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Get ready for Penn State football with these 10 stories from the offseason

As Penn State football's 2025 season kicks off, the Nittany Lions will start as the No. 2 team in the country and in the national championship conversation.

In the 10 stories below, catch up on our coverage through the offseason, from examining the Beaver Stadium renovation project to looking at Penn State's plans following the departure of superstars like tight end Tyler Warren. We also have our predictions for the 2025 season.

Penn State Trace McSorley talks with tight ends coach Ty Howle during spring practice on Tuesday, March 25. 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 1: ‘I WANTED TO RETAKE CONTROL’: WHY TRACE MCSORLEY IS EMBRACING HIS NEW PATH AT PENN STATE

McSorley has begun his coaching career — something several of his former coaches saw as an eventuality even when he was still playing. | Published April 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar speaks to the media during Big Ten media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. By Lucas Peltier

NO. 2: WHAT OTHER BIG TEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT PENN STATE AND QB DREW ALLAR

Said one Wisconsin cornerback about Allar: “All the hype is definitely warranted.” | Published July 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State football coach James Franklin answers questions during media day on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 3: PENN STATE ADAPTING TO LIFE WITHOUT TE TYLER WARREN AND WITH NEW DC JIM KNOWLES

Few defensive coordinators in the country have the reputation that Jim Knowles does. | Published August 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein has his players run drills during practice on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 4: WHY PENN STATE’S OFFENSIVE LINE COULD PAVE THE WAY TO A NATIONAL TITLE IN 2025

It wasn’t that long ago that James Franklin stood at the podium in Indianapolis at the 2022 Big Ten Media Days and put the Penn State offensive line in the spotlight. | Published August 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar runs a drill during practice on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 5: PENN STATE LANDS NO. 2 SPOT IN THE AP TOP 25 PRESEASON POLL. SEE FULL RANKINGS

For the first time since 2017, Penn State is the No. | Published August 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State tight end Khalil Dinkins runs a drill during practice on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 6: PENN STATE KNOWS IT CAN’T REPLACE SUPERSTAR TE TYLER WARREN. SO HERE’S THE PLAN

Those in Penn State’s tight end room have long since lost count how many times they’ve been asked this offseason about superstar Tyler Warren, the 2024 starter who’s now playing on Sundays. | Published August 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joshua Moyer

New signs at Gate A at Beaver Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 7: ‘READY TO GO.’ Q&A WITH PENN STATE AD PAT KRAFT ON PHASE 1 OF BEAVER STADIUM PROJECT

The first phase of Penn State’s Beaver Stadium reconstruction project is complete and the start of the football season is under two weeks away. | Published August 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft talks about the construction project at Beaver Stadium during a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 8: PENN STATE AD PAT KRAFT ANNOUNCES BEAVER STADIUM CAPACITY AMID CONSTRUCTION

Beaver Stadium has a new capacity (temporarily) as it undergoes construction as part of the renovation project that is underway. | Published August 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar makes a pass during practice on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 9: 5 THOUGHTS ON PENN STATE AS IT HEADS INTO A SEASON WITH CHAMPIONSHIP EXPECTATIONS

Penn State is just over a week away from embarking on the biggest season of the James Franklin era. | Published August 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State football coach James Franklin talks to tight end Andrew Rappleyea during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 10: WHO WILL BREAK OUT FOR PENN STATE? WILL THEY WIN THE BIG TEN? OUR 2025 SEASON PREDICTIONS

It’s officially game week, with Penn State kicking off its season Saturday at 3:30 p.m. | Published August 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joshua Moyer, Bret Pallotto, Jon Sauber

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.