Penn State football rises in post-spring top 25

After yet another 10-win season last fall, the Nittany Lions’ fifth such season since 2016, James Franklin is leading Penn State football into a crucial year. With depth and experience at key positions and a schedule that could lead right into the College Football Playoff, 2024 holds loads of promise for the Blue and White. After this month’s wave of spring games, 247Sports updated its top 25 rankings, once again pinning Penn State as one of the best teams in the country.

Penn State football moves up in the latest post-spring top 25 rankings

Few programs have done as much as Penn State football has in the last decade — four 11-win seasons, a 10-win season, and a nine-win season are accompanied by three New Year’s Six wins, a Big Ten title, and a number of top 10 and top 15 finishes in the Lions’ trophy case. Still, Penn State remains without a CFP berth or national title to this point, which is without question at the top of James Franklin‘s agenda heading into the new season this fall.

After this month’s Blue-White Game, Penn State football is clearly in need of some new weapons. Still, James Franklin has improved his 10-win squad from last season quite a bit throughout the offseason, including the addition of new offensive and defensive coordinators, leading most to believe that Penn State will take yet another step toward title contention this year.

In the latest top 25 rankings, Penn State football is ranked No. 9 nationally and No. 4 in the Big Ten. Within the conference, the Nittany Lions rank behind Ohio State (1), Oregon (4), and Michigan (7). This new ranking for Penn State is a one-spot improvement since 247Sports’ last rankings, which pinned the Nittany Lions as the No. 10 team in the country.

The post spring college football top 25 via @BCrawford247 at 247 Sports. 👀 pic.twitter.com/BbEOWD7pPD

— College Football Alerts  (@CFBAlerts_) April 27, 2024

Finally a playoff run for the Nittany Lions?

For ten years, the College Football Playoff has only included four teams; however, in 2024, it will include the nation’s top 12 teams. With this new system — not to mention Penn State’s schedule this fall — it looks like James Franklin may finally get his Nittany Lions into the Playoff and potentially even contend for a National Championship by season’s end.

This fall, the Nittany Lions have an excellent coaching staff, experience at key spots (such as quarterback Drew Allar), and more, meaning now is the time to strike at a CFP spot in Happy Valley. Even if Penn State falls to 10-2, as it has repeatedly over the past few years, James Franklin and his Lions should still manage a CFP spot as an “at-large” team. In fact, a 10-2 record may even lead to a Big Ten title game berth, seeing as the conference has gotten rid of divisions and will simply send its top two teams to square off for the championship.

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