Overview

• Of 25 voters in the Cleveland.com preseason poll, Penn State claimed 11 first-place votes while Ohio State received 10, Oregon 2 and Michigan 1.
• Coach James Franklin was voted the Big Ten’s preseason Coach of the Year by a narrow margin in the same media poll.
• Third-year quarterback Drew Allar leads a veteran offense complemented by 1,000-yard rushers Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton.
• New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles joins from Ohio State to spearhead a defense that remains deep despite losing Abdul Carter to the NFL.
• Franklin begins 2025 still seeking his first conference crown since 2016 and aiming to improve his 1-15 mark against top-five opponents.