The Penn State Nittany Lions being the 2024 season as a contender for the College Football Playoff.
Penn State begins the 2024 college football season as a lead contender for the College Football Playoff. Just as it did last year, right? Yet this year the Nittany Lions have a broader opportunity in a 12-team playoff.
Penn State ranks eighth in ESPN's latest preseason power rankings, which place Georgia atop college football. The Nittany Lions, which begin the 2024 season atElsewhere, The Action Network's Brett McMurphy projects Penn State as a No. 9 seed in the College Football Playoff in hisOf course, Penn State's hinge point, according to ESPN, is offense — specifically new coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and how he can prepare second-year starter Drew Allar. "With Kotelnicki calling plays, Kansas ranked third in yards per attempt and 10th in air yards per attempt last year,". "The Nittany Lions have the talent on both sides of the ball to make a run to the playoff — if the passing attack takes another step forward." Welcome to the club. Even Penn State coach James Franklin has identified explosive plays, particularly in the passing game, as a hinge point of his offense. "We're not starting from scratch , so are you able to come in, study what we do, what can stay the same and what needs to change?" Franklin said of Kotelnicki's introduction to the Penn State offense. "I think the big thing obviously, did a ton of good things on offense last year, but we were not explosive enough. Coach Kotelnicki and what they were able to do at Kansas the last two years, extremely explosive and just did a really good job as a relational leader, coming in and building those relationships with our staff and players."Franklin begins his 11th season as Penn State's head coach with a roster that returns 16 starters, including seven each on offense and defense. Allar, a preseason nominee for the Davey O'Brien and Maxwell Awards, returns for his second season as the Nittany Lions' starting quarterback. Running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, who essentially were co-starters last season, are back as well, as is Mackey Award nominee Tyler Warren at tight end. Penn State also returns one of the nation's most highly ranked defensive players in Abdul Carter, who is playing defensive end after two seasons at linebacker. The Nittany Lions' returning starters on defense include linebacker Kobe King, safeties KJ Winston and Jaylen Reed and defensiveThe Nittany Lions added four scholarship players through the NCAA Transfer Portal: cornerbacks A.J. Harris and Jalen Kimber , receiver Julian Fleming and offensive lineman Nolan Rucci . Three other transfers joined the team as walk-ons: kicker Chase Meyer , defensive end Jordan Mayer and receiver Logan Cunningham . Franklin also hired two new coordinators alongside Kotelnicki: former Indiana head coach Tom Allen on defense and Justin Lustig from Vanderbilt on special teams. "I think one of the big story lines for us obviously is three new coordinators, which is unusual," Franklin said."I feel really good in this offense," quarterback Beau Pribula says Penn State on SI is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on X Mark Wogenrich is Editor and Publisher of AllPennState, the site for Penn State news on SI's FanNation Network. He has covered Penn State sports for more than two decades across three coaching staffs and three Rose Bowls.
Please follow us on Google to support usUnited States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Penn State Football: How Is Penn State Doing in NIL Fundraising, Performance?Penn State has labored to compete in NIL with the top programs, but change might be coming for the Nittany Lions.
Read more »
Penn State Football: 4 Nittany Lions Make the College Football 'Freaks List'Penn State kicker Gabriel Nwosu is among four Nittany Lions on Bruce Feldman's 'Freaks List' of college football.
Read more »
Penn State Football: Penn State Nittany Lions Training Camp Progress ReportPenn State accelerates the pace in preseason camp as it prepares for the 2024 season-opener at West Virginia.
Read more »
Penn State Football: A 2025 Penn State Commit Will Reopen the Recruiting ProcessRunning back Kiandrea Barker, who committed to Penn State in 2023, has reopened his recruiting but says he's still considering the Nittany Lions.
Read more »
Penn State Football: Two Nittany Lions Named to ESPN's Top 100 Players List for 2024Why Penn State's Abdul Carter, Kaytron Allen made ESPN's preseason list of the top 100 players in college football.
Read more »
Penn State Football: Penn State Names Six Captains for 2024 TeamPenn State quarterback Drew Allar said he wants to be 'very intentional' about being a team captain this season.
Read more »