Penn State Football: 3 thoughts on Nittany Lions incredible 2022 class

What does it mean?

The goal for Penn State is to win the Big Ten championship. The Nittany Lions did that back in 2016 and they have played in major bowl games since but haven’t been able to reach the peak.

This kind of recruiting class can help them get there in the future. Ohio State is the juggernaut and no one in the Big Ten is recruiting at their level right now, not even Penn State. But the Nittany Lions are close and they have been the toughest competition for OSU over the past five years.

Other programs have beaten the Buckeyes and granted, Penn State did just once, but it’s had some battles with OSU (two losses by a single point in 2017/2018) and the gap feels closer than with anyone else.

Of course, that narrative started to change a little when Penn State started 0-5 last season. Yet, the Nittany Lions rebounded to win their last four and surge into 2021 with plenty of momentum and lots of talent returning.

A solid season in 2021 will only help bolster recruiting for the next class and if Penn State can keep recruiting this way — keep doing well with in-state recruits and on the east coast, the Nittany Lions can maintain their spot as the second-best program in the Big Ten.

They might also be able to challenge the Buckeyes in a way no other Big Ten program can right now, especially if the recruiting operation keeps humming along like this.