Is It Too Early to Declare Penn State a Playoff Contender in 2024?
College football enters a new world in 2024, with a 12-team playoff, expanded Big Ten, SEC and ACC rosters and the sad dissolve of the Pac-12. But our appetite for college football never wanes, as evidenced by the great trend of January: the Too Early College Football Rankings.
The confetti still fell on Michigan's College Football Playoff championship win over Washington when the 2024 predictions began arriving. Penn State, which ranked 13th in the final AP Top 25 of the 2023 season, isn't driving the high expectations it did last season but does figure into the national conversation. The Nittany Lions return most of their skill talent on offense, including quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen; received good news with the returns of defensive tackles DVon Ellies and Hakeem Beamon and tight end Tyler Warren; and seek a fresh start with offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.
So what do the national folks think of Penn State's 2024 prospects? According to BetOnline.ag, the Nittany Lions are 25/1 odds to win the CFP title (between Florida State at 20/1 and Tennessee at 28/1). How about to make the playoffs? Here's a look at Penn State's place in the Too Early College Football Rankings for 2024.
RELATED: A look at Penn State's 2024 football schedule
To start, Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde seems to hit the mean, placing Penn State at No. 11. He wrote that the Lions need an "infusion of offensive electricity."
ESPN projects Penn State at No. 12, one spot behind defending runnerup Washington, which it will host at Beaver Stadium in November.
247Sports places Penn State at No. 10, projecting that the offense will improve in 2024.
At The Athletic, Stewart Mandel drops Penn State to No. 18, just ahead of Florida State, after what he called a "disappointing" 2023 season.
USA Today wonders (with everyone else) about Penn State's offensive line and wide receiver positions in picking the Nittany Lions at No. 15.
Pro Football Focus, which grades everything, gives fairly high marks to Penn State, ranking the team at No. 8. PFF likes the fact that Penn State isn't breaking in a new quarterback like Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon, which all rank above the Lions.
The Action Network's Brett McMurphy, who posted his rankings before the championship game, placed Penn State at No. 11 behind Missouri.
On3 is onboard with Penn State, ranking the Nittany Lions at No. 9 and calling the expanded playoff "meant for programs like Penn State."
Remember that ESPN's SP+ just loved Penn State all season, placing the Lions at No. 5 despite their 10-3 record. We'll see if that continues in 2024.
More Penn State Football
The Penn State Football Year in Review
Penn State falls in final AP Top 25 poll of 2023
Penn State's Paul Posluszny elected to College Football Hall of Fame
Tom Allen will 'do great things at Penn State,' Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. says
Defensive tackle DVon Ellies returning to Penn State for 6th year
Former Wisconsin lineman Nolan Rucci transfers to Penn State
Former Ohio State receiver Julian Fleming transferring to Penn State
The most telling Penn State stats of the Peach Bowl
What went wrong for Penn State in the Peach Bowl
How the Ole Miss Rebels, and coach Lane Kiffin, trolled Penn State at the Peach Bowl
Sheetz vs. Wawa: Penn State coach James Franklin pitches both for NIL opportunities
AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.
