The Penn State Nittany Lions have come close to greatness in recent seasons, but just missed out each time. The talent has always been there, but HC James Franklin and his team have not quite delivered on the biggest stage.
With quarterback Drew Allar back and four offensive linemen projected for the 2026 NFL Draft, Penn State now has one of the deepest rosters in college football. Everyone from fans to experts is hungry for a national title. Recently, analyst Zach Seyko bluntly said that anything short of a title run could spell massive disappointment.
Analyst Delivers Blunt Reality Check on Penn State’s 2025 Hopes
During a recent segment on “Locked On Nittany Lions,” analyst Zach Seyko did not hold back when discussing the stakes for Franklin’s squad. With a stacked roster returning on both sides of the ball, Seyko believes this team could enter the season ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation.
“This Penn State team is in my mind number one, a number two team going into the season because of everything they brought back,” he said.
“They’ve gone all in. They intend to win a national title… but what happens if they fall short? What happens if they don’t get to the national championship game? There is major egg on everybody’s face if they do not at least get to the title game.”
The Nittany Lions last won the national championship in 1986. Over the decades, there have been many highs and lows. However, the last three seasons have shown real consistency under Franklin, with more than 10 wins each year.
That momentum finally paid off with Penn State making its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance in the 2024–25 season. Notre Dame showed the reality again in the semifinals.
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Looking ahead, Penn State will return quarterback Drew Allar for his senior year, along with star running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. This trio gives the team legitimate offensive firepower heading into the new season.
On the offensive line, Penn State kept multiple draft-eligible starters, including Drew Shelton, Vega Ioane, Nick Dawkins, and Nolan Rucci. These players chose to return for another year, thanks in part to NIL incentives.
Anonymous Coaches Comments on Penn State in Athlon Sports CFB Magazine
“This is the best roster in [James] Franklin’s time there, and they’re probably a favorite to win the league entering the season.”
“[Jim] Knowles is a smart addition; he’s going to make some of those guys… pic.twitter.com/xwKCE1ZoK0
— The Big Ten Huddle 🎙️ (@TheBigTenHuddle) May 24, 2025
Seyko added, “That’s four starters on the offensive line that in theory could have gone into the draft, but it did benefit them to come back to Penn State for another season. You still got to pay them some NIL.”
On defense, hiring former Ohio State DC Jim Knowles was the biggest move in recent times. Knowles will manage a unit loaded with elite talent like Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant, and A.J. Harris.
With this roster all set, Franklin may not get such a stacked lineup in the same locker room again anytime soon. So, if he fails this time too, the narrative around him and the program could shift dramatically toward the “choker” side.
Franklin and Co. will take on some tough opponents this season, including Oregon, UCLA, Iowa, Ohio State, Indiana, Michigan State, and Nebraska.
