Penn State football headed into the 2025 season as the No. 2 team in the country. Expectations were high coming off a semifinals loss in the College Football Playoff the previous season and stars choosing the Nittany Lions over the NFL with the intention of winning a national title.
While Penn State had extraordinary heights to reach, it wasn't the only one that failed drastically, even if it was the only one of the group with championship expectations.
Penn State is one of 12 top preseason teams to finish the 2025 season unranked
The Nittany Lions were one of 12 teams initially in the AP Top 25 Poll in the preseason that tumbled out of the rankings by the conclusion of Week 14. These were the other disappointments in 2025 and where they ranked in the preseason:
- No. 4 Clemson
- No. 9 LSU
- No. 11 Arizona State
- No. 12 Illinois
- No. 13 South Carolina
- No. 15 Florida
- No. 16 SMU
- No. 17 Kansas State
- No. 22 Iowa State
- No. 24 Tennessee
- No. 25 Boise State
Of these 12 teams, including Penn State, three fired their head coaches. The Nittany Lions were the first with James Franklin on Oct. 12 followed by the Gators firing Billy Napier on Oct. 19 and Brian Kelly's dismissal from the Tigers on Oct. 26.
Even among 11 other teams, though, Penn State was one of four that didn't finish with a winning record. The Nittany Lions and Wildcats finished 6-6 and the Gamecocks and Gators finished 4-8. All other teams finished with a 7-5 or 8-4 overall record in 2025.
Preseason teams that are no longer ranked (AP)
— CFB Home (@CFBHome) December 1, 2025
#2 Penn State 6-6
#4 Clemson 7-5
#9 LSU 7-5
#11 Arizona State 8-4
#12 Illinois 8-4
#13 South Carolina 4-8
#15 Florida 4-8
#16 SMU 8-4
#17 Kansas State 6-6
#22 Iowa State 8-4
#24 Tennessee 8-4
#25 Boise State 8-4
The Nittany Lions were arguably the biggest bust of 2025, especially given the number of teams that were considered "automatic" wins; UCLA and Northwestern being the two they failed to beat. If they won in double overtime against Oregon in Week 5, the trajectory of the season would have been completely different. That was the first dent and it only got worse. If Penn State won, the No. 2 preseason team would have likely been in the College Football Playoff conversation. At its worst, it would have finished with a winning record.