Well, folks, the college football season has officially ended. And for Penn State fans, it was a whirlwind.

Many seniors were optimistic for a national championship to end their four years here, but settled for a Pinstripe Bowl victory. Here’s what some of our staffers thought about their final season as students.

Abby Neely

Underwhelming, frustrating….unfinished.

Noah Flenard

Watching this football team this year taught me so much as a senior. As a senior, I expected everything to end beautifully on everyone else’s terms, like us winning the National Championship or even having a Heisman finalist, but there is so much good to take away from this season. The win streak under Terry Smith and the hiring of Matt Campbell shed light on a program that many feel is in the dark. The six losses in a row taught me that there is beauty in the rough; I’ll never NOT be a Penn State Football fan, and it being my senior year means nothing to anyone besides me. It showed me that the program has stuff to look forward to as a fan and soon, as an alumnus.

Jayla Nartatez

Watching a football game in Beaver Stadium as a student is a feeling that I will never feel again. Getting to watch the highs and lows of Penn State football for the last four years as a student has been incredible. Before becoming a student, I had never been to a Penn State football game. However, these last four years, I attended several games and have been able to cheer on the team while proudly wearing blue and white. While this season didn’t go as many thought it would, I enjoyed watching the team rally around each other and coach Terry to end the season on a high note. The next time I am in Beaver Stadium to watch a Penn State football game, I will be cheering as a proud alumn.

Cooper Cazares

What a pleasure it’s been to spend four seasons in Beaver Stadium. From the tailgate lots at 7 a.m. to late-night walks back to campus, there were countless memories made in and around Penn State football. Although it’s over for me as a student, this university has turned me into a fan for life, something that I would’ve never guessed five years ago. The Matt Campbell era is here, folks. #BendTheBrim

CJ Gill

Four years gone way too fast. Being a student at Penn State is not what it is without Penn State football, and after what feels like the quickest four years of my life, it’s over. Tailgating with friends and family before and after the games is unlike an experience of any other and nothing can take away from that. Heading into this year, I think we all expected more from the Nittany Lions on the field. As everyone knows, success did not prevail. But, as a senior, I was able to see more Penn State football greatness than almost any other student has experienced while at Penn State. I’m forever grateful for that and all the people I was able to share it with along the way and I will forever be grateful for the blue and white, no matter what.

Emma Bannister

Penn State football became a huge part of my experience at Penn State from the day I got to campus. I grew up as a football fan and knew that my weekends would revolve around every game. Before this season, there were high expectations. Through the ups and downs, the team’s adversity was inspiring.

Overall, this season was bittersweet. I’ll always look back on this season and be grateful for the memories from every game. There truly is nothing like being in the student section in an excited Beaver Stadium. Even though I won’t be a student, I’ll be a fan forever, and I can’t wait for my first visit back after graduation.

Fernando Martinez

Time really does fly by quickly when you are having fun.

I was fortunate enough to get football tickets during my four years and Penn State football brought me a lot of great memories. From the White Outs to the College Football Playoff game, I enjoyed going to these games with my friends so much. I appreciate them so much for making these experiences so much fun.

Football has made my Penn State experience so much fun. It’s still hard for me to believe that my four years of going to Penn State football games as a student are over. It feels like it wasn’t long ago when I went to my first game as a freshman. Now, I don’t know when I’ll go back.

Thank you, Beaver Stadium and Penn State football, for all the great memories. Can’t wait to go back as an alumnus soon!

Jack Anderson-Jussen

Penn State football has been a steady presence in the background of my college experience. The crisp mornings waking up earlier than I wanted to, the white-outs, and the kind of atmosphere you can’t really explain unless you’ve stood shoulder to shoulder in Beaver Stadium. As a senior, this season felt heavier in the best way. It’s the last time these routines are new, the last time a kickoff feels like it has endless Saturdays ahead of it. Win or lose, Penn State football gave me a sense of belonging and a shared language with 100,000 strangers, and the memories I made are certainly some of the best parts of my college experience.

James Russell

The James Franklin era of Penn State football coming to a close was not on my proverbial bingo card for my last year in Happy Valley. For so many years, Penn State football’s culture was synonymous with “1-0” tweets and failing to exceed the high expectations it bestowed upon itself at each press conference. The 2025 Penn State football season will live in infamy. But Terry Smith’s tenure as interim head coach served as a reminder of how much support this football team garners from its fanbase. I’m excited to see what Matt Campbell turns this program into. He’s a breath of fresh air and a proven winner. College football Saturdays won’t feel the same without trekking all the way up through campus to tailgate, and they will be void of chicken baskets. That’s not something I’m going to look forward to. It will be interesting to step into Beaver Stadium as an alumnus. Life comes at you fast. I didn’t think I’d be writing this any time soon.