Where is Penn State in the early 2024 college football top-25s? Perceptions of the Lions vary

The college football world officially closed the books on the 2023 season Monday night when Michigan beat Washington in the College Football Playoff title game. Penn State was one of many teams with hopes of playing at NRG Stadium when the year began. But, the Lions ultimately made another New Year’s Six bowl but not the four-team Playoff.

Now that the 2024 offseason is underway for all, media members are releasing their way-too-early top 25 polls for the season ahead. All come with the caveat that coach and roster movement will change the way these look by August. So, too, will spring position battles and training camp surprises. But, tracking them is a rite of passage, and we have a full rundown below. We start with Jesse Simonton, who puts the Lions at No. 9.

“The expanded playoff setup is meant for programs like Penn State, which has struggled to break through the crowded top of the now-defunct Big Ten East,” Simonton writes. “The Nittany Lions have a pair of new coordinators in Andy Kotelnicki from Kansas State and ex-Indiana head coach Tom Allen, replacing Duke head coach Manny Diaz. Drew Allar returns for his second season as a starter, and while PSU’s defense is sending several standouts to the NFL, Abdul Carter is back to lead a likely Top 10 unit again next fall.”

More: Penn State roster turnover helps clarify spring picture

Mark Schlabach of ESPN, meanwhile, puts the Lions at No. 12.

“It seemed the Nittany Lions missed a chance in 2023 to challenge Michigan and Ohio State in the Big Ten East with one of the better defenses in the FBS,” Schlabach writes. “But Penn State’s passing game wasn’t good enough — it ranked 80th in the FBS with 215 passing yards per contest. Coach James Franklin brought in former Kansas offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki to jump-start his attack. There are some nice pieces coming back in quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen and tight end Tyler Warren.

“Both starting offensive tackles will have to be replaced, and the receiver room needs a serious upgrade. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz left to become Duke’s head coach and was replaced with former Indiana coach Tom Allen. The Nittany Lions will miss their two departing lockdown cornerbacks, but there’s enough talent returning for Allen to be successful in his first season.”

For CBS Sports, Dennis Dodd puts Penn State at No. 16 in his too-early top 25. At USA Today, Paul Myerberg and Erick Smith have the Lions at No. 15.

“The factors that will determine Penn State’s offense in 2024? What the Nittany Lions will get (if anything) at WR, how well they break in a rebuilt offensive line and whether QB Drew Allar will blossom under new coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who worked wonders in the same role at Kansas,” they write. “If all goes right, Penn State could win the Big Ten or at least land an at-large playoff bid. On defense, former Indiana coach Tom Allen takes over coordinator duties for a unit that looks very good in the front seven but has to find reliable defenders in the secondary to surround rising junior DB Cam Miller.”

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Pro Football Focus, then, joins Simonton from On3 in putting the Lions inside the top 10. Max Chadwick slots them at No. 8.

“Unlike the (likely) three Big Ten teams above them on this list, the Nittany Lions won’t need to replace their starting quarterback,” Chadwick writes. “While Drew Allar often drew the ire of the PSU faithful, he was far from the biggest problem with Penn State’s offense this year. The sophomore’s 87.1 PFF grade was a top-20 mark among FBS quarterbacks while the Nittany Lions finished outside the top-55 teams in both receiving (81st) and pass-blocking (60th) grades this year. 

“Help is on the way in both aspects as Penn State picked up a couple of former five-star recruits in the transfer portal: wide receiver Julian Fleming (Ohio State) and offensive tackle Nolan Rucci (Wisconsin). The Nittany Lions also have a new offensive coordinator in Kansas’ Andy Kotelnicki to help Allar fully unlock his potential.”

For The Action Network, longtime college football reporter Brett McMurphy has the Lions at No. 11. Stewart Mandel of The Athletic has them at No. 18. And, Bill Bender of The Sporting News puts them at No. 15.

“Penn State was one of the “it” teams heading into the 2023 season. But, the losses to Ohio State and Michigan in the regular season and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss means the same-old questions about James Franklin are back,” Bender writes.

“When will the Nittany Lions break through? Quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen are back, and the addition of Ohio State transfer wide receiver Julian Fleming should help the passing game. Linebacker Abdul Carter is a first-round talent. Back-to-back home games against Ohio State (Nov. 2) and Washington (Nov. 9) will determine whether the Nittany Lions stay in the Big Ten championship hunt.”

Full early 2024 top-25 breakdown for the Lions

PFF: No. 8
On3: No. 9
The Action Network: No. 11
ESPN: No. 12
USA Today: No. 15
Sporting News: No. 15
CBS Sports: No. 16
The Athletic: No. 18