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Penn State

Where does Penn State rank in the Cleveland.com Big Ten preseason poll?

Mug-Shot 4x4by: Ryan Snyder07/21/25RyanSnyderOn3
drew-allar-penn-state-football-2-on3
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. (Credit: Frank Hyatt | Blue White Illustrated)

Penn State already had big expectations heading into the 2025 season. Now, they’ve gotten just a bit higher, as the Nittany Lions were picked as the team to beat in Cleveland.com’s Big Ten preseason poll. This is the first time that Penn State has ever led the poll since it began 15 years ago.

Out of 25 total voters, head coach James Franklin‘s team just edged out Ohio State with 11 first-place votes to 10, scoring 435 total points. The Buckeyes finished second with 431 points, followed by Oregon in third with 405 total points. The Ducks also earned two first-place votes.

Of course, Penn State plays both the Ducks and Buckeyes this season. Last year, PSU came up short in close games with both schools, but now bring back what many believe is the deepest team in the conference and possibly the entire country.

Led by quarterback Drew Allar, Penn State’s offense features the return of elite running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton. They also added talented wide receivers via the transfer portal and have arguably the best offensive line in the country.

Defensively, Penn State lost a few playmakers but is also now led by one of the nation’s best defensive coordinators, Jim Knowles. Defensive linemen Zane Durant and Dani Dennis-Sutton will be key up front, while linebacker Tony Rojas, cornerback AJ Harris and safety Zakee Wheatley all return after playing big roles in Penn State’s 2024 College Football Playoff run that saw them advance to the semifinals.

Complete Cleveland.com Preseason Poll

School & RankingPointsAverage Rank
1) Penn State435 (11 first-place votes)1.60
2) Ohio State435 (10)1.76
3) Oregon405 (2)2.80
4) Illinois3534.88
5) Michigan3465.16
6) Indiana3056.80
7) Iowa2877.52
8) Nebraska2777.92
9) USC2698.24
10) Washington21610.36
11) Minnesota19211.32
12) Wisconsin15912.60
T-13) Michigan State13513.60
T-13) Rutgers13513.60
15) UCLA13413.64
16) Maryland9115.36
17) Northwestern6516.40
18) Purdue3917.44

Order the Penn State preview magazine from Blue-White Illustrated today!

This is a must-have for every Nittany Lion fan! This year’s preview is 116 pages discussing everything you need to know ahead of a massive 2025 season for Penn State.

Notable features include:

  • A season preview breaking down Penn State’s best players and position groups
  • The freshmen most likely to play
  • Position-by-position analysis of the Lions
  • In-depth player and coach features
  • Historical articles and NFL updates on former Lions
  • A final evaluation of the departing recruiting class
  • An exclusive Q&A with head coach James Franklin
  • Expert columns, opponent previews, and more

Link to order: https://bit.ly/BW-Preview

REMINDER – This special edition is INCLUDED with a regular subscription to Blue White Illustrated’s magazine. That is different from a subscription to the website. You only need to order if you want an additional copy — makes a great preseason gift!

Questions? Call 800-421-7751 (Mon-Fri 10 am – 4 pm ET)

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