On Monday, Aug. 12, the Associated Press released their preseason top 25 college football poll. To begin the 2024 college football season, Penn State ranks as the No. 8 team in the nation.
This marks the second consecutive season that the Nittany Lions have begun the year in the top-10 rankings, having ranked as the No. 7 team in last season’s preseason poll. Last season, Penn State finished the year outside the top 10 following a 10-3 season.
Only two of Penn State’s opponents rank among the AP’s top 25. Ohio State—who will face Penn State on Nov. 2, is listed as the No. 2 team in college football, while USC—who the Nittany Lions will face on Oct. 12, begins the season as the No. 23 team.
After losing Olu Fashanu, Caedan Wallace, and Hunter Nourzad on the offensive line, in addition to playmaking tight end Theo Johnson and a host of defensive impact players, including Chop Robinson, Adisa Issac, Daequan Hardy, and Kevin King to the draft, there are plenty of holes to fill, but players like Abdul Carter, Dani Dennis-Sutton, and star safety K.J. Winston will have plenty of opportunity to carry the team.
Penn State opens its season on Aug. 31 with an away matchup at noon against West Virginia.
