Offensive MVP
RB Kaytron Allen
1,303 rushing yards, 6.2 ypc, 18 catches, 89 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns
Allen was the heart and soul of a Penn State team that never gave up, despite the many unexpected
obstacles thrown their way. Each and every week, Allen ran with every ounce of effort, breaking tackles and records along the way. He became Penn State’s all-time leader in rushing yards during an All-American season that was a highlight of a year when not much went in the Nittany Lions favor. Allen finished the season on a particularly high note, rushing for 567 yards and five touchdowns in the final three games that brought Penn State back to .500 and bowl eligibility. It was a suitable finish for a Nittany Lion legend who will be remembered with great appreciation for a long time in Happy Valley.
Defensive MVP
LB Amare Campbell
103 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 4 QB hurries, 1 fumble recovery, 1 fumble return TD
Campbell joined a Penn State defense loaded with preseason All-Americans. Despite not joining the team until summer, he managed to become the best player on the defense from beginning to end. Campbell’s presence grew extremely important once Tony Rojas was lost for the season after week three. He was the much-needed playmaker needed in the linebacker corps, with a fitting ending to the regular season with a 61-yard scoop and score that helped Penn State make it to six wins that would set up a Pinstripe Bowl victory over Clemson. Campbell’s productivity will be difficult to replace in 2026.
Best Game
Penn State-37, Nebraska-10
This is what we were expecting from the 2025 team — a physical beatdown of a conference opponent that came in at 7-3. After providing a huge stop on fourth and goal during the Huskers opening drive, it was all Nittany Lions in a rare November night outing in Beaver Stadium. A swarming defense completely shut down Nebraska, Kaytron Allen ran all over the defense, and Ethan Grunkemeyer threw just one incompletion (that should have been called PI) in just the fifth start of his career. Most importantly, the seniors who decided to run it back were able to enjoy one last joyful evening in Happy Valley, while Terry Smith heard his name chanted by the Penn State faithful who showed their appreciation for the long-time Nittany Lion who held things together during a tumultuous season that could have ended on a much more sour note.
Worst Game
Penn State-22, Northwestern-21
There was no shortage of competition in this category, but the loss to Northwestern felt like a low point in program history.
It started with an interception on Penn State’s first drive, and never got much better. The offense slept walk through most of the afternoon, and when they finally came alive to take a fourth quarter lead, the defense fell apart while giving up a game-winning drive by the Wildcats. Drew Allar then tore his ACL in a last ditch effort for a comeback, ending a season that started with dreams of a Heisman. And that was far from the only dream shattered that afternoon, with Penn State going from #2 to 3-3 and out of the playoff race by midseason. James Franklin would then be fired the following afternoon, marking the end of a 12-year era where the Nittany Lions won plenty of games but just could not get over the hump to become a true national title contender.
Most Bizarre Moment
End of half sequence vs. UCLA
Penn State managed to find itself in a hole against a 0-4 UCLA squad that had yet to lead a game at that point into the season. Yet the Bruins managed to jump out to a 24-7 first half lead against a Nittany Lions squad that was coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to Oregon. It seemed like Penn State could still shake off the bad half and come out with a victory that would keep their playoff hopes very much alive. So what do the Nittany Lions do with the ball a few minutes before halftime down 17? Surely, they would play with a sense of urgency to cut into UCLA’s lead.
Nope. They decided the way to go was simply let the clock tick, tick, tick away and go into halftime. Instead of a sense of urgency, the drive played out like a leisurely stroll through the park on a Sunday afternoon with nowhere to be. Not only did Penn State not score, they also still gave the Bruins time to get in field goal range to go up 20 before halftime.
The missed opportunity would loom large as Penn State would end up losing 42-37 – and fall from #2 all the way out of the top 25 entirely in a two-week span.
Freshman of the Year
QB Ethan Grunkemeyer
123 of 178, 69.1 completion percent, 1,339 passing yards, 8 TDs, 4 INTs
Talk about rough circumstances to begin your career as a starter. Grunkemeyer was forced into action following Drew Allar’s injury after the entire season had quickly unraveled. His first three starts would be on the road at Iowa, then against the nation’s top two ranked teams in Ohio State and Indiana. Grunkemeyer not only weathered the storm of the less than ideal circumstances, but he thrived during his first stretch as QB1. He improved with each outing, and showed an ability to read a defense and get the ball exactly where it needed. Suddenly, the defense wasn’t able to stack the box as Kaytron Allen ran free, and the receivers who could not get open became more of a threat in the vertical passing game. Grunkemeyer will be playing elsewhere in 2026, but he certainly has a bright future and left his mark on the 2025 Penn State team.
Coach of the Year
Terry Smith
Seriously, could it be anyone else? Smith did a phenomenal job of keeping the team motivated despite all of its hopes being dashed by midseason. It would not have been shocking to see this team give up and go through the motions after the firing of James Franklin and any dreams of a championship out the window. Instead, he helped the team weather the storm through a six-game losing streak. They nearly upset Indiana, then finished with a four-game win streak to ensure a winning record. It doesn’t sound much when you consider the hype heading into the season, but it was quite the accomplishment considering how easy it would have been for things to completely fall off towards the end of the year. The long-time Nittany Lion reached cult status among the Penn State fanbase, who showed their appreciation for the interim head coach by chanting his name following wins against Nebraska and Clemson. Penn State is lucky to have Smith back in the building in 2026 and beyond.
