The preseason USA Today coaches poll has been released, and Penn State is not in the top 25.
Preseason USA Today Top 25 coaches poll
1-Bama
2-Ohio St
3-Georgia
4-Clemson
5-NDame
6-Michigan
7-A&M
8-Utah
9-OU
10-Baylor
11-Okla St
12-Oregon
13-NC St
14-Mich St
15-USC
16-Pitt
17-Miami
18-Texas
19-Wake
20-Wisconsin
21-Kentucky
22-Cincinnati
23-Arkansas
24-Ole Miss
25-Houston— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 8, 2022
Penn State was second among others receiving votes, with 246. The only team that had more was another Big Ten team school, Iowa, which received 248 votes.
Although this undoubtedly annoys Penn State fans, it shouldn’t come as a shock. James Franklin’s team has struggled over the past two seasons, with a combined record of 11-11 over its past 22 games.
Four Big Ten teams— three from the Big Ten East— show up in the rankings, led by Ohio State.
Coach Ryan Day’s team comes in a at No. 2, behind Alabama, and got five first place votes, behind only Alabama (64) and Georgia (6).
Ohio State comes to Happy Valley Sept. 29, which will be the first time it’ll play in front of a packed Beaver Stadium crowd since 2018.
Penn State last hosted Ohio State in 2020, but the game had to be played in a largely empty stadium due to COVID-19.
The next highest-ranked Big Ten team is defending conference champion Michigan, which comes in at No. 6.
Penn State plays Michigan in Ann Arbor Oct. 15.
Another Big Ten team from Michigan is in the top 15. Michigan State, which comes to Beaver Stadium for the regular season finale Nov. 27, is ranked No. 14.
The last Big Ten team in the top 25 is No. 20 Wisconsin. Coach Paul Chryst’s squad is the only ranked school from the Big Ten West, and thus the only one of the Big Ten’s ranked teams that Penn State doesn’t have on the schedule.
