Where is Penn State in the On3 1-131 preseason college football rankings?
Penn State has not been listed in the top 25 of many preseason college football rankings. However, that’s not the case with On3’s 1-131 listing. It was released on Thursday just before kickoff of this weekend’s games, which start the season.
On3 national executive editor Mike Huguenin has slotted head coach James Franklin’s Nittany Lions at No. 16.
“How good can the Nittany Lions be?” Huguenin writes.
“It’s all about the rushing attack, which means the o-line must play a lot better than it has the past few seasons. QB Sean Clifford is solid, there are good receivers and the defense should be stout.”
Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Clemson, and Texas A&M rounded out the top five in that order. The only other Big Ten team ahead of Penn State was Michigan. The Wolverines checked in at No. 6.
More Penn State preseason predictions
Penn State did not make the top 25 in either The Associated Press media rankings or the USA Today Coaches poll. That has not happened for several years. But, it is not a great surprise considering the Lions are coming off back-to-back seasons that resulted in an 11-11 combined record.
Some do believe Penn State will be better than expected in 2022. Others, however, don’t buy it. There is no better example of this than CBS Sports’ recent Big Ten picks and predictions. Made up of multiple writers, one called the Lions the conference’s most overrated team. Three others, though, pegged it as the league’s most underrated program entering the season.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
DJ Lagway
Florida QB to return vs. LSU
- 2
Dylan Raiola injury
Nebraska QB will play vs. USC
- 3
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 4New
SEC changes course
Alcohol sales at SEC Championship Game
- 5
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
“The Big Ten East is always a bear,” Dennis Dodd writes in calling PSU overrated. “The Nittany Lions need bear repellant because this season they’re not in the class of Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State.
“Sean Clifford in his last season will be a factor, but nine wins would be an upset. James Franklin slumped last season after the loss of Clifford against Iowa. That was the difference. Penn State just doesn’t measure up against powerhouse Ohio State, Michigan and a Michigan State squad that could make a run at 10 wins again (after winning 11 in 2021).”
CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, and Shehan Jeyarajah took the underrated side.
“Two years of falling well short of expectations have resulted in Penn State going into 2022 unranked in the preseason poll for the first time in six years,” Patterson writes.
“The Nittany Lions were a much better team than their 7-6 record might indicate last season, but I think the big step forward comes not just from getting better bounces in close games but from an infusion of young talent — especially at the running back position — that will create a spark offensively. Penn State is a top-25 caliber team and potentially the third-best team in the Big Ten; 2022 will be the rebound that proves this is one of the pace-setters in the conference.”
Penn State opens the 2022 season at Purdue on Sept. 1. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. on FOX.
