Big Ten Football: Post-spring power rankings for 2021 season
![Jan 1, 2021; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Trayvon Wilburn (51) douses head coach Ryan Day with gatorade after defeating the Clemson Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports Jan 1, 2021; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Trayvon Wilburn (51) douses head coach Ryan Day with gatorade after defeating the Clemson Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/cfa2b3febc1481a6795f73c9d4a38337ac39caaf653818ea521f2ab83a5965ae.jpg)
Penn State is a trendy pick this year as a sleeper. The Nittany Lions were awful to start the 2020 season, losing their first five games before winning out to finish 4-5.
Quarterback Sean Clifford is going to have a huge say in how Penn State performs next season. After getting benched earlier in the season, he took over as the starter full-time to end the year and played really well.
Jahan Dotson and Parker Washington form one of the best wide receiver tandems in the country, and the running game should be solid too.
Penn State lost some key players in the front seven to the NFL and the transfer portal. Yet, The Nittany Lions added some transfers and the depth along the defensive line shouldn’t be an issue but the pass rush is a concern as is the offensive line.
Still, this team is ranked second in the ESPN FPI for a reason among Big Ten football teams, so don’t count Penn State out in the Big Ten race.