Penn State football bestowed generational status by BTN crew

The Big Ten Network returned to State College for its annual preview of Penn State football training camp this week. After spending the afternoon with the coaching staff and getting a hands-on look at practice, the BTN crew is ready to put the Nittany Lions among the elite tier of teams in the recent history of the conference.

“That’s as good a team as we’ve seen here in 19 years,” Gerry DiNardo said during the network’s special on the Nittany Lions. “And it’s as good a team as I think we’ve seen in the Big Ten in 19 years.”

With 14 all-conference players back from a season ago, Penn State will field one of the most experienced teams in the league this fall. Veteran-laden groups from the Big Ten have done enough to hoist the national championship trophy in each of the last two seasons. A now common comparison this offseason, the Nittany Lions are well-positioned to continue that trend in 2025.

“You go to different schools: Ohio State, of course, was one; Michigan was one. And they look different than everybody else,” DiNardo continued. “Penn State looked different than most people in this conference. I think it’s a really talented team, senior leadership, and they’re definitely a national championship contender.”

Franklin continues to downplay Penn State’s preseason hype

Penn State football coach James Franklin. © Matt Thomas / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

The offseason’s expectations have directed a new kind of spotlight toward the Penn State football program. But despite the national attention, James Franklin continues to insist that the mantra remains the same inside the Lasch Football Building.

“We’ve talked about it a little bit,” Franklin told the BTN crew. “And you know, I think there’s a sense of appreciation that we’ve earned that based on all the hard work the guys have put in, and the guys that decided to come back, and we love that there’s excitement about Penn State, not only in the Big Ten; I would have, in the past, said footprint, but the footprint now goes coast to coast, so it’s a little bit different.

“So I think there’s excitement as a lot of people are talking about Penn State nationally. But at the end of the day, preseason polls mean absolutely nothing. But, they’re good things for you guys to talk about. We got to make sure that we’re doing everything we possibly can to build the program and the team for this year, day by day.”

We will get our second look at the Nittany Lions’ training camp progress on Thursday evening.

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