Top 25 in 25: Penn State Football Season Preview

We’re counting down the final 25 days before the college football season by previewing every one of our preseason top 25 teams! With 2 days left until week zero, we continue our previews with my No. 2 team in the country – the Penn State Nittany Lions.

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Projected Record: 11-1 (8-1)

Ceiling/Floor: 12-0/9-3

Projected Wins: Nevada, FIU, Villanova, Oregon, UCLA, Northwestern, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan State, Nebraska, Rutgers

Projected Losses: Ohio State

Most Intriguing Game: Oregon (Week 5)

If you’re looking purely at proven talent at the collegiate level and returning production across the board, Penn State may have the best argument of anyone to be ranked as the preseason number one team in the country. However, James Franklin’s inability to get over the hump against other elite teams has me hesitant to put them there, or even in the national title conversation. But if Franklin and the Nittany Lions are going to do it any year, this will likely be their best chance.

In a year where there’s not many top quarterbacks returning for top teams around the country, Penn State is in one of the better positions in America with Drew Allar returning to run the offense for a third straight season. Allar will be aided in the backfield by two of the best running backs in college football in Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. The offensive line should be elite again as well in both run and pass-blocking. Probably the biggest weakness with the offense a year ago was its lack of playmaking on the outside, but the portal additions of three good wide receivers should help Allar out in that sense. Tight End Tyler Warren heading to the NFL will hurt though.

Defensively, Franklin may have made the hire of the offseason by getting defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Ohio State, who may be the best coordinator in America. The Nittany Lions’ defense was still great last year, ranking 5th in the final SNAP Model, but Knowles could lift them up to be the best in the nation. In terms of personnel, losing Abdul Carter to the NFL could hurt, but Dani Dennis-Sutton seems ready to fill that role as the elite pass rusher Penn State always seems to have. The secondary should be elite again as well, led by AJ Harris and Zakee Wheatley. The second level probably has the most questions heading into the season, but could easily be one of the best in the Big Ten still.

The week five clash with Oregon may be one of the biggest games in program history. With the home night game whiteout and the Ducks traveling three time zones, the Nittany Lions absolutely have to get the big game narrative off of their backs in this game. I think they will win it, but if not now, when?

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