Penn State football will start the season ranked No. 7 in the AP Top 25. The Nittany Lions are one of three current Big Ten teams in the top 10 of the poll announced on Monday afternoon, with Michigan and Ohio State coming in at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.
Soon-to-be Big Ten additions USC, Washington and Oregon landed at No. 6, No. 10 and No. 15 respectively in the poll as well. Elsewhere in the conference, Wisconsin landed at No. 19 while Iowa rounded out the Top 25 at No. 25. Minnesota and Illinois are the only other Big Ten teams affiliated with the poll, with each team receiving votes in the preseason poll.
As expected, Georgia opens up the season at No. 1 overall at the outset of its historic quest for a third-straight national title. Alabama and LSU fill out the No. 4 and No. 5 spots just a bit ahead of Penn State in the rankings.
The Nittany Lions are looking to make the most of a promising finish to the 2022-23 season following a Rose Bowl victory over Utah to close out the year. Penn State will lean on what looks to be one of the best defenses in the nation alongside a talented running back room that try to help ease in whichever first-year starting quarterback — presumably sophomore Drew Allar — will take over the offense this fall.
Penn State opens the season Sept. 2 against West Virginia. Kick is slated for 7:30 eastern at Beaver Stadium.
