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On3 Analyst Ranks Penn State No. 2

Penn State coach James Franklin is quite proud of his program.
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: James Franklin

The college football season is only 25 days away. 

As kickoff nears, On3 is bringing some fans joy and others tears, at least when it comes to predictions.

More Penn State fans than not will approve of what On3 college football analyst Brett McMurphy predicted the opening AP Top 25 Poll to be. 

McMurphy predicts Penn State to rank No. 2 in the first voting.

The only team sitting ahead of Penn State is Georgia. Ohio State (No. 6) is the next closest Big Ten team. Oregon (No. 8) also cracks the top 10 on a list holding seven Big Ten programs.

Michigan (No. 11), Illinois (No. 16), USC (No. 22) and Indiana (No. 24) round out the list. 

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Texas, Clemson and Alabama close the top five behind Georgia and Penn State.

PSU finished No. 5 in the final AP Poll of the 2024 season. The team reached the College Football Playoff and won two games in its first appearance. 

James Franklin’s program defeated SMU at home in the first round and Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve to advance to the CFP semifinals.

Now, Penn State comes in with significant national title expectations. 

Penn State will begin the 2025 season hosting Nevada Aug. 30 as renovations inside Beaver Stadium continue.

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