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Does Penn State have the blue-chip ratio needed to win it all in 2025?: Newsstand

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•07/18/25•

GregPickel

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Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) dives for the pylon past Oregon Ducks defensive back Kobe Savage (5) during the second quarter in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images)

Penn State news, notes, and updates for July 18 include the Lions’ spot in the annual blue-chip ratio rankings, headlines of the day, and more. CBS Sports’ Bud Elliott posted his annual look at which teams across the country have the right roster makeup to win it all. The data is tried and true, and if this is your first time hearing of it, the premise is simple.

“To win the national championship, college football teams need to sign more four- and five-star recruits than two- and three-star players over the previous four recruiting classes,” Elliott writes. “This has held true for every modern national champion.”

In other words, if 51 percent or more of your team’s players weren’t four- or five-star recruits, you might make the College Football Playoff field, especially in the 12-team era. But, you’re highly unlikely to win it all. The last 14 national champs have all met that criteria. And, most are well over 51 percent, of course.

So, with all of that out of the way, where does Penn State stand? The Nittany Lions are at 68 percent in 2025, which is 10th on the list. Recent national champions in that ballpark or below it include 2023 Michigan (54 percent), 2019 LSU (64 percent), 2018 and 2016 Clemson (61 and 52 percent, respectively). For what it’s worth, last year’s Ohio State team checked in at 90 percent. No one quite hits that mark this year. But, the Buckeyes and Alabama lead the way with a tie at 89 percent.

You can read the full story and see the complete list here.

Penn State headlines of the day

BWI’s Summer Conversation: Inside James Franklin’s summer grind at Penn State: Bauer, BWI

4-star DL Emanuel Ruffin has slowed his recruitment down: Simmons, BWI

Penn State extends another new 2026 offer to four-star defensive lineman: Snyder, BWI

How did Penn State wrestlers Luke Lilledahl and Levi Haines do at the Budapest Ranking Series Event?: Pickel, BWI

Beau Pribula latest: Former Penn State QB still battling to secure top job at Missouri; Drinkwitz calls him ‘a very talented passer’: Pickel, BWI

Quote of the day

“When we first talk about recruits, it’s all about the right fit for us: Focused, intangibles, talent, and tough. And when you talk about the quarterback position, there are five specific traits that we’re looking for. Beau had those traits. And then, as a program, and as an offense, you have to design to a quarterback’s strength.

“You watch the tape, there’s not an inability for Beau to throw. He just didn’t quite have the opportunities. And I would say, after this spring, I am as confident as ever that Beau Pribula is a very talented passer. So, I don’t really have any reservations about that.”

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz on former PSU and current Tigers QB Beau Pribula.

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