Although Kirk Herbstreit played quarterback at Ohio State before becoming arguably college football’s top analyst, he has been complimentary of a Penn State football over the years.
At halftime of Penn State’s 2005 game against his Alma Mater, college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit famously said Penn State had the “best student section in the country” in a clip that’s served as a great marketing tool for Penn State in the years since.
He made a similar claim 14 years later.
2005 is a legendary season in Penn State football history. The team finished 11-1 and No. 3 in the country, reviving the program after four losing seasons in the five years that proceeded it.
Penn State fans would love for the 2022 team to match what the ‘05 team did, and will be happy to know that Herbstreit is high on this year’s Penn State squad.
On the season’s first episode of “College Gameday,” Herbstreit named Penn State as his sleeper team for the year ahead.
Who's your sleeper team this year? 🤔@KirkHerbstreit: Penn State@DesmondHoward: Kentucky@davidpollack47: Ole Miss pic.twitter.com/XGCjgg0P4z
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) August 27, 2022
“I think Penn State has a (good) team, in some key spots, with the leadership that they’re bringing back, and I think people are maybe underestimating Sean Clifford,” Herbstreit said. “I think Sean Clifford, when he’s healthy, can make plays. So I think Penn State can be a team that has a shot to be a sleeper.”
Also in the Big Ten, Herbstreit picked Nebraska to win the Big Ten West.
Penn State hopes to prove Herbstreit right and will begin its path to do so Thursday night in its season opener at Purdue.
