Penn State receives highest preseason AP Poll ranking since 1997
Penn State received 23 first-place votes in the preseason media poll, two fewer than the preseason no. 1, the Texas Longhorns. Texas edged Penn State for the top spot in the AP poll by just five total points. Other teams receiving first-place votes include Ohio State (11), Clemson (4), and Oregon (1).
Last year, the Nittany Lions ranked 8th in the preseason AP poll and finished fifth, their highest final ranking since 2005, when they finished in third. This year feels different. Out of the top 25, Penn State arguably returns the most talent to its squad, starting with quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and defensive linemen Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant. Unfortunately, this did not see them as the top team in the nation.
That would be the Texas Longhorns, one of ten SEC schools in the top 25. This is the Horns' first-ever preseason No. 1 ranking in program history. With ten schools, the SEC is the leading conference in terms of teams within the top 25 with the Big Ten a close second, with six. Penn State is joined by No. 3 Ohio State , No. 7 Oregon, No. 12 Illinois, No. 14 Michigan, and No. 20 Indiana.
Ohio State continues its streak of 72 appearances in the preseason top 25. This year, the AP voters favored the experience of the Nittany Lions over the new-look Buckeyes. We will have to wait and see if they live up to that standard.
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