Did Penn State drop from top 25?

Penn State Tumbles Out of AP Top 25 After Stunning Loss

For the first time since September 2022, Penn State is unranked in the Associated Press Top 25, marking a dramatic fall for a program once perched near the top of college football. The Nittany Lions, who were ranked No. 2 earlier in the season, dropped out entirely following a shocking 42-37 loss to UCLA—a team that entered the game winless and had just fired head coach DeShaun Foster days earlier.

The defeat, which took place in October 2025, wasn’t just a setback—it was one of the most lopsided drops in the 99-year history of the AP poll. Falling from No. 5 to unranked in a single week underscores the volatility of the rankings and the harsh judgment faced by teams expected to dominate.

Penn State entered the game as heavy favorites, but a lackluster defensive performance and critical turnovers allowed the Bruins to pull off the unthinkable. UCLA, fueled by a wave of momentum and interim leadership, played with desperation—and it showed. The Nittany Lions, meanwhile, looked uncharacteristically disjointed, failing to contain UCLA’s revitalized offense.

This collapse raises questions about Penn State’s depth and resilience, especially under pressure. Once seen as a College Football Playoff contender, the team now faces an uphill battle to regain credibility. The loss isn’t just a blemish—it’s a full-blown crisis for a program that prided itself on consistency and discipline.

While the season isn’t over, the message is clear: in modern college football, no lead is safe, and no ranking is guaranteed. For Penn State, the road back to relevance starts with accountability—and a lot of soul-searching.