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Penn State Football: 5 reasons Nittany Lions will repeat as Big Ten champs

By Matty Breisch

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 03: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions holds up the Most Valuable Player trophy as he walks off the field after the Big Ten Championship game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 3, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 03: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions holds up the Most Valuable Player trophy as he walks off the field after the Big Ten Championship game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 3, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Penn State football is the Big Ten East’s only undefeated team and are the odds-on favorite to represent the division in the Big Ten Championship. Here’s why.

Penn State is the third-ranked team in the country.

After suffering through a string of bad luck with a number of unranked seasons, the Nittany Lions are back, and better than ever.

James Franklin has really brought a sense of excitement back to Happy Valley, and has transformed the team into must-watch TV.

Brent Pry’s defense has been shutting opposing offenses down with surprising consistency, and the Nittany Lions’ offense, led by second year offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead, has been a big play factory the likes of which have seldom been seen in State College.

And the team is having fun.

While some teams are all business all the time, the 2017 Nittany Lions really look like they’re all great friends, and genuinely enjoy playing together.

And it’s contagious.

As the Nittany Lions take a week off to reload before the second half of their season, they will surely be looking ahead to a string of games against ranked opponents Ohio State and Michigan, as well as deceptively tricky games against surging Michigan State, and a hot-and-cold Maryland squad.

This string of games will all but define Penn State’s 2017 season, and could make or break their College Football Playoff aspirations.

But as one of the Power Five’s lone remaining undefeated teams, Penn State truly controls its own destiny.

Here are five reasons the Nittany Lions will repeat as Big Ten champions, and make their first appearance in the College Football Playoff.

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