Penn State football is in a weird spot right now. If you're looking for a number next to their name in the latest AP Poll, you won't find one. They're unranked. Gone. Poof. After a season that started with national title aspirations and a No. 2 ranking in the country, the Nittany Lions finished the 2025 season with a 7-6 record.
Honestly, it’s been a bit of a car wreck.
You’ve probably seen the headlines. One minute they were the talk of the Big Ten, and the next, they were tumbling down the standings faster than a dropped punt. It wasn’t just one thing either. It was a perfect storm of injuries, a mid-season coaching shakeup, and a brutal conference schedule that showed no mercy.
Where Penn State Stands Right Now
To give it to you straight, as of January 2026, Penn State is not ranked in the AP Top 25 or the Coaches Poll. They aren’t in the College Football Playoff rankings either, because, well, the playoffs are happening without them. Indiana and Ohio State are the ones carrying the Big Ten flag this year.
Basically, the 2025 season was a tale of two halves.
They opened the year like world-beaters. They crushed Nevada 46-11, shut out FIU, and handled Villanova. By mid-September, they were sitting at No. 3 in the nation. Then the "White Out" happened against Oregon. That 30-24 double-overtime loss didn't just hurt their record; it felt like it broke the team’s spirit.
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What followed was a nightmare.
A six-game losing streak. You read that right. Six. They lost to UCLA, Northwestern, Iowa, Ohio State, and Indiana. By the time November rolled around, James Franklin was out, and Terry Smith was stepping in as the interim head coach.
The Penn State Football Ranking Collapse Explained
When you ask what's Penn State's football ranking, you're really asking how a top-three team ends up unranked and playing in the Pinstripe Bowl. It’s a valid question. The answer lies in the stats and a whole lot of bad luck.
The injury to Drew Allar was the turning point. Before he went down, the offense was humming. Once Ethan Grunkemeyer had to take the reigns, the learning curve was steep. The kid has talent, don't get me wrong, but being thrown into the fire against the likes of Ohio State and Indiana is a tall order for anyone.
Despite the losses, some advanced metrics still liked them. For instance, the ESPN Football Power Index (FPI) kept them in their top 25 for most of the season because the FPI values "efficiency" and "strength of schedule." They played a lot of close games. They lost to Iowa by one point and Northwestern by one point.
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But the AP voters? They don't care about "almost." They care about wins.
- Final Regular Season Record: 6-6
- Big Ten Record: 3-6
- Bowl Game: Won Pinstripe Bowl vs. Clemson (22-10)
- Final 2025 Rank: Unranked (NR)
A Small Silver Lining in New York
The season didn't end in total darkness. The Nittany Lions headed to Yankee Stadium for the Pinstripe Bowl and actually looked like the team we expected in August. They took down Clemson 22-10. It was a gritty, defensive masterpiece that reminded everyone that the talent is still there.
Kaytron Allen was a beast in that game. He finished the season with over 1,300 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. If there’s a reason for optimism in State College, it’s that the backfield is still elite. Nicholas Singleton also chipped in 13 rushing touchdowns, making them one of the most productive duos in the country despite the team's overall struggles.
The Recruiting Outlook for 2026
Even though the current ranking is non-existent, the future ranking might look a whole lot better. The 2026 recruiting class is currently ranked around 73rd nationally, which sounds bad until you realize it's still early. They’ve already landed some big-time commits like quarterback Troy Huhn and safety Matt Sieg.
Matt Campbell is the name everyone is watching now. With the coaching search in full swing, the stability of the program is the main priority. If they land a big-name hire, you can expect that 2026 class to jump back into the top 15 quickly.
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Looking Ahead to Next Season
So, where does this leave you? If you’re a betting person, don't write them off for 2026 just yet.
The Nittany Lions are basically in a "rebuild and reload" phase. They have the facilities, the fan base, and the NIL money to stay relevant. The 2025 season will likely be looked at as a weird fluke—a year where everything that could go wrong, did.
The path back to the top 25 is pretty clear:
- Finalize the Head Coach: Whether it's Terry Smith keeping the job or a big outside hire, they need a leader.
- Quarterback Development: Grunkemeyer needs a full offseason as the guy, or they need to hit the portal hard.
- Finish Close Games: You can't lose three games by a combined five points and expect to play for titles.
Penn State's football ranking will eventually return to the single digits. It’s just how the cycle goes in Happy Valley. But for now, fans have to settle for the pride of a Pinstripe Bowl trophy and the hope that 2026 brings a lot fewer "what ifs" and a lot more "W's."
If you want to track the comeback, keep an eye on the Transfer Portal windows this spring. That’s where the 2026 ranking will actually be decided. Watch for moves in the secondary and on the offensive line. Those are the spots that leaked the most during the six-game skid. If they patch those holes, they’ll be back in the top 15 by next September.