With action on the field still over three months away, now is the time for predictions to come rolling in. With a surprising 2016 and much of the roster returning, Penn State has found itself right in the midst of the talk about the best teams in the nation. Athlon Sports was the latest publication to release early 2017 rankings and put the Nittany Lions in at No. 6.
The Nittany Lions have consistently been talked about as a playoff contender this offseason.
Despite falling to USC (ranked No. 5 by Athlon) in the Rose Bowl in January, Penn State enjoyed a fantastic season and developed into a high-scoring, potent team.