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Where does Penn State rank in the preseason AP Top 25?

Mug-Shot 4x4by:Ryan Snyder•08/14/23•

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Penn State head coach James Franklin. (Credit: Daniel Althouse | Blue White Illustrated)

Penn State is just under three weeks from its season opener against West Virginia. Coming off an 11-2 season which resulted in a win at the Rose Bowl over Utah, expectations are as high as they’ve ever been under James Franklin’s leadership.

Last week, the first preseason poll of the season was released, with the Nittany Lions coming in at No. 7 overall in the Coaches Poll. Now, the Associated Press Poll has also been released with Penn State coming in at the same position, No. 7.

“I do think this is as much depth we have had,” Franklin said during media day last Sunday. “We have a three-deep at pretty much every position and I’d probably describe it a little bit more in more detail as probably a two-and-a-half deep.

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“…So I think the stability on the staff, the more depth, those things, those things are good, and I think they typically lead to giving yourself a chance to be successful. Are we excited about it? Yes. Do we still have a lot of work to do and a lot of questions to answer? Yes. Do I think we are arguably in the best conference in college football and specifically the best division? I think we are part of that argument. I think it’s hard to say that we’re not. And again, I’ve been a head coach in both conferences that are a part of that discussion, in my opinion, so I think I’ve got a pretty good lens on all of this. So that’s how I would describe it.”

As expected, Penn State’s primary rivals in the Big Ten, Michigan and Ohio State, both rank ahead of the Nittany Lions at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. You’ll also find Wisconsin at No. 19 and Iowa at No. 25.

The Badgers were also part of the Coaches Poll, albeit slightly lower at No. 21. The Hawkeyes, who come to Beaver Stadium at the end of September, currently only rank in the AP Poll.

Nittany Lion fans can check out the complete preseason poll below.

Associated Press Poll – Preseason

1) Georgia
2) Michigan
3) Ohio State
4) Alabama
5) LSU
6) USC
7) Penn State
8) Florida State
9) Clemson
10) Washington
11) Texas
12) Tennessee
13) Notre Dame

14) Utah
15) Oregon
16) Kansas State
17) TCU
18) Oregon State
19) Wisconsin
20) Oklahoma
21) North Carolina
22) Ole Miss
23) Texas A&M
24) Tulane
25) Iowa

Others Receiving Votes: Texas Tech 101, South Carolina 73, UCLA 66, UTSA 64, Arkansas 22, Boise St. 17, Pittsburgh 16, Kentucky 14, Louisville 10, Troy 10, Kansas 10, Auburn 7, Minnesota 6, Toledo 4, Duke 4, Mississippi St. 4, Florida 4, Illinois 3, Baylor 3, Coastal Carolina 3, South Alabama 1, NC State 1, James Madison 1, Liberty 1.

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