Penn State Football: Nittany Lions No.6 In Athlon Preseason Poll

While the uncertainty of polling makes anything possible, it’s safe for Penn State fans to assume that the Nittany Lions will enter the 2017 in the Top 10.

According to the Athlon Sports preseason Top 25, it will be Penn State’s spot at No.6 heading into a highly anticipated campaign. A No.6 ranking would put the Nittany Lions behind Rose Bowl opponent USC at No.5 with Ohio State rounding out the Top 5 at No.2 just behind Alabama. 

Michigan is the only other Big Ten team in the Athlon Top 10 with the Wolverines coming in at No. 10.

Penn State starting the season in the Top 10 would be the 10th time the Nittany Lions have done so since 1981 when Penn State opened at No. 5 in the Coaches Poll. The Nittany Lions mostly recently started the season in the Top 10 prior to the 2009 season but haven’t opened in the Top 5 since 1999 when Penn State was ranked third in the nation.

in nine previous seasons, Penn State has lost more than three games on only one occasion in 1992. The Nittany Lions went undefeated twice after opening the season in the Top 10.

Overall Penn State’s season started in the top of the rankings have averaged just over 10 wins per season (10.11) with an average of 2.22 losses.

How the 2017 season unfolds is an unknown, but with plenty of talent returning, it stands to reason the Nittany Lions will be well on their way to holding up that average.