For the first time since 2020, the Nittany Lions will start the season ranked in the top 10 by both major preseason polls. The Lions came at No. 7 in the Coaches Poll just a week ago, and now they are also ranked No. 7 in the preseason AP Poll.
Penn State sits behind the usual suspects, as Georgia took 60 first-place votes to keep the top spot, followed by Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, and LSU to round the top five.
USC sits ahead of Penn State outside of the top five at No.