Since winning the Big Ten in 2016, Penn State has typically been ranked just inside the top 10 in most preseason polls. However, enthusiasm for the program dropped following the 4-5 season in 2020.
The Sporting News has released its most recent college football preseason top 25, and the Nittany Lions barely make the rankings - coming in at #25. Penn State comes in just behind Coastal Carolina and Army - two programs that have enjoyed recent success, but aren’t typically found ahead of the Nittany Lions.
The Sporting News had this to say about Penn State’s upcoming season:
Penn State hit the reset button after a disastrous 2020, but James Franklin has more than enough talent on the roster to make a run at the Big Ten’s East division.