2025 Preseason Herbie Awards: Penn State picked to win Big Ten championship

Kirk Herbstreit believes the Nittany Lions will pounce on the opportunity in front of them this fall. On Friday, the ESPN College GameDay host predicted Penn State will win the Big Ten in the 2025 campaign.

“James Franklin has his best roster he’s ever put together,” Herbstreit said. “An experienced quarterback in Drew Allar, who passed on the NFL. Both of those running backs back.

“Only question: You got to replace Tyler Warren, who was so big in that offense. But, I’m going with Penn State. I think it’s their year to get over the hump and win some of those top-five matchups.”

Herbstreit isn’t exactly going out on a limb with his pick. Penn State is the No. 2 team in the preseason AP Top 25. It’s the highest preseason ranking for the program since 1997, and the highest since James Franklin has been head coach.

Penn State’s preseason acclaim is largely due to its returning production. The Nittany Lions are bringing 14 starters from last season, including nine players on offense.

Quarterback Drew Allar headlines the returning group. He tallied 3,327 passing yards and 24 touchdowns compared to just eight interceptions.

Running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen are also running it back in Happy Valley this fall. The pair combined for over 2,000 rushing yards last season.

On defense, Penn State will be led by preseason All-Big Ten First-Team defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton. The senior standout was a menace last season, racking up 42 tackles, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.

While it’s difficult to deny Penn State’s talent, history hasn’t been kind to the Nittany Lions. The program hasn’t won the Big Ten since 2016. While James Franklin isn’t afraid to acknowledge the high expectations around the program this year, he doesn’t feel any more pressure than usual.

“Within our program and within this campus and within this community and within our alumni, that’s always the expectation,” Franklin said. “We finished the game before the national championship game, and maybe a drive before that, and it didn’t feel like it, right?

“People were pissed and disappointed, and most programs around the country would die to have that type of season. So there’s more talk going on nationally. I get that. But, within our program, I don’t really sense a difference.”

On Aug. 30, Penn State will kick off its 2025 campaign with a showdown against Nevada at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on CBS.