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Where is Penn State in the final Coaches Poll of the 2024 season?

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel01/21/25

GregPickel

james-franklin-sizing-up-notre-dame-run-game-offensive-strides
Penn State head coach James Franklin celebrated Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen for their contributions on Saturday. (Photo credit: Steve Manuel/BWI)

The final top 25s for the 2024 college football season are out from The Associated Press and the USA Today Coaches Poll. Where did Penn State finish after going 13-3 in head coach James Franklin’s 11th season in State College while qualifying for the College Football Playoff for the first time and winning two games before falling to Notre Dame in the semifinals to end their season?

Penn State is No. 5 in the Coaches Poll, and behind only Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas, and Oregon. It is No. 5, behind only those five schools, in the final AP top 25, as well, although the Longhorns and Ducks are flipped in the latter. Both were released on Tuesday less than 24 hours after the Buckeyes beat the Fighting Irish 34-23 in the national title game.

The Lions were as high as No. 3 in this year’s Coaches Poll. They were as low as No. 9, which is where they started the season.

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Full final USA Today Coaches Poll top 25

1) Ohio State
2) Notre Dame
3) Texas
4) Oregon
5) Penn State
6) Georgia
7) Arizona State
8) Tennessee
9) Boise State
10) Indiana
11) SMU
12) Clemson
13) Ole Miss

14) BYU
15) Iowa State
16) Illinois
17) Alabama
18) Miami
19) South Carolina
20) Missouri
21) Army
22) Syracuse
23) Memphis
24) UNLV
25) Colorado

Others receiving votes:​ LSU 44, Navy 28, Louisville 28, Michigan 20, Ohio 6, TCU 5, Marshall 1

Taking an early look at Penn State in 2025

Head coach James Franklin’s team will have some changes but also numerous returners in 2025.

In the former category, All-Americans Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren move on from their starting spots at defensive end and tight end, respectively. Both are projected to be first-round NFL Draft picks. Other first-team and/or key rotational losses include middle linebacker Kobe King, cornerback Jalen Kimber, guard Sal Wormley, safeties Jaylen Reed and KJ Winston Jr., and defensive tackle Coziah Izzard. Penn State also saw receivers Trey Wallace and Omari Evans enter the NCAA transfer portal since the season ended. Defensive coordinator Tom Allen is also moving on. He now holds the same title at Clemson.

As for the returnees, first-teamers who could have moved on but are coming back as things currently stand include quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, six of the top seven offensive linemen, defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, linebacker Dom DeLuca, and safety Zakee Wheatley, among others. All four specialists are returning, too.

It all leads to an early top 25 list that has Penn State inside of the top five with most having them inside of the top 3. The Athletic even has the Lions at No. 1 entering the new season. It starts in late August when Nevada visits Beaver Stadium. A kickoff time for the game will be announced later this year.

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