Even with a bit of clarity and reflection, it appears Penn State fans are a little bit anxious about the future and disappointed with how 2025 played out.
In the third annual end-of-season survey, 53 percent of fans say “disappointing” best describes the 2025 Penn State football season and their confidence in Penn State making the College Football Playoff dropped to an average answer of 2.4 on a 1-to-5 confidence scale.
Another 40 percent of fans described 2025, a year in which Penn State fired James Franklin and went 7-6 after being a preseason top 5 team, as “awful.” Franklin’s firing is what fans say they’ll remember most from 2025.
Fans also have middling confidence in the job Pat Kraft is doing as athletic director, giving him an average score of 2.96 on a 1-to-5 confidence scale.
And when it comes to coverage of Penn State football, fans voted Blue White Illustrated No. 1 once again, with Lions247 taking second and Audrey Snyder’s Inside The Lions taking third.
(As always, our survey was conducted in the very scientific fashion of hoping you’ll see the link and fill it out. You can view last year’s results here.)
Complete Results
Overall, how would you describe Penn State’s 2025 season?
- Disappointing: 53%
- Awful: 40%
- Fine: 6%
- Good: 1%
What will you remember most from the 2025 Penn State football season?
- Franklin Fired: 72%
- “Terry Terry”: 15%
- Wild Coaching Search: 11%
- Beaver Stadium Renovation: 2%
On a scale of 1-5, how confident are you that Penn State will make the playoff next year?
- Average rating: 2.4
- Average answer last year: 4.4
- 3 rating – 34%
- 2 rating – 30%
- 1 rating – 21%
On a scale of 1-5, how confident are you that Penn State will win a national title in your lifetime?
- Average rating: 2.9
- Average answer was 3.6 last year
- 3 rating – 35%
- 20% last year
- 4 rating – 28%
- 2 rating – 26%
- Was 8% last year
- 1 rating – 9%
- 12% last year
- 5 rating – 6%
- 29% last year
On a scale of 1-5, how confident are you in Pat Kraft as Penn State’s athletic director?
- Average rating: 2.96
- 3 rating – 47%
- 4 rating – 25%
- 2 rating – 21%
The leaked team meeting audio made me like Pat Kraft:
- The Same: 37%
- More: 35%
- Less: 28%
Rate the Networks that broadcast Penn State Games in 2025 (1-5 Stars)
NBC: 4.0
CBS: 3.8
BTN: 3.1
ESPN: 3.1
Fox/FS1: 2.5
Top Outlets
- Blue White Illustrated
- Lions247
- Inside The Lions
- For The Blogy
- PennLive
Any other thoughts about Penn State football?
- Change had to happen. But for two months, Athletic Department administration handled it VERY poorly. They fell into a bed of roses when they got Campbell.
- *If* Campbell can recruit as well or better then Franklin did, I think we’ll be in very good shape. Seems like his staff can actually coach guys up.
- I am generally an optimistic fan, but this year was so frustrating and the coaching search seemed like a clown show. Despite all that I am again optimistic for next year because we hired a good coach and seem to be doing well in the portal.
- I feel like PSU is going to be Iowa State 2.0 next year with the number of ISU transfers. I’m predicting an 8-4 season. Hopefully Campbell is able to recruit and build through the transfer portal over the next season or two and PSU can be back to the 10-2/11-1 conversation sooner rather than later.
- NIL is already out of control. Anyone think these players actually go to classes?
Notes For Penn State Media
- I followed sports media more closely this season than ever before, due to the firing of CJF, the subsequent coaching search and eventual hiring of Campbell, and now building a roster.
- I love Landon Tengwall’s coverage especially his film breakdowns
- I mostly listen to the radio broadcasts due to my work schedule now and Steve Jones is the best. I listen to a lot of college football radio broadcasts and, maybe (of course) I’m biased, but Steve Jones is genuinely the best I’ve heard.
Your favorite moment or memory from the 2025 season?
- Great tailgates!
- Accepting complete failure and commiserating with fellow fans while leaving the Northwestern game. We were laughing because of how horrible things became.
- Having my granddaughter at our tailgate
- The four game winning streak to end the year was great. My wife and I were present for all 4 wins. MSU was fantastic, and the bowl game in NYC was a great end to the disappointing season
- The Nebraska game – the effort, the fans, Terry
- The win over Nebraska was very gratifying. I’ve loathed Nebraska ever since 93-94.
- Watching Grunkemeyer find his footing after being thrust into a crazy situation was cool. Would have loved to see him stay, but wish him nothing but the best going forward.
- We had a 302-pound punter.
- I CHANGED ONE OF MY PASSWORDS TO 101225; THE DAY FRANKLIN WAS FIRED. THAT ABOUT SAYS IT ALL. ALSO, WHEN TERRY SMITH TOOK OVER, THE TEAM PLAYED LIKE PENN STATE IS SUPPOSED TO PLAY. IT WAS FUN.
- It ending.
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