REPORTS: Penn State Gets Another Preseason Boost From ESPN

May 24, 2025 Nero Scoffield College Sports 0

In today’s reading room at Penn State, the anticipation grows for the Nittany Lions, who are receiving increasing preseason attention from ESPN. Meanwhile, the College Football Playoff format that worked in their favor last year has changed, and Abdul Carter has signed a significant contract with the New York Giants. Here’s the latest on Penn State football.

ESPN’s SP+ Highlights the Nittany Lions

Penn State has emerged as a spring standout on various predictive platforms, thanks to its strong offseason retention and the hiring of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt ranked them first in his post-spring list, considering them serious national championship contenders.

Data also supports Penn State’s strong position, with ESPN’s Bill Connolly ranking them No. 3 in his SP+ model, placing them behind only Ohio State and Alabama and fifth in both offensive and defensive rankings.

Here are some key insights from Connolly’s recent update:

  • Penn State’s average projected win total of 10.4 is second only to Notre Dame’s 10.5 in the SP+ rankings, indicating a good chance for a top playoff seed.
  • Among the top five teams, the Nittany Lions have the lowest strength of schedule ranking at 29th. Their schedule includes a favorable start with three non-conference games followed by a bye week before facing Oregon in what is likely to be the White Out game.
  • Penn State boasts the highest odds (82 percent) of any Big Ten team to achieve a 10-2 or better regular-season record, factoring in strength of schedule.

The 2025 Nittany Lions are expected to appear in many preseason playoff predictions, though the format is set to change.

Modifications to the College Football Playoff Seeding

The 2025-26 College Football Playoff will feature a new seeding method based on the final CFP rankings, where the four conference champions will have guaranteed playoff spots but not necessarily the top four seeds.

Last year, Penn State gained from the previous seeding system, being placed sixth and advancing to the semifinals via SMU and Boise State. If the new format had been in effect, the playoff bracket would have looked quite different; Penn State would not have hosted a first-round game and could have faced Notre Dame earlier in the competition.

The impact of the new format on the 2025 Penn State team is yet to be determined. The Nittany Lions are likely to secure a top-4 ranking with an 11-1 record, ensuring a first-round bye. Even with a 10-2 record, they would still be in a strong position to host a playoff game. Ultimately, the revised seeding system benefits teams that have a standout season, similar to Oregon’s unbeaten run as Big Ten champions, potentially setting up a playoff matchup against Ohio State.

Abdul Carter Secures a Lucrative Contract

Former Penn State standout Abdul Carter signed a four-year rookie contract with the New York Giants on Thursday, which guarantees him $ 45.2 million. This deal marks the largest rookie contract ever signed by a Nittany Lion.

As reported by Spotrac, the total contract value for Penn State’s five NFL draft picks amounts to nearly $ 81.5 million. Here’s a breakdown of their contract values within the NFL rookie framework:

  • Abdul Carter (No. 3 overall, New York Giants): $ 45.255 million
  • Tyler Warren (No. 14 overall, Indianapolis Colts): $ 20.9 million
  • KJ Winston (No. 82 overall, Tennessee Titans): $ 6.4 million
  • Jaylen Reed (No. 187 overall, Houston Texans): $ 4.44 million
  • Kobe King (No. 201 overall, Minnesota Vikings): $ 4.42 million

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