Paul Finebaum certainly has his doubtful opinions of Penn State football as it heads into a season where expectations are high for the Nittany Lions to bring home championships.
Earlier in July, Finebaum said that Penn State is facing the most pressure out of any college football team in the country. More specifically, he pointed out that head coach James Franklin "does not handle pressure well," reminding "Get Up" viewers that he blew a 10-point lead against Ohio State, a 10-point lead against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals, and the Big Ten Championship Game against Oregon.
"[Franklin's] record is exemplary, but he can’t seem to handle the pressure and he has it now,” Finebaum said.
Even looking ahead into 2025, Finebaum had his criticism of the Nittany Lions, particularly with their schedule. Opening with not only three non-conference games, but three non-conference games against Nevada, FIU, and Villanova earned the right for Finebaum to call the slate ridiculous and embarrassing.
He even took another opportunity on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning to reiterate that Penn State is "playing the most embarrassing non-conference schedule" that he's ever seen for a major contender in the 2026 CFP.
However, even Finebaum can set aside his ill opinions and recognize that despite high pressure building up, the Nittany Lions are in the best position in the Big Ten.
Paul Finebaum says Penn State has "the best team" in the Big Ten for 2025
Penn State, according to cleveland.com's Big Ten Preseason Poll, sits just above Ohio State with 11 first-place votes and 435 points to the Buckeyes 10 first-place votes and 431 points.
“It looks like Penn State’s the best team,” Finebaum said. “As you say that, I know what Ohio State’s capable of. It’s like eight or nine years ago saying, 'I don’t think Alabama is going to be able to do it.' And then Alabama goes out and loses two games, doesn’t go to the SEC Championship game, and wins the national championship. I mean, it just feels like that’s the kind of season Ohio State is bracing for."
In saying that of the reigning national champions as well as Michigan not being there yet to be considered great in the Big Ten, Indiana not coming back, and Oregon being forgotten, there aren't too many options to pick from in the conference.
That's not to say Penn State is deserving of the preseason top spot. When it's bringing back veterans — like Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, Zane Durant, Vega Ioane, and Dani Dennis-Sutton — it should be in the best position in the Big Ten where a lot of teams are warming up rookies and new starters at quarterback and still trying to find their footing (e.g. Michigan) among the best in the conference.