Projecting The Preseason Top 25: Did The Hawkeyes Make The Cut?
By Dan Vasta
7) Penn State Nittany Lions
Key Player: RB Saquon Barkley
The offense is loaded with talent and you could make a strong case for QB Trace McSorley for Heisman with the way the passing attack evolved last year.
However, Barkley is the top back in America and can strike the Heisman pose on any given play. He is a true home run threat and will likely have the scouts drooling all season long.
Key Stat: Do You Remember?
It has been a while since PSU has had a ton of hype heading into a season, but based off last season the Nittany Lions are worth all the hype. The last time PSU was in the AP Top 5 in the month of September was in 2009 (9/26).
With Florida State-Alabama and Ohio State-Oklahoma playing within the first two weeks of the season, I’d say there is a great chance we see PSU back near the top of the polls yet again.
Key Game: 10/28 at Ohio State
PSU should be coming off a home victory over Michigan, but either way this game right here will likely decide who wins the division just like last season. The Buckeyes will be looking to exact revenge and we can only hope this one is as good as the last meeting. A blowout loss suffered by PSU would be devastating for their CFP chances, but a win would propel them to national prominence.