Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2021 college football season

There was little happiness for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley in 2020. Penn State opened the year 0-5 before rallying to win four in a row to conclude their season. With all four of those wins coming by double digits, pollsters are going to look at Penn State and think about the potential they showed down the back nine rather than looking at the rough patches the team endured early in a disjointed, COVID-19 impacted season.

Both Sean Clifford and Will Levis are back at quarterback after combining to produce the fourth-best passing offense in the Big Ten in terms of efficiency and yards generated through the air. The running game gets back Devyn Ford and Noah Cain along with Keyvone Lee and Caziah Holmes who were utilized due to injuries. Penn State’s defense gave up only 323 yards per game but ranked 55th nationally as they allowed teams to score nearly four touchdowns per game.

Penn State opens the season with a Big Ten interdivisional game on the road against Wisconsin before facing MAC champion Ball State in the home opener. That precedes a visit to State College by Auburn in a game that will serve as a litmus test for both programs. Back-to-back games at home against Michigan and at Ohio State in mid-November could prove critical in the Big Ten East race in the upcoming 2021 season.