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Penn State Football a favorite to be ‘next Clemson,” ESPN says

By Evan Smith

Parker Washington of Penn State crosses the goal line scoring Penn State's first TD of the game in the first half during Big Ten college football match up, Penn State at Rutgers in Piscataway, NJ on December 5, 2020.Big Ten College Football Penn State At Rutgers In Piscataway Nj On December 5 2020
Parker Washington of Penn State crosses the goal line scoring Penn State's first TD of the game in the first half during Big Ten college football match up, Penn State at Rutgers in Piscataway, NJ on December 5, 2020.Big Ten College Football Penn State At Rutgers In Piscataway Nj On December 5 2020 /
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Penn State Football received high praise from ESPN this week, listed as the fourth-most likely program in the country to be “the next Clemson” 

Penn State Football ranked fourth among collegiate football programs that could become the next Clemson Tigers.

Now before we all rag on Dabo Swinney, let’s take a look at how Clemson has fared the last six seasons.

In 2015, Clemson lost in the Final 45-40 to Alabama. In 2016, Clemson won the National Championship over Alabama 35-31. Then, in 2017, Clemson lost in the semifinals.  In 2018, they beat Alabama in the National Championship 44-16. In 2018 they fell to LSU in the finals, 42-25.  And last year, they lost to Ohio State in the semifinals.

For those keeping score at home, that’s six years, six College Football Playoff Appearances, and a pair of National Championships over that span.

It almost goes without saying they won the ACC every year.

Penn State Football during that same time-frame? The Nittany Lions claimed one conference championship, zero College Football Playoff appearances.

Like it or not … Clemson is the standard bearer. Penn State Football should want to be Clemson.

Bill Connelly (ESPN) says Penn State is primed for a Clemson like run, ranking the Lions just behind Georgia, Notre Dame (ugh), Oregon, and ahead of LSU.

https://twitter.com/ESPNCFB/status/1370037500199137281

On Penn State specifically, he said:

"“James Franklin swung big by hiring offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich…his 2021 team will be his most experienced in a while and there could be more upside than you think.”"

Clemson may not be everyone’s favorite cup of tea, but count me in as someone who wants a Clemson-like run over the next six years.

If the strong recruiting can continue, maybe we’ll see a changing of the guard from Tigers to Lions … oh my!

Next. Penn State's 2022 class closing in on milestone. dark

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