After a decade-long hiatus, EA Sports’ college football video game will make a return, and with it comes the annual debates surrounding how teams should be rated.
The recent release of a gameplay trailer included several team power ratings, though Penn State’s was not revealed.
Here’s how our football staff thinks the Nittany Lions will be rated when the game drops on July 19.
Lyle Alenstein
Offense: 83
An electric running back tandem in Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen paired with playmaking tight end Tyler Warren should boost the overall offense rating. Drew Allar should follow the three with a potential mid-80 ranking due to his touchdown-to-turnover ratio paired with an overall solid campaign and his physical attributes.
However, with question marks at wide receiver and the departure of three 2023 offensive line starters to the NFL draft, the unproven commodities at these positions should bring the overall rating down. This is on top of the already poor viewing of the offense based on the lack of explosive plays from a season ago.
Defense: 94
Penn State lost seven starters from last year’s group, but the overall talent on the defensive side of the ball is still there for the Nittany Lions. They have one of the deepest defensive line rooms in the country headlined by Abdul Carter and Dani-Dennis Sutton, one of the best safety units between Zakee Wheatley, Kevin Winston Jr. and Jaylen Reed and two standout linebackers in veteran Kobe King and youngster Tony Rojas.
The cornerback room has six guys who can make a run for starting snaps, including veteran Cam Miller and heralded Georgia transfer A.J. Harris, but the room is young outside of fifth-year transfer from Florida Jalen Kimber. Outside of the defensive backs, an issue could revolve around the linebacker depth, with an unproven group behind the starters, but both positions have the talent to compete.
Overall: 91
The star power and proven players should boost a strong initial rating for the Nittany Lions. A strong record from a season ago mixed with a top-10 ranking for the majority of the season should back its overall up quite a bit.
Joel Haas
Offense: 84
While there’s certainly some talent on the offensive side of the ball thanks to a dynamic running back duo and a loaded tight end room, questions surrounding Allar’s performances in big games and the wide receiver unit tank this number. It’s a respectable score, but not one of the top offenses in the sport.
Defense: 93
Despite losing three cornerbacks, two defensive ends, a linebacker and a safety to the NFL this offseason, there’s reason to believe the Nittany Lions will maintain an elite defense given their depth and track record.
With multiple potential first-rounders still on the roster, new defensive coordinator Tom Allen is equipped with arguably the most talent he’s ever had.
Overall: 89
Penn State has enough playmakers across the board to guarantee a high floor this season, but aforementioned questions at key offensive positions keep the Nittany Lions below the elite tier of the sport.
Avery Hill
Offense: 80
There are questions on Penn State’s offense after departures across the board, as well as a disappointing year at the running back position. If transfer receiver Julian Fleming is given a favorable rating, expect Penn State to get a slight boost. Otherwise, the Nittany Lions will have to wait until the season starts to boost their offensive rating.
Defense: 91
Penn State’s defense was one of the best in the nation after allowing just 13.4 points per game in 2023. Still, they likely won’t be rated the best in the nation with losses in the defensive backfield. Cornerback A.J. Harris showed promise in the Blue-White Game but is likely raw in the developers’ eyes after only playing in three games at Georgia. Expect the same for many of Penn State’s unproven players.
Overall: 87
Star power still exists all across the board, and Penn State’s No. 13 final ranking will certainly be taken into consideration upon release. An 87 overall puts James Franklin’s squad in an upper-echelon standing compared to the rest of the nation. Low ratings at starting spots will do the most damage, though.
Lexie Linderman
Offense: 85
The big downside of Penn State’s offense is its wide receiver room, especially with KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s transfer to Auburn. Fleming should provide some help in the receiver room, but it probably won’t be enough to get the offense’s rating above the mid-80s.
However, the Nittany Lions have one of the best running back tandems in college football with Singleton and Allen, along with one of the best tight ends in Warren, which should give a huge boost to the offense’s rating.
Defense: 95
Although it may have lost a few key starters to the NFL, Penn State’s defense remains poised to be one of the best in college football with a few potential first-rounders like Dennis-Sutton, Carter and Winston, and its rating should reflect that.
Overall: 90
The talent on Penn State’s roster — especially on defense — is undeniable, which should give Franklin’s squad a high overall rating when the game is released in July.
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