Penn State football is just around the corner, folks.

Expectations have never been higher for Penn State football, with some believing this season is national championship or bust for the Nittany Lions. A plethora of returning talent on both sides of the ball should boost Penn State to a successful campaign in 2025.

With a few days until the season opener against Nevada, our staffers decided to predict the Nittany Lions’ most valuable player.

Oscar Orellana: Quarterback Drew Allar

With all of the buzz surrounding Penn State’s transformed wide receiver room or its acquisition of Jim Knowles, it’d be easy to put one of those guys as Penn State’s 2025 MVP. However, the key to all of that even working lies at the quarterback position with Drew Allar. Allar has to be at the top of his game all the way from Nevada to a hopeful deep College Football Playoff run. I think Allar is going to not only step up for his team, but I think he’ll be a Heisman finalist when all is said and done.

Allar’s improvement throughout the years cannot be undermined. He’s grown mentally, physically, and emotionally. With the way Penn State’s 2024 season ended at the Orange Bowl, I know Allar’s bounce-back is going to be generational. The blocks are all in place. Allar is going to put on a clinic week in and week out and easily crown himself as Penn State’s 2025 MVP.

CJ Gill: Defensive Tackle Zane Durant

Yes, Durant is one of the Nittany Lions’ best players heading into their highly anticipated season, but he also plays a position with very little proven success behind him. Depth at defensive tackle has been a question mark all offseason, and it’s really hard to tell how well some of those young guys will do behind Durant. If Penn State wants to make a deep postseason run for a second consecutive season, and possibly compete for a national championship, it will need Durant to be at his best. The Lake Nona, Florida, native has all the tools to be the best defensive lineman in the country, and he can use his talents and experience to help some of the inexperienced young players at his position become better contributors this season. It’s fair to say a lot of success depends on the big man in the interior.

Ben Rosenbaum: Running Back Kaytron Allen

My MVP prediction for this season is Kaytron Allen. I think the run game, generally as a whole, will be dominant this year, with Singleton and Allen providing a strong one-two punch combo. Allen really impressed me last season, and I feel he had many strong carries in last year’s playoff run that will continue into the season. I expect many quick three or four-yard runs from Allen on first and second downs, and could see him being a big player in the screen game as well.

Michael Siroty: Quarterback Drew Allar

Yes, he’s been shaky at times, but Drew Allar is destined for greatness this season. Since he’ll be able to rely on two incredible running backs in Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, my advice to Allar would be to relax this year and just have fun out there. I know there’s no Tyler Warren, but the new receivers should make life easier for the gunslinger. An MVP season is coming for Drew Allar.

Noah Flenard: Wide Receiver Devonte Ross

When looking at the new and improved roster, there’s one name that jumps out to me. I predict Devonte Ross to be the MVP of this high-caliber offense this season. While he is listed at the WR3 position, he brings a skillset of elusiveness and speed to the Z position. Not only was he a highlight reel on Troy’s roster last year, but he also will have favorable matchups, and I don’t expect him to have growing pains in a Power Four conference. Plus, Penn State’s first three matchups of Nevada, FIU, and Villanova are a great time for Ross and the offense to find their rhythm. Look out for Ross this year to torch your favorite DB.

Collin Ward: Quarterback Drew Allar

This is a basic answer, but it probably needs to be true if Penn State wants to win the National Championship. I know that we have one of the best offensive lines in the country to go with two of the best backs, but you can’t win by running the ball alone. While Allar’s numbers don’t need to stack up against other Heisman candidates if the Medina, Ohio, native can be consistent and win the Nittany Lions games when they need him to, Penn State will be very dangerous. In my mind, if Allar is anywhere close to Heisman consideration, it’s a really good sign that we are going all the way. In essence, this is less of a prediction and more of a hope pick.

Cooper Cazares: Linebacker Tony Rojas

It’s called “Linebacker U” for a reason, y’all. Tony Rojas is no exception to the standard set by those before him. Last season, the sophomore tallied 35 solo tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, and three interceptions, including the 59-yard pick-six against SMU in the College Football Playoff. The Nittany Lion recently recovered from a lingering shoulder injury this offseason, meaning we haven’t seen the best the Virginia native has to offer yet. It’ll be a massive “prove it” season for the junior as he steps in as a centerpiece of one of the better defenses in America.

James Russell: Defensive End Dani Dennis-Sutton

With Abdul Carter’s departure, Penn State’s defense is searching for a premier edge presence. Dani Dennis-Sutton has the skill set to emerge as that disruptor along the line of scrimmage this season. In 2024, he appeared in all 16 games, recording 42 tackles, 8.5 sacks, forcing two fumbles, and an interception. In Knowles’ defense, Dennis-Sutton will have plenty of opportunity to get to the quarterback off the defensive backs’ coverage alone. As long as he stays healthy, expect the senior to dominate in 2025.