One year removed from an 11-win campaign, a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl Game berth, Penn State is a trendy pick to make the College Football Playoff this season.
The Nittany Lions came in at No. 6 in the first Associated Press top 25 poll of 2017.
Penn State's 2017 football season is a flip of the recent script as the Lions transition from underdogs to defending Big Ten champions and prime national title contenders.
Penn State great Blair Thomas believes that this year's team can live up to its lofty preseason ranking.