Valeri Guevarra — Sports Editor
From the outside looking in, it’s not easy to be optimistic about the upcoming Penn football season. Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year and star running back Malachi Hosley is now at Georgia Tech, and the Quakers finished sixth in the Ivy League preseason poll.
However, the mentality and mindset have changed a lot in this team in the offseason, and I trust these men and their willpower. Coach Ray Priore has emphasized repeatedly in these preseason weeks that the squad’s “next-man-up mentality” will drive it to success. And I believe him, especially with the epitome of “next man up” — senior quarterback Liam O’Brien — at the helm this season.
While it remains to be seen how the revamped running room will fare — led by senior now-running back Julien Stokes — a veteran offensive line and senior wide receivers Jared Richardson and Bisi Owens will be crucial in making plays. The strong relationships O’Brien has with his receivers — who are also his roommates — will be helpful too.
Penn will win the Ivy League title if …
The whole team focuses on the details. Last year, the Quakers lost four games by seven points or less. Getting seven points or holding the opponent to three points or fewer on every drive will be key, and that’s a team effort that the Quakers have the culture and star power to accomplish.
Predicted Record: 7-3, second in Ivy League
Justin Lee — Sports Editor
Following a disappointing 6-4 overall finish last season, all eyes are on the Quakers to pull off a comeback this season. And I believe the Quakers will pull through.
Last year, the team was No. 3 in the preseason polls but then delivered three-straight conference losses. But looking deeper at those games, the losses were a result of missed opportunities. Penn’s 20-17 loss to Dartmouth was a direct result of Dartmouth controlling the football for 72% of the second half. Just a week later, its loss to Columbia was due to a tight opposing defense.
“Liamsanity” against the Big Red showed what the Quakers can do with an ironed-out offense, and their preceding victory against Brown showed similar results. There’s no shortage of strong players across the roster, either — the Quakers’ offensive line allowed just 15 sacks all season, the ninth-fewest number in NCAA FCS football.
Penn will win the Ivy League title if …
It focuses on being consistent. The Quakers are primed to grab the Ivy League championship title. All they need to do is deliver.
Predicted Record: 9-1, Ivy League champions, FCS Round 1 Loss
Hannah Chang — Deputy Sports Editor
Penn football is in a tough spot after ending last season with a losing record and the departure of Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year Hosley and team No. 2 running back Jamal Bing Jr. There are some questions to answer for this year’s squad. Will O’Brien be able to hold down the fort offensively? Will Priore really bring about the “faster finishes” he spoke about at the end of last year? How will Stokes and company fill the gap left by Hosley and Bing?
This season, we have the advantage of experience on our side and can look forward to having our offense working like a well-oiled machine with centerpieces O’Brien, Richardson, and senior offensive linemen Netinho Olivieri and William Bergin leading the way as Stokes gets used to a position he last played in high school.
For a lot of the team’s starters on both sides of the ball, it’s their final year, and they want to make it count.
Penn will win the Ivy League title if …
The offensive line finds a strong identity on the ground and stays consistent.
Predicted Record: 7-3, second in Ivy League
Tyler Ringhofer — Deputy Sports Editor
The stakes could not be higher.
It goes without saying that this season is a crucial turning point for the Red and Blue. The team hasn’t won an Ivy League championship since 2016 and hasn’t finished in the top four of the conference since 2022. Now, with a prominent quarterback and a dynamic new running back leading the way, a reinvigorated roster, and a sense of urgency unlike in years past, the Quakers have every reason to believe that the script can finally be flipped.
Penn will win the Ivy League title if …
Penn can establish consistency on both sides of the ball, turning its defensive grit into turnovers and O’Brien’s flashes of brilliance into sustained drives. This season has the potential to be one of the Ivy League’s surprise stories. But the margin for error is thin, and the Quakers know every game will matter more than ever with the new playoff opportunity.
In what was already a record-breaking individual showing from last season, it’s time to truly see what “Liamsanity” has to offer in a full season.
Predicted Record: 7-3, Ivy League champions, FCS Round 1 loss
Conor Smith — Deputy Sports Editor
Losing the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year, Hosley, is nothing to scoff at. I saw Hosley’s first touchdown with Georgia Tech — a 55-yard dash to the end zone. Missing his second gear is going to hurt. A run-by-committee backfield headlined by Stokes is intriguing but unproven.
However, I still feel pretty confident in Penn’s offense. The Quakers boast the best offensive line in the Ivy League, highlighted by two FCS Football Central Preseason All-Americans in senior linemen Netinho Olivieri and William Bergin. They did not get enough credit for Hosley’s historic year, and they will lead the way for whoever is carrying the rock.
Furthermore, there is no reason to believe senior quarterback Liam O’Brien will regress following his impressive debut in the latter half of last season — especially when throwing to two of the most athletic wideouts in the conference in senior wide receivers Jared Richardson and Bisi Owens.
Penn will win the Ivy League title if …
There is consistent play from the secondary. I have talked a lot about the offense, but the reason I am picking Penn football to go 5-5 is the defense.
Last season, Penn placed No. 7 in the conference in passing defense and interceptions. With the departures of Shiloh Means and Julien Talley, I am skeptical that the secondary will see improvement. However, if it does, I think Penn will have a legitimate shot at making the FCS playoffs for the first time in program history.
Predicted record: 5-5
