Is Penn State fairly ranked in the preseason national polls (#6 Coaches Poll, #7 AP Poll) ?
I’d say the Nittany Lions are right where they should be. After such a strong year, the pollsters reward them in the top 10. However, they now need to prove it’s not a fluke. With a unit featuring one of the most explosive backfields in the country, the offense is in a good spot. Although they don’t receive recognition, the defense finished in the top third of the country and should be back again with senior safety Marcus Allen leading the charge.
Badger of Honor Reaction:
Penn State had a 14-point 4th quarter lead in the Rose Bowl before Sam Darnold and the USC offense caught fire. The Nittany Lions sputtered and a late turnover allowed USC to complete the smash and grab in regulation. Penn State probably should have won that Rose Bowl game. They didn’t but clearly showed they were one of the elite teams in the country. Obviously Alabama and The Ohio State are ahead based on reputation, returning players, and recruiting. The high ranking appears warranted based on what the Nittany Lions have returning. I think Penn State has a good argument to rank ahead of Washington and Oklahoma in the AP Poll. The Sooner and Buckeyes meet early so the loser will likely drop a couple places anyway. Penn State is ahead of Oklahoma and Washington in the Coaches Poll but behind Clemson. Evidently the holders have enough coming back on defense to justify the high ranking. That may be a case of pollsters not wanting to rank the defending champs too low.