Penn State football lands in top 3 of first SP+ ratings of 2025

Penn State football took the first steps toward following up its College Football Playoff Semifinal run this week, kicking off winter workouts for the 2025 season. After falling minutes short of a national title appearance in 2024, the Nittany Lions are more determined than ever to break through this fall.

Although kickoff against Nevada is six months away, early indications are that Penn State will be one of the frontrunners to hoist a trophy in 2025. On Thursday, ESPN’s Bill Connelly released his first SP+ ratings of the year. The SP+ model is high on the Nittany Lions, ranking James Franklin’s squad at No. 3.

SP+ top 10 (total SP+ score)

1. Ohio State (28)
2. Alabama (26.1)
3. Penn State (25.3)
4. Georgia (24.5)
5. Notre Dame (23.4)
6. Oregon (22.6)
7. Texas (21.9)
8. Tennessee (21.3)
9. Ole Miss (20.2)
10. LSU (19.5)

The SP+ ratings are a predictive model based on a program’s returning production, recent recruiting, and recent history.

Kraft believes Penn State football is close to a national title

Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft and head football coach James Franklin © Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Penn State football is the second-highest ranked of the three Big Ten schools in the SP+ top 10, behind reigning National Champion Ohio State and three spots ahead of Oregon. The Nittany Lions will face both teams this fall, hosting the Ducks on September 27 and traveling to Columbus on November 1.

The Nittany Lions have already made several high-profile coaching moves this offseason, bringing in Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to lead the Penn State defense and hiring former Temple head coach Stan Drayton to replace outgoing running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider.

“I’m here to win a national championship. We’re here to win national championships, and we’re here to do it the right way,” athletic director Pat Kraft said this week. “I’m committed, whatever you want to call it. We’re committed to it. It takes everybody.

“When it comes to football, we’re close, we’re close, and we’re going to keep going and keep going and keep going until we get to where we want to be. And it’s working together with James and all of my coaches.”

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