Some nitpicking as the 2025 home season, still surreal, comes to a close:

This year, of course, will be remembered more for what Penn State didn’t accomplish than what it did – and all the fallout that resulted.

Nonetheless, 30 Nittany Lions will be introduced before tonight’s game vs. Nebraska at Beaver Stadium (7 p.m. NBC), and the list will show how many good players are going out and how there was enough talent to achieve more.

Among the most notable: Kaytron Allen, Nick Singleton, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant, Zakee Wheatley, A.J. Harris, Drew Shelton, Vega Ioane, Devonte Ross, Trebor Pena and Dom DeLuca.

Oh, and Drew Allar.

The three-year starting quarterback took part in a media session this week for the first time since his season ended with an ankle injury on Oct. 11.

That’s also the last game James Franklin coached as he was fired the next day.

“One of the worst weekends of my life,” Allar said.

Allar, who underwent surgery and is rehabbing in hopes of being healthy enough for pre-NFL Draft workouts, said the time off has given him a chance to reflect.

He takes responsibility for not playing better this season prior to the injury. He felt badly for Franklin and has been in touch with him frequently.

“We wouldn’t be in this position if I find ways to make more plays,” he said. “Just going back to the Oregon game, if I find different ways to get going early or make the game finish a different way, I think that changes the outlook on our season.”

While Allar didn’t hide from the fact that “as a collective, obviously we fell short of our ultimate goals,” the time off has been balanced by some positives.

Unlike many college quarterbacks, and especially so going forward, Allar stayed for his entire career, won 26 games and made lifelong friends. He’ll know what homecoming to attend three decades from now.

“We’ve been part of a lot of highs and some lows, but that’s football,” he said. “I think we have a lot to be proud of. You can look at it from a lot of different lenses, and there’s always going to be outside perspective, but I’m proud of what we accomplished. Obviously, we all wanted more, but we got to a spot we haven’t been in a while. There’s still a lot to be proud of from this team and our (20)22 recruiting class.”

Singleton is part of that. His production fell off this year as Allen became the Lions’ top back, but he’s still in position to make history. Singleton’s career totals for rushing touchdowns (41) and overall TDs (51) trail only Saquon Barkley’s marks of 43 and 53.

“Obviously this year isn’t what I expected and the whole team expected, but I wouldn’t trade it,” Singleton said. “And to go out with a win on Senior Night would mean a lot.”

Allen is on record pace, too. He’s third in career rushing yardage with 3,794, trailing Barkley (3,843) and all-time leader Evan Royster (3,932).

Dani Dennis-Sutton needs one more blocked punt to tie the career record of four – shared by Jack Ham and Andre Collins, who also share the season mark of three (with Sutton) – so keep an eye on No. 33 if/when Nebraska punts.

Penn State has blocked four punts this season – its most since 1999 – which means you’d have to say of the three coordinators, Justin Lustig has been the best.

NITPICKING

• The exodus from the Penn State football support staff to Virginia Tech, where Franklin was introduced Wednesday, has already begun. Top aides Andy Frank (general manager of recruiting) and Kevin Threlkel (chief of staff) are already in Blacksburg along with several other staff members.

• The understandable angst that is accompanying recruiting losses during the coaching search should be tempered by the fact that there’s inevitable initial dropoff following a transition. And that Penn State was in for a rebuild in 2026 anyway. It just may now be more of a rebuild.

• When Nebraska joined the Big Ten, effective in 2011, it seemed like a cool fit with Penn State because both share great history in their 18 meetings. But the teams haven’t played too much as conference members. The last meeting was in 2020 (the game Will Levis played great but was hooked shortly afterward), and the Huskers’ last visit to Beaver Stadium was 2017.

• As potential candidate after potential candidate has signed an extension and seemingly been removed from the Penn State search, I wonder if people might now feel a little better about Matt Rhule, who also signed an extension at Nebraska when it became obvious he wasn’t going to be hired here. Especially if he wins today, which would make him 8-3. Just asking.

Neil Rudel covers Penn State football and can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.