Penn State football: 5 reasons the Nittany Lions make it to the College Football Playoff

Penn State football: 5 reasons the Nittany Lions make it to the College Football Playoff

Elite talent on all three levels of the defense

While the offense has been certainly fun to watch at times, the Penn State football is downright elite on the defensive side of the ball, and the talent is on all three levels. Boasting playmakers at all three levels, the Nittany Lions have the talent to shut down the opposition’s offense, as we have seen through their first five games of the 2021 campaign.

The defense has not allowed more than 20 points in any game this season, and that includes matchups against ranked teams in Wisconsin and Auburn. The unit even held the Indiana offense without a score the last time out, which was impressive considering Indiana has a playmaker at quarterback in Michael Penix Jr., who was rendered ineffective all game long.

All told, it was the best effort we have seen from the defense all season long, and they will have to bring that same kind of effort if they are going to leave Kinnick Stadium with an unblemished record. Penn State football has guys that can get after the quarterback, like Arnold Ebiketie, possess absolute ballhawks in the secondary, and just may have the best linebacker in the Big Ten in Brandon Smith, all the makings of an elite unit.