Penn State continues to generate lots of buzz as a national championship contender throughout the offseason.
On Monday, FOX’s Joel Klatt ranked the Nittany Lions as the No. 1 team in the country following the conclusion of spring practices. Last year, Klatt ranked Ohio State as the No. 1 team in his post-spring top 25, and the Buckeyes lived up to expectations by bringing home a championship in the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Klatt had Penn State ranked No. 9 last season, but those expectations were exceeded. This year, Klatt is all-in on the Nittany Lions, who have generated lots of buzz after making a run to the semifinals last season and returning lots of production on both sides of the ball.
Other notable teams in the rankings inclue Ohio State at No. 3 and Oregon at No. 4. Penn State is set to face the Ducks on Sept. 27 and for its Big Ten opener and the Buckeyes on Nov. 1 following a bye week. Other Big Ten teams in the mix include No. 10 Illinois, No. 12 Michigan, No. 21 Indiana and No. 23 Iowa.
Following the Nittany Lions’ narrow Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame, the team brought back quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, defensive tackle Zane Durant and safety Zakee Wheatley, all of whom had a shot at being selected in this year’s NFL draft had they declared.
Penn State also had a full reset in the wide receiver room, the weak point for the team the last two seasons, bringing in highly touted transfers Trebor Pena from Syracuse, Kyron Hudson from USC and Devonte Ross from Troy.
With one of the most talented overall rosters in the country and lots of continuity from last year’s run, Penn State has put itself firmly in the conversation to open next season at the No. 1 team.