Penn State will make first 12-team College Football Playoff with 'improved offense': Newsstand
Where is Penn State in the latest preseason College Football Playoff projections? Today’s newsstand covers whether or not the Lions will get a home game, headlines of the day, and more.
Penn State tweets of the day
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic has released his preseason 12-team College Football Playoff projection. Penn State makes the cut. But, if the national college football writer who doubles as a sideline reporter for FOX is right, the Nittany Lions won’t host a game at Beaver Stadium. Instead, they’d travel to Ole Miss and meet Lane Kiffin’s team for the second consecutive postseason. Feldman has head coach James Franklin’s team as the 10 seed while the Rebels sit at No. 7.
In picking the Lions to make the field, Feldman writes that it will be because of an improved offense.
“New defensive coordinator Tom Allen, former Indiana head coach, takes over for Manny Diaz,” Feldman writes. “Coaches who’ve worked with Allen think highly of his defensive acumen and ability to connect with players. But offense was PSU’s biggest headache last year. Mike Yurcich is out and Andy Kotelnicki is in from Kansas. He did a superb job with the Jayhawks in spite of many injuries at QB the past few years. Twenty-year-old QB Drew Allar did a lot of good things in his first year as a starter (25 TDs, 2 INTs), but he and the offense fizzled in big games.
“They ranked No. 10 in the Big Ten in pass plays of 20-plus yards in 2023; improving explosiveness will be key, and former OSU WR Julian Fleming should help that. The running backs, led by Nick Singleton, are really talented. The opener at West Virginia will be a stiff test; the Nittany Lions also visit USC and Wisconsin. There’s probably only one team with close to Penn State’s talent on the schedule: Ohio State, which visits State College.”
Headlines of the day
What’s next after Zuriah Fisher’s injury? A closer look at Penn State’s defensive end situation: McGonigal, PennLive
Commitment flip brings Penn State running back future into focus: Bauer, BWI
Penn State’s Joe Kovacs Begins Quest for Third Olympics: Wogenrich, SI
Five-star prospect headlines list of 2026 recruits who visited Penn State this week: Snyder, BWI
‘A workout to change the world’ | Penn State football gives back during Lift for Life: Linderman, Daily Collegian
What are the top three questions facing the Penn State safeties this summer?: Pickel, BWI
Penn State Football: Allar Slims Down Ahead of Pivotal Summer: Jones, Statecollege.com
Quote of the day
“He works his tail off. Smart kid. Another kid who was a quarterback and is making the transition. He’s done a really nice job of kind of drinking through the fire hose of winter and spring ball.
“I’ve been really happy with his progress and those things. He’s very athletic, can run really well, really good ball skills, all those. And he’s getting better as a run blocker. So he’s been fun to watch.”
–PSU assistant Ty Howle on freshman tight end Luke Reynolds.
