Welcome to “Big Ten offseason at a glance,” a team-by-team look at the conference at the start of the summer. We’ll examine roster movement for each Big Ten roster and give an early outlook for each Big Ten program for the 2025-26 season.
Today: Penn State (16-15 overall in 2024-25, 6-14 in Big Ten play)
Previously: Rutgers
Last year’s preseason lowest-ranked Big Ten team, the Nittany Lions’ projection nearly held true. Penn State finished 17th in the conference and missed a Big Ten tournament bid, winning just six conference games despite testing several teams.
Penn State roster movement
Players returning with eligibility: Freddie Dilione, Dominick Stewart, Eli Rice
Players departing due to exhausted eligibility: Ace Baldwin Jr., Puff Johnson, D’Marco Dunn, Nick Kern, Zach Hicks
Players who left early for the NBA draft: Yanic Konan Niederhauser
Players who departed via transfer portal: Miles Goodman (to Oregon), Hudson Ward (to UC San Diego), Jahvin Carter (to Middle Tennessee), Kachi Nzeh
Players arriving via transfer portal: Josh Reed (from Cincinnati)
Players arriving from high school: Kayden Mingo (247Sports Composite top 35), Mason Blackwood, Justin Houser, Ivan Juric, Reggie Grodin
Penn State’s roster is completely gutted. Dilione started 28 games and Stewart appeared in 24 with eight minutes per game, but outside of that, all production is lost. On top of it, Mike Rhoades’ staff still has work to do with four available scholarships – three if Niederhauser pulls out of the NBA draft. While the Nittany Lions’ 2025 recruiting class ranks No. 23 in the 247Sports Composite, one current incoming transfer is a baffling number.
What to like about Penn State
Kayden Mingo is a potential stud. It’s a lot of pressure for a true freshman, but the top 35 guard may be asked to slide right into Ace Baldwin Jr.’s former role as a two-way guard who runs the show. He won’t be able to match last year’s Nittany Lions star in production in year one, but the 6-foot-2 Mingo appears to have a bright future
Also, Rhoades’ crew was competitive despite a poor record last year. The Nittany Lions upset Purdue in the Big Ten opener and nine of their 14 conference losses were within two possessions. Pesky in nature, similar challenges this upcoming season could be a play or two away from flipping the results.
What to question with Penn State
First of all, Rhoades and his staff need to put together a complete roster. Losing practically all of last season’s production creates enough question marks but even more arise without a full sense of who will get minutes next year.
Niederhauser – an early second-round projection – will keep his name in the draft, a big blow to Penn State’s plans. With the current nine-player roster without Niederhauser, this will be an uncompetitive team.
Lastly, Rhoades needs to round the roster out with established and experienced players. The No. 23 incoming class of 2025 recruits, Penn State’s highest in program history, is enticing. It’s also not enough to compete in the Big Ten.
Penn State’s outlook for the 2025-26 season
Here’s the Penn State Big Ten schedule for next season:
Home: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, UCLA, USC, Wisconsin
Away: Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon, Purdue, Washington
Home/Away: Michigan, Ohio State, Rutgers
All things considered, the Nittany Lions’ schedule isn’t terrible, depending on how certain stretches end up. Still, it likely won’t matter all that much.
Ranked outside the top 80 in Bart Torvik’s current projections, this looks like a last-place team while still configuring the final four scholarship spots. Even with a program-best recruiting class, the overall class with transfers added in ranks 13th in the Big Ten for next season.
Rhoades’ team will be too reliant on freshmen and, outside of Mingo, has few Big Ten-level players ready to produce from day one.
Category: Commentary
Filed to: 2025-26 Big Ten preview, Penn State Nittany Lions
