Penn State among five programs under the most pressure in 2024
Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki acknowledged the pressure of the job he walked into. Coming from Kansas, a traditional doormat of the Big 12, the Jayhawks were under pressure to improve from nothing to something, and consistently build upon it.
At Penn State, he said, the pressure he is under is at once familiar, even if slightly changed.
“The difference is, the improvement for Penn State and what that looks like if we improve, is to be the best in the country,” Kotelnicki said. “That’s the only difference. It’s how you manage it. But we all just gotta get better.
“Every day we’re competing and every day there’s that ‘pressure’ to go out there and beat somebody.”
Last weekend, PFF College put words to it.
Evaluating five college football programs under pressure in 2024, the Nittany Lions are included in the list. And, they’re there for reasons now plenty familiar to Penn State fans. Having traversed the decade-long era of the College Football Playoff without an appearance under its four-team format, a new, accomodating arrangement is set to lower the bar to entry.
Why Penn State football is under pressure in 2024
Making the College Football Playoff will be an easier task in 2024 with 12 teams participating, which means there are no excuses for James Franklin and Penn State not to qualify in what feels like a make-or-break year for the program.
Whether or not that’s true is certainly up for debate. Franklin is entering the third season on a 10-year contract extension signed in November 2021. But, the piece continues, the personnel now in place to help get the program over the hump is seemingly capable of delivering. And, especially true on the offensive side of the ball, that conversation begins with quarterback Drew Allar.
“Quarterback Drew Allar did not progress as hoped last season in an offense that struggled to protect him and generate downfield production. Allar tallied only 12 big-time throws with an 8.0-yard average target depth on 391 attempts. He brings sky-high potential, however.
“Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming, who recorded an 11.5-yard average target depth in 2023, should help Allar as his new top target.”
Scouting the Nittany Lions’ defense
Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, PFF is anticipating a maintained standard of excellence that has been demonstrated through the Nittany Lions’ most recent seasons.
“The Nittany Lions will once again rely on the defense that carried them a season ago, a unit that ranked first in the FBS in pass-rushing grade (91.5) and second in EPA per play against (-0.256). They return stars Abdul Carter and Kevin Winston Jr., who are both top-25 draft prospects on PFF’s 2025 draft big board. Winston’s 92.8 PFF tackling grade led all safeties in college football, while his PFF overall grade ranked second (89.2).”
Combined, those elements have Penn State sharing commonalities with other programs suffering from the same fatigue waiting to get over the hump. Though different in nature, the desires of Florida and Miami fans coming off disappointing seasons, as well as those of Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Penn State, each of whom produced double-digit win totals a year ago, set the table for a high-stakes 2024 season.
“We know how good the defense can be, and if Allar can improve, the offense could be what puts Penn State over the top this season. Otherwise, there could be major shake-ups coming.”
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