn State sits at the 29th percentile.
offense · strengths lead
defense · higher bar = harder to play against
hidden math · special situations
Most Similar Programs · Penn State
Static-attribute similarity across tier, archetype, conference, and voice. Not a prediction — a calibration.
Home-Field Advantage · Penn State · 2018-present
76% home win rate vs 65% on the road. margin runs +8.3 better at home. Beaver Stadium seats 106,572, averaging 101% full (107,752 attendance, 29 games reported).
Positional competition · RB room
Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton split the carries (204/325 vs 121/325) -- but Nicholas Singleton leads on every measured axis. This isn't a split role, it's a hierarchy with a change-of-pace back behind it.
Inside-the-5 share, week by week (weeks both players actually played the role)
Positional competition · WR/TE room
Trebor Pena (WR) and Luke Reynolds (TE) split the targets (61/90 vs 29/90) -- but the job isn't split the same way.
What changed
The biggest shift: red-zone pass rate moved down 12 points. The rest held closer to steady.
The biggest shift: red-zone pass rate moved down 12 points. The rest held closer to steady.
Defensive identity · pass zones
On short passes, Penn State’s defense allows a completion rate below the FBS mean (65.2% vs 65.9% league-wide, shrunk toward the mean for its 150-play sample) — mid-pack, 54 of 133 qualifying defenses.
We won’t show a deep-ball leaderboard here: at the defense level, most teams face well under 30 rich-feed deep targets all season — too thin to tell a real tendency from noise, so we won’t guess.
55°F average kickoff temp; 20% of games had measurable precipitation; 7 mph average wind.
Based on 83 home games with weather data.
1 CFP appearance, 0 title games across 12 seasons — the era the program argued for.
Penn State's 2014–2025 record is 108-47 with 1 CFP appearance. The era has written the program's modern identity into the CFP field — not always from the inside of a title game, but into the room.
Week-by-week rivalry heat isn't tracked yet for this matchup — check back as the 2026-27 season approaches and real fan-intel signal accumulates.
Who's more worked up right now
Cross-fanbase rivalry sentiment for this matchup hasn't been measured yet this week — both sides show as neutral until real signal comes in.
THE LAST 5 · year-by-year
All-Time Record
since 1888 · 138 seasons · .671 win rate
James Franklin won 104 games at Penn State over twelve years, built one of the most respected programs in the Big Ten, and got fired in October after a 22-21 home loss to Northwestern. The program hired Iowa State's Matt Campbell on an eight-year deal to do the one thing the last twelve years never could.
Beaver Stadium holds 106,572 people. The White Out — 106,000 in coordinated white, Zombie Nation rattling the bowl between plays, the S-Zone card stunt rolling across the upper deck — is regularly described as the single most intimidating night-game atmosphere in college football. The program has two national titles, seven undefeated seasons, the most durable call-and-response tradition in the sport. Penn State is not lacking for identity. What it lacked, repeatedly, was the fourth quarter against the team above it on the ladder. The Ohio State losses in 2022 and 2024 said something the scoreboard kept making literal.
The 2025 collapse happened fast. Penn State opened ranked No. 2 with genuine title aspirations, went 3-0, then lost in overtime to Oregon at home and dropped a 22-21 decision to Northwestern. That result ended Franklin's tenure in October. The internal fracture is real: one faction argues firing a 104-win coach mid-season was reckless and destructive; the other argues that a decade of getting close without getting there was always going to end this way, and better clean than gradual. Matt Campbell arrives from Iowa State with a Big 12 Coach of the Year pedigree and an eight-year contract that signals the administration believes the ceiling was a coaching problem, not a program one.
What 2026 asks of Penn State is a simpler question than it has been in years. Not whether the program can compete — it can, the roster and the recruiting have stayed top-ten — but whether a new coach in year one of an eight-year commitment can clear the specific ceiling a 104-win run never could. Ohio State is still on the schedule. So is the White Out. So is the question.
Campbell's Penn State will adapt his Iowa State template — physical, disciplined, line-of-scrimmage football with an emphasis on fundamentals and turnover margin — to a Big Ten roster built for the highest level. The program wears plain uniforms, no names on the jerseys, and speaks about itself as a collective institution rather than a star system. Beaver Stadium's White Out game is the program's peak expression: 106,000 coordinated, loud, and capable of erasing a visiting team's road-game composure in the first series.
Penn State 2016–2025. Holding the line. The 10-year slope (+0.03 rungs / yr) doesn't tilt either way — the program lives at roughly Tier 5.
12 seasons on file
down middle peak CFP year
Season Standing · 2025 · 7-6 · AP #7
Penn State: Top 15 nationally. NY6-bowl conversation.
Big Ten Standing · 2025
Penn State is 12th of 18 in the Big Ten at 3-6. The path to the title is steep — the focus is on bowl access and rivalry wins.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | 11-0 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 9-1 |
| 3 | Oregon | 8-2 |
| 4 | Michigan | 7-2 |
| 5 | USC | 7-2 |
| 6 | Iowa | 6-3 |
| 7 | Illinois | 5-4 |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5-4 |
| 9 | Washington | 5-4 |
| 10 | Nebraska | 4-5 |
| 11 | Northwestern | 4-5 |
| 12 | Penn State | 3-6 |
| 13 | UCLA | 3-6 |
| 14 | Rutgers | 2-7 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 2-7 |
| 16 | Maryland | 1-8 |
| 17 | Michigan State | 1-8 |
| 18 | Purdue | 0-9 |
Coaching Era · Penn State
Matt Campbell took over from James Franklin for the 2026 season.
The rituals that anchor a Saturday in this program's world.
since 2004 (student section); 2005 (full stadium)
All 110,000+ fans wear white. The visual effect — entire bowl of Beaver Stadium as a single white mass — is among the most photographed scenes in college football. Selected game is usually a top-10 matchup; the 'White Out game' designation drives ticket demand to scalper extremes. The 2017 vs Ohio State Whiteout is the canonical reference.
since 1970s
Call-and-response chant: leader yells 'We Are!' — crowd responds 'PENN STATE!' Three rounds. Origin attributed to Wally Triplett, the program's first Black starter, around 1948 inclusion debates ('We are Penn State' was the affirmation). Adopted as the cheer in the 1970s. Survives every coaching change because it's about the institution, not the team.
since 1942 (statue installed); ritual evolved 1960s
The 1942 sculpted Nittany Lion statue in front of Recreation Building. Fans touch the paw or pose at the statue before games. The statue's paws are physically darker from accumulated touches. Spring graduates photograph with it; recruits include it in their visit footage.
since 2008
Student section coordinates a card-flip to display 'S' or a graphic across the stands. The Lift for Life charity event and similar partnerships use the section. The coordinated visual stunt is distinct from the White Out — quieter, more student-led. Penn State student leadership rotates the design annually.
since 2008
The 1999 German techno track is the Beaver Stadium third-down stop and first-down celebration song. The stadium jumping triggers seismic readings. The Penn State athletic department has tested the building's structural response; the official engineering verdict: 'within tolerances.' The fans don't care.
Program memory
Most weeks vanish. These didn’t.
1982
An 11-1 season gave Joe Paterno his first national title — the 1986 team made it two
A goal-line stand stops Miami in the Fiesta Bowl for the program's second championship
A perfect season denied a clear championship — the great what-if
Heartbreak
Another fourth-quarter loss to the Buckeyes — the recurring ceiling made literal
Wound
Moment of the Year · Penn State · 2025
Week 18 of 2025. Beat a top-12 opponent on the road.
Bowl / Postseason Ledger
Most recent: 2025 — win 10-22 (away). Last 5 postseason: 3-2.
NFL Draft Pipeline
2022–202635 picks last 5 cycles, including 6 in round 1. Top recruit destination + development pipeline.
Unit lineage
FBS-relative efficiency percentile per season (2014–2025), same population as the Coordinator Mirror board. Dashed vertical lines mark a coordinator change.
Hired for 2026: Taylor Mouser — not yet reflected in on-field data.
Hired for 2026: D'Anton Lynn — not yet reflected in on-field data.
Penn State · Next-Season Outcome Band
Recruiting Footprint · 2026
Fanbase Health Index · Penn State · high confidence
2025 stat leaders
How They Play · 2025
Most Similar Programs · Penn State
Season Standing · 2025 · 7-6 · AP #7
Coaching Era · Penn State
Moment of the Year · Penn State · 2025
Bowl / Postseason Ledger
NFL Draft Pipeline