An unlikely source has Penn State ranked ahead of Ohio State.
Penn State isn’t good enough just yet to be Kirk Herbstreit’s No. 1 team.
But it is good enough to be ahead of the No. 1 team in both the AP and Coaches Polls.
Herbstreit has PSU ranked No. 2– right where it is in the “real” rankings— but ahead of Ohio State, who he has at No. 3. LSU is the top dog, with Miami and Georgia rounding out the top five.
This might be a surprise on the surface considering
A. Herbstreit went to Ohio State
B. Penn State got only five first-place votes in the AP Poll compared to 55 for Ohio State.
But Herbstreit has long been considered an ally by the Penn State faithful.
Herbstreit showing affection for PSU didn’t start this year. Back in 2005, Herbstreit famously said Penn State had the “best student section in the country,” and, in a complimentary contest, called Penn State’s students “crazy” during halftime of its win over Ohio State at Beaver Stadium in 2005.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Herbstreit said late in Monday’s game between North Carolina and TCU that, as of now, his national title game pick is Penn State and LSU.
No. 2 Penn State’s stock has been high all season. The team came within a whisker of playing for the national championship game last season and returns most key players from that squad, including QB Drew Allar, RBs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen and defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton.
LSU, meanwhile, has been a relatively late bloomer.
Coach Brian Kelly’s team started the season ranked No. 9. But a win at No. 4 Clemson to start the year followed by two more triumphs have pushed LSU into the top three of the two major polls and No. 1 in Herbstreit’s.
Whether PSU gets to meet LSU this year will be determined by the College Football Playoff field.
But Penn State-Ohio State is 100% happening, and as long as both team’s don’t lose before November, it will likely be a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup.
Before that, PSU has a big test against No. 4 Oregon at Beaver Stadium Sept. 27. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 on NBC.
