The 15th annual cleveland.com Big Ten Preseason Poll dropped, and Penn State football was backed by 11 of 24 voters that put it first of all 18 conference teams.
This is the first time the Nittany Lions have been the preseason poll favorite, according to Stephen Means, and the returning experience is a big factor as to why they earned the top spot.
"Penn State enters the season with a bevy of returning talent, similar to what Michigan and Ohio State did the last two seasons," Means wrote. "Both went on to win national titles, even if the Wolverines were the only ones to win the conference."
On the offense, the backfield was most notable for Means. With Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, and Kaytron Allen returning, head coach James Franklin has the best quarterback in the conference going into the season and the best running back duo in the country.
Defensively, adding defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to the coaching staff is already a boost. Even without Abdul Carter, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant have the experience and talent to fill Carter's absence alongside A.J. Harris leading the secondary.
In 2024, Penn State fell to Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game, 45-37. A late-fourth quarter interception by Allar sealed the deal for the Nittany Lions both in the conference championship and College Football Playoff semifinals. The last time Franklin won the Big Ten was in 2016 during this third season as head coach. Now entering his 12th, it's time for him to reclaim that title.
After the voting, Penn State received 435 points and a 1.60 average rank. Following just behind the Nittany Lions, Ohio State earned 10 first-place votes and 431 points. The Buckeyes also had a 1.76 average rank.
Means noted that even with 15 players declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft after the CFP title win, head coach Ryan Day still has Caleb Downs and Jeremiah Smith. Ohio State, on top of players, lost both coordinators as well — Knowles heading to conference foe Penn State. Unlike the Nittany Lions, the Buckeyes will have more adjustments with new players, like quarterback Julian Sayin, rather than hit the ground running with experience.
Oregon also received two first-place votes and landed third on the poll. Michigan received one first-place vote, but Illinois snuck in front into fourth one spot ahead of the Wolverines. Michigan State and Rutgers tied for 13th on the poll with 135 points each. The full cleveland.com ranking here: