ESPN analyst ranks Penn State football in his preseason top 10

As we approach the 2024 college football season, it’s time for analysts around the country to start ranking the top teams. Penn State football is expected to land in the top 25, but it’s the rationale that’s provided by each analyst that makes you a believer. Recently, Greg McElroy of ESPN released his preseason rankings where the Nittany Lions landed in the top ten.

The Penn State football team returns enough experienced talent and added enough impactful transfers to have high hopes this fall. The yellow flag that stands in the way for the Nittany Lions is having to replace three coordinators in the same offseason. But that hasn’t stopped ESPN college football analyst and former Alabama QB Greg McElroy from ranking Penn State at No. 8 in his preseason top 25.

On Always College Football on the YouTube channel for ESPN, McElroy explained in more detail what the Penn State offense has to do to find more success this fall.

“…I look at what this offense was last year. They were great against average competition. 36 plus points per game against everyone not named Ohio State or Michigan. Against Ohio State and Michigan, they averaged less than 14 points per game. So, Andy Kotelnicki is going to have to take what I think is pretty good personnel and elevate that personnel with some creativity…”

Who did McElory rank above Penn State?

Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

While Penn State on paper is set to have a run at making the College Football Playoff, who stands in their way this preseason according to Greg McElroy? Directly ahead of the Nittany Lions, he has Ole Miss at No. 7, the team that last defeated Penn State in the Peach Bowl.

Then, the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame come in at No. 6. The new look Alabama Crimson Tide land at No. 5.

Once he gets into his top four he has two Big Ten teams and two SEC teams that lead the way in the college football world. Texas (4), Oregon (3), Georgia (2), and Ohio State (1) are the top teams to beat for the 2024 season.

When explaining why Ohio State is the best team in the country, McElroy provided additional context.

“My number one ranked team heading into 2024 is the Ohio State Buckeyes,” McElroy said. “Everyone’s hungry, everyone’s angry, everyone watched their rival [Michigan] win the National Championship last year and that is a powerful thing…”

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