Penn State Ranked 14th in Preseason Coaches Poll

Penn State will begin the season ranked at #14 in the Coaches Poll, or the Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA Today Sports for all you traditionalists.

The ranking remains consistent with other preseason polls from national outlets that have been trickling out since the end of he 2018 season, which have often had the Nittany Lions slightly out of the top 10. Penn State was the third-highest ranked Big Ten squad, with Ohio State at #5 and Michigan at #7. Wisconsin (#17), Iowa (#19), Michigan State (#20) and Northwestern (#25) will also be ranked heading into 2019.

Nebraska just missed out on appearing in the top 25, having the most votes in the ‘Others Receiving Votes’ category. Minnesota was the only other Big Ten team to receive votes (well, a vote as they were ranked #25 in the only ballot they appeared in) to finish unranked.

Defending national champs Clemson stayed at the top, receiving 59 of 65 1st place votes. Alabama, who came in at #2, was the only other program to receive a first-place vote.

Penn State finished at #17 in the Coaches Poll in 2018, dropping from #12 after its Citrus Bowl loss to Kentucky to close out the season.