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Penn State leads Phil Steele's 2025 top 40; how many preseason All-Americans does it have?

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel06/10/25GregPickel
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Penn State running back Nick Singleton and teammate Kaytron Allen are looking to build their production as pass-catchers in 2025 (File photo: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images)

You can add Phil Steele to the list of analysts who think Penn State will win its first College Football Playoff championship this year. The longtime analyst whose magazine is considered must-read material before each new season has the Nittany Lions atop his 2025 power poll, which he says projects where each team will finish at the end of the year. Steele ranks head coach James Franklin’s program ahead of Clemson, Notre Dame, Texas, and Ohio State, respectively, in his top five.

“The last two years, a veteran-laden Big Ten team with players turning down the NFL has won the national championship,” Steele writes. “Penn State fits that description perfectly.”

Steele goes on to add that the Lions have the nation’s top running backs room and also the No. 1 offensive line. He ranks the quarterbacks No. 4 nationally, the receivers No. 11, the defensive line No. 3, linebackers No. 6, and defensive backs No. 4.

“They face Ohio State on the road but as the Buckeyes proved last year making the playoffs is the key and they are the most talented team in the country and gained good experience winning a pair of playoff games last year.”

Steele’s magazine, both the hard copy and digital versions, are available for pre-order here.

Considering where he picks Penn State to finish the year, it should come as no surprise that Steele also picks the Lions to win the Big Ten after they lost in last year’s conference title game. And, they also lead his preseason rankings.

“Of the final four teams [from the 2024 College Football Playoff], Penn State returns the most so they are a legitimate national title contender,” Steeler writes. “They get both Oregon and Indiana at home and do not play Michigan but have to travel to Columbus. The last two national champions were veteran laden Big Ten teams and Penn State fits that mold this year.”

How many Phil Steele preseason All-Americans does Penn State have?

The Lions are well represented across Steele’s four preseason All-American teams. Here’s the breakdown:

First team

RB Nick Singleton

OG Vega Ioane

Second team

DT Zane Durant

Third team

AP Nick Singleton

Fourth team

QB Drew Allar

CB AJ Harris

As for Steele’s preseason All-Big Ten teams, more Penn State players make that cut. The list includes:

First team

QB Drew Allar

RB Nick Singleton

OG Vega Ioane

DT Zane Durant

Second team

RB Kaytron Allen

DE Dani Dennis-Sutton

LB Tony Rojas

CB AJ Harris

S Zakee Wheatley

LS Tyler Duzansky

Third team

WR Trebor Pena

WR Devonte Ross

KR Nick Singleton

Fourth team

C Nick Dawkins

LB Amare Campbell

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