During Wednesday's practice, Penn State football brought out a level of intensity and competitiveness that was lacking for a majority of the 2025 season so far. After dropping out of the AP Top 25 Poll entirely due to a Week 6 upset conducted by UCLA, the Nittany Lions (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) seek to reassert their dominance. That starts on the practice field.
There were dull, quiet moments that compared to the practice response after losing to Oregon, the players expressed confidence in their community and fire on and off the field.
“My confidence out this roof right here,” safety King Mack said to The Daily Collegian. “I know we're gonna bounce back and. Like I said, the vibes, the brotherhood we have, we all lock arms together. We know that we love each other over anybody.”
Tight end Andrew Rappleyea said to The Daily Collegian's Lyle Alenstein that the Nittany Lions are bringing out a new level of competitiveness out of each other. Offensive tackle Drew Shelton said to Lions247 that he and his teammates are listening to each other and feeding off the energy they provide one another.
Penn State emphasizes the "1-0" mentality, which is exactly what it's focusing on going into Saturday's contest against Northwestern. It was the same focus going into UCLA in Week 6, but even head coach James Franklin said the Nittany Lions didn't bounce back like he thought they would. The preparation for the Wildcats needed to be different than the preparation for the Bruins, but still maintaining the same goal in mind: win.
Now with a new level of intensity hitting the practice field, all that's left is translating that into game day. While Penn State has a daunting trio of Iowa, Ohio State, and Indiana upcoming, it first needs to dominate against Northwestern. Then, it can move onto a new 1-0 goal.
"Can't go in the past," safety Zakee Wheatley said. "Only thing we can do is control the controllable and move forward and go 1-0."
If the Nittany Lions really put the past in the past unlike how they did after Oregon, winning out to make the playoffs isn't completely off the table. Strengthening their community, players and coaches alike, and making adjustments for the sake of the team can restart a dying engine. It's up to Penn State to carve out its own path.