What a mess. Honestly, if you had told any Penn State fan back in August that their team would be playing in the Pinstripe Bowl two days after Christmas, they would’ve laughed in your face. Or maybe cried. Probably both.
The Nittany Lions started the 2025 season ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll. Not No. 12. Not No. 20. No. 2. They had the hype, they had Drew Allar coming back, and they had a defense that looked like a brick wall. Then, the wheels didn't just fall off; they basically exploded in a spectacular, slow-motion disaster that most of us are still trying to wrap our heads around.
When you look at the penn state rankings football history for this past year, it's a tale of two seasons. It was the best of times (for three weeks) and then the absolute worst of times.
The Ranking That Defied Logic
It’s kinda wild to look back at October. After starting 3-0, Penn State ran into a buzzsaw against Oregon. They lost in double overtime, which happens, right? But then the real "unfathomable" stuff started. They lost to an unranked UCLA team. They lost to Northwestern at home. They lost to Iowa.
By the time they hit November 1st to play Ohio State, they weren't just out of the top 10—they were out of the top 25 entirely. CBS Sports actually labeled them the biggest underachievers in college football for the 2025 season. It’s hard to argue with that when you go from No. 2 to unranked in less than a month.
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- Preseason AP Rank: No. 2
- Final Regular Season Record: 6-6
- Final CFP Ranking: Unranked
- Pinstripe Bowl Result: Win vs. Clemson (22-10)
The "historic collapse" wasn't just a catchy headline. Penn State became the first FBS program since 1978 to lose back-to-back games while being favored by 20 points or more. That is a stat that will haunt the James Franklin era forever. Speaking of Franklin, the rankings slide eventually cost him his job after a six-game losing streak. Terry Smith took over as the interim before the school eventually pivoted to Matt Campbell for the 2026 season.
Why the AP Poll Abandoned Happy Valley
Poll voters are fickle, but they have their reasons. The slide wasn't just about losing; it was about how they lost. When Drew Allar went down with a season-ending leg injury against Northwestern, the offensive identity vanished. Redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer was thrown into the fire, and while he’s got talent, he wasn't ready to keep a top-5 team afloat.
By mid-November, the Nittany Lions were basically the "best 3-6 team in the country" according to the ESPN FPI. That’s a participation trophy if I’ve ever seen one. Even Indiana coach Curt Cignetti pointed out that they were still the same talented guys who were ranked No. 2, but the confidence was shot.
Matt Campbell and the 2026 Ranking Outlook
If you're looking for a silver lining, it’s the recruiting and the "new coach" bump. Matt Campbell coming over from Iowa State has shifted the energy. Even though the team finished 7-6 after beating Clemson in New York, the penn state rankings football experts are already looking at the 2026 class with a bit of optimism.
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Currently, the 2026 recruiting class is sitting at 14 commits. It was ranked in the top five nationally earlier in the cycle, though it has dipped recently as other teams filled up. But landing guys like Jackson Ford (EDGE) and Peyton Falzone (QB) shows that the brand hasn’t completely dissolved.
Honestly, the most important "ranking" right now isn't the AP Poll—it’s the Transfer Portal ranking. Penn State has been aggressive, bringing in over 30 transfers to fix the depth issues that killed them in 2025. Names like Benjamin Brahmer (TE) and James Peoples (RB) are expected to be Day 1 starters.
Breaking Down the Current Standings
As of January 2026, Penn State is technically unranked in the final postseason polls, though they are "receiving votes" in the Coaches Poll after the bowl win. Here is how they stacked up against the Big Ten heavyweights this year:
- Indiana: 15-0 (National Champions / Big Ten Champions)
- Ohio State: 12-2
- Oregon: 13-2
... - Penn State: 7-6
The gap between Penn State and the top of the conference feels like a canyon right now. Indiana winning the whole thing while the Nittany Lions struggled to stay bowl-eligible is a pill that’s been very tough for the blue-and-white faithful to swallow.
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What to Watch Moving Forward
So, how do they get back into the top 10? It's basically all on Matt Campbell's shoulders now. He’s known for doing more with less, but at Penn State, he’s got "more." He’s kept Terry Smith on staff, which was a huge win for recruiting stability.
The schedule for 2026 hasn't been fully dissected yet, but the reality is simple: they have to beat Ohio State or Michigan. James Franklin finished his tenure with a combined 4-17 record against those two. You can’t stay in the top 10 of the penn state rankings football hierarchy if you can’t win the big ones.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Monitor the 2026 Quarterback Battle: With Allar's injury history and the arrival of Peyton Falzone, the QB room is the biggest variable for next year's preseason rank.
- Watch the Transfer Integration: How quickly Campbell blends 30+ new players will determine if they start 2026 in the Top 25 or the "Others Receiving Votes" category.
- Ignore Early Season Hype: If we learned anything from 2025, it’s that a No. 2 ranking in August means absolutely nothing if the depth isn't there.
- Focus on the Trenches: The defensive line recruits like Jackson Ford are the key. Penn State’s drop in rankings coincided with a total lack of pressure in the fourth quarter of close games.
The 2025 season was a reality check. It was a reminder that rankings are just numbers on a screen until you prove you can handle a Saturday in Iowa City or Columbus without falling apart. The road back to the top of the penn state rankings football list starts with stability, and hopefully, Matt Campbell is the guy to bring it.
Next Steps for 2026 Prep:
Keep an eye on the Spring Game in April. That will be the first real look at Campbell’s "Pro Spread" offense and whether the transfer portal additions are actually as good as their four-star labels suggest. Until then, Penn State is a program in "prove it" mode.