The Penn State Nittany Lions are likely still scratching their heads at the end of their 2024 football season, which saw them come up just short to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the College Football Playoff semifinals, 27-24.
Luckily, the season is about to ramp back up here in about two months' time, as James Franklin will begin his 12th season as head coach of the Nittany Lions, and quarterback Drew Allar will look to bring the first national championship to Happy Valley in nearly 40 years.
One other thing preceding the 2025 college football season is the release of EA Sports' College Football 26, which is set for release on July 10 of this year.
And the reputation that Penn State received by the ratings producers at EA Sports is sure to put a smile on the faces of Nittany Lion fans, even if it is a video game.
Still, it is based on real-life characteristics, so that counts for something, right?
Penn State cracked the Top 10 of the best overall schools, best offenses, and best defenses, three of the most vital aspects of the game.
The Nittany Lions were ranked the fourth-best overall team with an 88 overall team, putting them in a tie with the Texas Longhorns, Ohio State Buckeyes, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Georgia Bulldogs, Clemson Tigers, and Texas A&M Aggies, who are all also rated an 88 overall behind the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, who hold an 89 overall.
Penn State sits in a four-way tie for the best offense, ranked at 91 overall alongside the Longhorns, Buckeyes, and Arizona State Sun Devils.
They are also tied with the Longhorns for the second-best defense, with a 94 overall.
And to cap it all off, Beaver Stadium was ranked the second-toughest environment to play at in the game, sitting only behind LSU's Tiger Stadium, better known amongst the college football fanbase as "Death Valley."
The team will hope that their high ranking in digital form will translate over to the real deal as they open up their first four games of the 2025 campaign in Happy Valley.