The first AP poll of the 2024 season is in, and Penn State has stayed exactly the same.
Although Penn State beat West Virginia on the road Week 1 and looked good doing it, winning 34-12, nobody ahead of PSU lost, which means it shouldn’t be a surprise that Penn State didn’t move from its No. 8 ranking.
Ahead of Penn State are Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Oregon. Penn State hosts Ohio State Nov. 2 at a time to be determined. Although Oregon is now in the Big Ten, Penn State doesn’t have Dan Lanning’s squad on the schedule in 2024.
Right below Penn State are Missouri and Big Ten foe Michigan— who PSU doesn’t face this season for the first time in more than a decade— and Missouri.
Elsewhere in the Big Ten, newcomer USC moved up 10 spots after its upset of LSU Sunday night, going from No. 23 to No. 13. Iowa came in at No. 21. Nebraska (27) Washington (20) and Wisconsin (8) Wisconsin were among “others receiving votes” in the poll.
Penn State has a showdown at USC scheduled for Oct. 12 in the Coliseum at a time yet to be determined.
It hosts Washington Nov. 9 in what will be the program’s annual “White Out” game and goes to Wisconsin Oct. 26 for its first trip to Camp Randall since 2022.
Nebraska is not on the schedule.
For Penn State to move up in the AP Poll, it will need to take care of business in Saturday’s home opener against Bowling Green, who it’s heavily favored to beat. Kickoff for that game is scheduled for noon on the Big Ten Network.
