Though the 2025 school soccer season continues to be months away from kicking off, ESPN has already up to date its prime 25 rankings.
Ohio State was initially ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s way-too-early rankings. That made sense contemplating the Buckeyes are the defending champions. Nevertheless, their keep on the prime of ESPN’s rankings wasn’t an prolonged one.
Earlier this month, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach up to date his rankings for the 2025 season. For some cause, he felt the necessity to drop Ohio State out of the highest 4. A number of packages, together with Clemson, Georgia and Texas, jumped forward of Ohio State.
So which staff was topped the brand new No. 1 in ESPN’s rankings? That may be certainly one of Ohio State’s prime rivals, Penn State.
“After lastly turning the nook beneath coach James Franklin in 2024, the Nittany Lions look loaded for bear this coming season. With Allar, Allen and Singleton returning, Penn State ought to have one of the crucial balanced offenses within the FBS, particularly if Allar takes the subsequent step as a downfield passer. Including Pena, Ross and Hudson was vital; Penn State’s receivers did not have a reception in a 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in a CFP semifinal on the Capital One Orange Bowl. Pena, a slot receiver, had 84 catches for 941 yards with 9 scores in 2024,” Schlabach wrote.
“Ross was one of many prime receivers within the portal after hauling in 76 passes for 1,043 yards with 11 scores final season. Penn State’s most essential offseason addition is perhaps new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who helped information Ohio State to a CFP nationwide title final season. He is the highest-paid coordinator within the FBS at $3.1 million per season.”
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There is not any query Penn State has what it takes to win a nationwide title from a expertise standpoint. The true query although is whether or not their coach can recover from the hump.
Here is the newest prime 25 from ESPN:
Penn StateClemsonTexasGeorgiaOhio StateLSUNotre DameOregonAlabamaBYUIllinoisArizona StateSouth CarolinaIowa StateSMUTexas TechIndianaKansas StateFloridaMichiganMiami LouisvilleTexas A&MOle MissOklahoma
If we needed to guess, ESPN’s rankings will change earlier than Week 0 arrives in late August.
For now although, Drew Allar and the Penn State Nittany Lions sit atop the rankings.
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