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It seems like nobody can get a gauge on the type of season Penn State is primed for in 2026. They were initially expected to struggle mightily when Matt Campbell was selected as the head coach back in December and then things quickly changed.
People thought they had a chance to make a massive improvement from last season when the schedule was released, revealing that the Nittany Lions dodged key opponents lie the Oregon Ducks and Indiana Hoosiers. However, the general expectations have landed somewhere in the middle of those two extremes.
Matt De Lima of Sports Illustrated identified that Penn State has typically been ranked between 13th and 17th in preseason projections, but he believes they’re a touch overrated. De Lima believes that “voters are ranking a transition that has not played a snap.”
He acknowledges that the schedule is favorable and that there should be a lot camaraderie with 24 Iowa State players joining the team, but he is still skeptical about their true talent level. De Lima believes that the Nittany Lions won’t truly be tested this year, which gives him hesitation to consider them a top-20 team.
While he’s justified in having reservations about the team, it’s hard to deny that this isn’t a typical team coming off a 7-6 season. Penn State was on fire to end last season, winning its final four games, three of which were by double digits, and they did it all under the leadership of interim head coach Terry Smith.
Of course, there was a ton of roster turnover, but many of the players that departed were replaced by familiar faces that Campbell trusts. Then, when considering the fact that the team still has to take on Michigan and USC, you realize that they’ll still be tested, maybe just not quite as much as some other teams.
Could the publications be too bullish on the team? Sure, but they could also be hitting the nail on the head and seeing exactly what some of the biggest Penn State optimists see. One of these sides will be proven right soon, and there’s just one more month until we figure out which one it is.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State named one of most overrated teams in CFB preseason rankings
Continue reading...
People thought they had a chance to make a massive improvement from last season when the schedule was released, revealing that the Nittany Lions dodged key opponents lie the Oregon Ducks and Indiana Hoosiers. However, the general expectations have landed somewhere in the middle of those two extremes.
Matt De Lima of Sports Illustrated identified that Penn State has typically been ranked between 13th and 17th in preseason projections, but he believes they’re a touch overrated. De Lima believes that “voters are ranking a transition that has not played a snap.”
He acknowledges that the schedule is favorable and that there should be a lot camaraderie with 24 Iowa State players joining the team, but he is still skeptical about their true talent level. De Lima believes that the Nittany Lions won’t truly be tested this year, which gives him hesitation to consider them a top-20 team.
While he’s justified in having reservations about the team, it’s hard to deny that this isn’t a typical team coming off a 7-6 season. Penn State was on fire to end last season, winning its final four games, three of which were by double digits, and they did it all under the leadership of interim head coach Terry Smith.
Of course, there was a ton of roster turnover, but many of the players that departed were replaced by familiar faces that Campbell trusts. Then, when considering the fact that the team still has to take on Michigan and USC, you realize that they’ll still be tested, maybe just not quite as much as some other teams.
Could the publications be too bullish on the team? Sure, but they could also be hitting the nail on the head and seeing exactly what some of the biggest Penn State optimists see. One of these sides will be proven right soon, and there’s just one more month until we figure out which one it is.
FollowNittany Lions Wire on X and Facebook.
If you purchase through our links, the USA Today Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State named one of most overrated teams in CFB preseason rankings
Continue reading...
