With college football spring practices coming to a close and the transfer window once again open, now is a great time to form some updated opinions on where teams may be standing going into the summer before preparing for the upcoming college football season. It will be here before you know it, of course!
USA TODAY Sports released its post-spring top 25 and thought very highly of Penn State. ESPN also released an updated post-spring top 25 power ranking. And while it is optimistic about Penn State’s trajectory for the 2023 season, ESPN’s outlook for Penn State is down a slight step or two from the USA TODAY Sports post-spring ranking.
ESPN’s post-spring power ranking has Penn State at No. 8 following the conclusion of spring football practices, which seems like it is right in the neighborhood of where a number of preseason rankings could be slotting the Nittany Lions. Georgia and Michigan take the top two posts in the ESPN power rankings, surprising to almost nobody. Florida State (no. 3) and USC (no. 4), two teams that have been trendy offseason picks for playoff contention (USC was nearly in it last year), round out the top four before Ohio State (no. 5) and Alabama (no. 6) make their appearances.
Penn State checks in at no. 8, one spot behind LSU. Here is what ESPN had to say about the Nittany Lions;
Can the Nittany Lions finally get past Michigan and Ohio State in the Big Ten East and contend for their first league title since 2016? It’s going to be difficult to do it this season, but they feel like they’ve got one of their better chances with Drew Allar, the No. 2 pocket passer in the 2022 ESPN 300, taking over the offense. Penn State has two very good tailbacks in Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. Kent State transfer Dante Cephas should help a receiver corps that already includes KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Harrison Wallace III. The offensive line, led by left tackle Olu Fashanu, should be better and deeper. The defense was much better under coordinator Manny Diaz last season, and cornerback Kalen King and linebacker Abdul Carter are stars.
As will be a recurring theme in all of the Penn State preview content to come this summer, the big question on everyone’s mind with the Nittany Lions will be if they have enough in the tank to get ahead of Michigan and/or Ohio State to jump into the playoff mix. This power ranking from ESPN keeps Penn State at a healthy third in the Big Ten hierarchy, which feels appropriate. Maybe Penn State will hit it stride and give Michigan and Ohio State a serious challenge for the Big Ten East Division this fall. And if they do, and can manage to get at least a split, then things could be looking good for a potential playoff push as long as Penn State doesn’t slip up elsewhere on the schedule.
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