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Did Penn State win the Big Ten offseason title?: Newsstand

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•05/15/25•

GregPickel

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Photo courtesy of the Big Ten Conference via Twitter.

Penn State news, notes, and updates for May 15 include a look at the Big Ten’s best offseasons, which includes a favorable review of the Nittany Lions’ work so far.

ESPN’s college football crew of Adam Rittenberg, Max Olson, Eli Lederman, and Bill Connelly ranked each conference’s teams based on player retention, staff retention and/or upgrades, and additions either via the portal or the high school recruiting rankings. Head coach James Franklin’s team checks in at No. 1 in its league after adding new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and revamping its receivers room before and after spring practice. Penn State also added a few players with depth potential, at worst, in the portal, and welcomes a top-15 Class of 2025 to town.

“Typically having to hire your fourth defensive coordinator in five years isn’t great, especially when you also lose three starters from a dynamite front seven,” Connelly writes. “But pilfering your rival’s awesome defensive coordinator and keeping all of your offensive stars (while using the portal for receiver upgrades) is a good way to nail the offseason.”

Oregon, who beat Penn State in the Big Ten title game a year ago, checks in at No. 2. The Ducks come to Beaver Stadium in late September.

“Lanning’s program remains in good shape overall and landed at least a couple of dynamite pieces in the portal,” Connelly writes. “But the Ducks just had so much to replace overall, and there’s almost nowhere to go from 13-1 but down.”

You can read the full piece, which covers every Power Four conference, here.

Headlines of the day

Projecting roles for Penn State players who missed the spring: Fitz, BWI

Could Penn State have more sacks without Abdul Carter? Prediction: McGonigal, PennLive

Penn State football welcomes arrival of key offseason addition: Bauer, BWI

Big Ten Football Primer: Penn State Primed for Jump, League in Position of Strength: Fischer, SI

Penn State assistant Nick Lee not listed in Senior World Team Trials field; Three NLWC members are top pre-seeds: See the full list here: Pickel, BWI

NIL Killed the Super Team: Jackson Cantwell committing to Miami is proof: Wasserman, On3

Penn State hoops set to play Providence in Hall of Fame Showcase: Bauer, BWI

Quote of the day

“We’re excited for the opportunity to bring our team to the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut to face a strong Providence team. This will be our second-straight year competing in a Hall of Fame event, and we know it will be a first-class experience for our group. The game will challenge our team early in the season and allow our fans and alumni in the Northeast region the chance to see us play in a fun college basketball environment.”

PSU men’s basketball coach Mike Rhoades on playing Providence in the Hall of Fame showcase.

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