Penn State football is officially in the middle of its season.

The Nittany Lions are approaching a crucial game at Wisconsin on Saturday night, but there’s plenty worth evaluating now that we’re at the halfway point of the season. James Franklin’s team is 6-0 and ranked No. 3 nationally, but how has each position group done?

Let’s assess each group’s performance so far.

Quarterbacks: A-

Drew Allar has improved significantly this season. He threw for 2,631 yards (202.4 per game), 25 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 59.9% completion rate last year. In 2024, the second-year starter has 1,492 passing yards (248.7 per game), 11 touchdowns, four interceptions, and a 70.5% completion rate.

Allar also has better rushing stats. He had 206 rushing yards last season (15.8 per game) and four touchdowns, but this season he has 121 yards (20.2 per game) and three touchdowns. Allar, Franklin, offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, and others have spoken repeatedly about how much better and confident he is. Allar isn’t often flashy, but he’s been very efficient. He’s demonstrated the ability to successfully pass and run, which has elevated his game significantly this season.

Beau Pribula appears a few times per game, and he typically runs. He has 105 rushing yards and one touchdown. He doesn’t pass often, as he has 102 yards and two touchdowns. He doesn’t typically have a huge impact on games, but his ability to run is a plus.

Running Backs: A

Like Allar, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen are having successful seasons. Singleton has 434 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and a career-high 6.9 yards per attempt. He’s been more involved in the receiving game, with 113 yards and three touchdowns.

Allen has also been good, with 423 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and 4.7 yards per carry. He also has a receiving touchdown. Both Singleton and Allen are having bounce-back seasons. This is one of the best backfields in college football and a big reason why Penn State is 6-0.

Wide Receivers: B-

Trey Wallace, Omari Evans, and Liam Clifford have all been good, but none have been great. That’s fine because they’re productive enough to make plays and help win games. Wallace leads the trio with 283 receiving yards while Evans has 236 and Clifford has 206. Julian Fleming hasn’t been the revelation some thought he would be, but he’s averaging 14.7 yards per catch.

Penn State relies on Tyler Warren more than its wideouts, but the group has been steady and consistent.

Tight Ends: A+

Warren has been the best player on the entire team. Franklin has called him the best tight end in the country more than once, and he might be right. Warren has 513 receiving yards and four touchdowns, but that’s not all. He has five rushes for 38 yards and a touchdown, and he also has one passing touchdown. Warren is a proven blocker in the run game, too. He can do everything, which makes him so valuable to Penn State.

Khalil Dinkins and true freshman Luke Reynolds have also seen occasional reps. They don’t have more than three receptions, but Dinkins has one touchdown. Overall, the tight ends have been outstanding for the Nittany Lions.

Offensive Line: B-

Penn State’s offensive line is allowing 2.83 tackles for loss per game, which is the fifth-fewest in America. Allar, however, has been sacked six times. Penn State’s rushing offense is ranked No. 25, which is modest. Penalties were an issue at the start of the season, but the issue has receded lately. The Nittany Lions lost multiple starters, including Olu Fashanu, to the NFL over the offseason, and replacing them was always going to be hard. Having said that, it’s a mixed bag for the group, but with more good than bad considering the circumstances.

Front Seven: C+

After a slow start, Abdul Carter is coming along nicely at defensive end. He and Dani Dennis-Sutton are becoming a menacing pass rush with six combined sacks.

Meanwhile, Kobe King’s 30 tackles are second-most on Penn State, while Tony Rojas’ 27 is tied for third. The duo also has 6.5 tackles for loss.

Like the offensive line, Penn State’s front seven had penalty woes to start the season, but those have recently subsided. If the group stays disciplined and wreaks havoc by getting tackles for loss and sacks, a good rest of the season should be on the way.

Secondary: B

Penn State’s defense is ranked No. 21 in pass defense efficiency. The group hasn’t been lockdown-efficient but still remains solid.

Zakee Wheatley and Jaylen Reed have stepped up significantly amid KJ Winston’s long-term injury. Reed leads the team with 39 tackles, while Wheatley is tied for third with 27. They’ve combined for 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and two interceptions. Elliot Washington II also sees playing time at safety, with a modest three breakups and an interception so far.

AJ Harris, Cam Miller, and Jalen Kimber have done a decent job as cornerbacks. Harris and Kimber have two breakups, while Miller has one. The trio has 19, 13, and 12 tackles, respectively. Meanwhile, Harris is the only one with an interception.

Special Teams: C

The elephant in the room is the kicking situation.

Sander Sahaydak was benched after going 2-for-5 for field goal attempts this season in the Illinois game, and he was replaced by redshirt freshman walk-on Ryan Barker. Barker’s been perfect in his six attempts, including a walk-off field goal to seal a 33-30 win over USC two weeks ago.

Riley Thompson averages 42.4 yards per punt, within the nation’s top 50. Meanwhile, Gabe Nwosu is averaging 63.9 yards per kickoff. Singleton averages 19.6 yards per kickoff return, while Kaden Saunders averages only 6.3 per punt. Barker and Thompson have been solid, but the returns leave more to be desired.