Penn State football has a top five offense and defense for 2025

Fall camps are on the horizon for college football teams, meaning Weeks 0 and 1 are around the corner for fans. For Penn State football, the 2025-26 season is in its hands with one of the most talented teams in the country.

PFF College released its top 10 offenses and defenses ahead of the season, and the Nittany Lions made both lists easily.

PFF College ranks Penn State offense No. 2 in the country

Penn State sits right under No. 1 Clemson for best offenses in the country. When PFF ranked the top 10 teams in each position, the Nittany Lions kept popping up. They have the returning quarterback, one of the best (if not the best) running back duos in the country, an enhanced look in the wide receiver room, and a solid offensive line.

Max Chadwick said in the overall offense ranking that the wide receivers were the biggest issue Penn State needed to address. Now with experienced transfers expected to be some of the best in their position in 2025, the Nittany Lion offense is as elite as you can get in college football.

The offense, no doubt, should be where it is. If Penn State didn't fix the wideout concerns on top of losing tight end Tyler Warren, then a No. 2 spot would be hard to argue even with Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen, and Drew Allar in the backfield.

PFF College ranks Penn State defense No. 5 in the country

Sitting a tad lower than the offense, PFF College ranked the Nittany Lion defense fifth in the NCAA. Alabama, Texas, Clemson, and Georgia take the first four spots on Chadwick's list.

Penn State lost Abdul Carter who's causing excitement for New York Giants fans now, but Dani Dennis-Sutton is right there and ready to take the spotlight as an edge rusher. The Nittany Lions also have Zane Durant, who was selected to the Walter Camp Preseason All-America First Team Defense and named a Phil Steele All-Big Ten First Team preseason selection. Needless to say, there's a lot of faith in and expectations on Durant who doubled his stats from sophomore to junior year.

It's unsurprising that Penn State pops up in the top five of both lists as it's a favorite to win the College Football Playoffs in 2026. The amount of returners the Nittany Lions retained after 2025 is telling of where they intend on taking this season. Of course, this can all change at any moment in the season, but it's unlikely for Penn State to crash and burn with the amount of experience in the locker room.