Penn State football named a finalist for No. 1 QB, top overall recruit in 2025

Everyone is rightfully focused on the matchup between Penn State football and Michigan that will take place on the gridiron Saturday. But the Nittany Lions are battling the Wolverines for the top recruit in the 2025 cycle as well. On Monday, James Franklin and the Nittany Lions got a clearer picture of where they stand in this battle, as Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 QB for the class of 2025, included Penn State in his list of top seven schools. 

Penn State football named finalist for No. 1 QB Bryce Underwood

Almost without question, Bryce Underwood is the top recruit in the 2025 cycle. The Belleville, Michigan prospect is the unanimous No. 1 QB in his class, while On3 and ESPN rate him as the best player in the country in 2025. 

Originally a 2026 prospect, Underwood has become one of the most coveted recruits in the 2025 cycle since reclassifying. After throwing for at least 2,700 yards and 37 touchdowns in each of the last two seasons, Underwood has over 2,000 yards and 26 scores so far this fall. 

On Monday night, Underwood announced his top seven schools list with Hayes Fawcett of On3. Penn State football made the cut for the No. 1 QB and top recruit for 2025, along with Michigan and future Big Ten foe Oregon. Alabama, Colorado, Florida State, and LSU round out the list. According to 247Sports, Underwood is set to announce his commitment on January 6, 2024.

BREAKING: Five-Star Plus+ QB Bryce Underwood tells me he’s down to 7️⃣ Schools!

The 6’4 215 QB from Belleville, MI is ranked as the No. 1 Recruit in the 2025 Class

Where Should He Go?👇🏽https://t.co/VxdgXAD6Ku pic.twitter.com/Ygn8MNiyn9

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) November 7, 2023

Can the Nittany Lions land the top recruit in 2025?

Penn State football is one of the last teams to make an impression on Bryce Underwood this fall. The No. 1 QB was on campus for the White Out weekend, the second time he has been to Happy Valley in 2023.

But while there are no official predictions for Underwood to date, things don’t look promising for Penn State football at the moment. 

On3 currently has the top recruit in 2025 as a lean to his in-state Michigan Wolverines, with LSU and Michigan State trailing behind. The Nittany Lions have a 5% chance of landing Underwood on On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine.

On the field, Penn State football takes on Michigan Saturday at noon on FOX.

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