Penn State football 2025 season highlights turmoil

Penn State's 2025 football season tales echo themes of turbulence, pivotal losses and a major coaching shakeup. Across the articles, the Nittany Lions began the season with optimism but encountered setbacks along the way.

The Nittany Lions started with high prospects, landing the No. 2 spot in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, reminiscent of their 2017 ranking feat. However, things went awry. A close double-overtime loss to Oregon, despite strong defensive efforts, marked an early significant blow. The struggles continued with a shocking 42-37 upset loss to UCLA, amplifying doubts about playoff chances. Leadership also saw change when Penn State fired head coach James Franklin after a narrow 22-21 loss to Northwestern, with a search for a new coach launched. Interim coach Terry Smith's decisions, showcased in the narrow 25-24 loss to Iowa, hinted at possible improvements but didn't quite steer the team out of a losing streak. This season, once promising, took a turn with these events driving the narrative of Penn State's challenging journey.

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

NO. 1: 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 running back Nick Singleton tries to cut down the field with the ball during the game against FIU on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Beaver Stadium. By Abby Drey

NO. 2: ‘WE GOT TO GET BETTER’: WHY PENN STATE FOOTBALL KNOWS ITS 34-0 WIN ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH

When Kaytron Allen stretched his late fourth quarter run to the outside, and eventually broke free for a touchdown, the Penn State sideline was relatively quiet. | Published September 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

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Penn State quarterback Drew Allar throws an interception in the second overtime to end the game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 3: THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY: REVIEWING PENN STATE FOOTBALL’S 30-24 LOSS TO OREGON

Penn State lost a devastating double-overtime game in the White Out Saturday night to Oregon, 30-24, with head coach James Franklin falling to 4-21 in games against top-10 opponents as the Nittany Lions’ head coach. | Published September 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

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Oct 4, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins wide receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala (2) yards after catch against Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Zion Tracy (7) during the first quarter at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

NO. 4: THREE TAKEAWAYS FROM PENN STATE FOOTBALL’S SHOCKING 42-37 LOSS VS. UCLA

Penn State lost to UCLA on Saturday afternoon 42-37 in a major upset, leaving plenty of questions about the team and where it goes from here. | Published October 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Oct 4, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Kyron Hudson (1) is tackled by UCLA Bruins linebacker Jonjon Vaughns (6) during the first half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

NO. 5: HERE’S HOW FANS, ANALYSTS REACTED TO PENN STATE FOOTBALL’S STUNNING LOSS TO UCLA

This is not how Penn State’s 2025 season was supposed to go. | Published October 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Josh Moyer, Jon Sauber

Penn State football coach James Franklin gets off the bus at Beaver Stadium for the game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 6: WHAT JAMES FRANKLIN SAID ABOUT EXPECTED FAN REACTION & MORE AHEAD OF NORTHWESTERN GAME

James Franklin is not oblivious to the conversations about him, his program and his job status. | Published October 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

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Penn State football coach James Franklin walks off the field after the loss to Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 7: PENN STATE FIRES FOOTBALL COACH JAMES FRANKLIN AFTER NORTHWESTERN LOSS

The James Franklin era is over at Penn State. | Published October 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Interim head coach Terry Smith of the Penn State Nittany Lions walks out with this team before the matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Oct. 18, 2025, at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. By Matthew Holst

NO. 8: PENN STATE LOSES AGAIN AS NIGHTMARE SEASON CONTINUES — EVEN WITHOUT JAMES FRANKLIN

Penn State walked off the field Saturday night in Kinnick Stadium much like it had the last three weeks — with a close loss in a game it easily could have won. | Published October 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

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Iowa offensive lineman Logan Jones (65) signals a touchdown in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions on Oct. 18, 2025, at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. By Matthew Holst

NO. 9: THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY: REVIEWING PENN STATE FOOTBALL’S 25-24 LOSS TO IOWA

Penn State’s nightmarish 2025 season got worse again Saturday night in Iowa City when the team lost to the Iowa Hawkeyes, 25-24, in Kinnick Stadium. | Published October 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer walks off the field in disappointment after the loss to Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 10: PENN STATE FOOTBALL SEARCHING FOR PURPOSE AS POSTSEASON OUTLOOK GROWS BLEAKER

Penn State walked off the field in Ohio Stadium on Saturday afternoon to a familiar refrain. | Published November 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Sauber

Penn State cornerback Zion Tracy can’t stop Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith as he runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the game on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 11: PENN STATE’S DEFENSE ‘COULD NOT COVER’ OHIO STATE’S WR TANDEM IN ROAD LOSS

Penn State went into the locker room at the half against Ohio State down just three points. | Published November 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lexie Linderman

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Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton reacts as Indiana made a play in the fourth quarter during the game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. By Abby Drey

NO. 12: HOPE AGAIN REPLACED WITH HEARTBREAK AS PENN STATE FOOTBALL FINDS ANOTHER WAY TO LOSE

In the final minutes of Saturday’s game against Indiana, Penn State players high-fived and hyped each other up by yelling on the sideline. | Published November 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by 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.