Penn State ranked No. 17 in Top 25 preseason coaches poll

The annual preseason college football coaches poll has been released, and Penn State was included despite a disastrous 2025 season.

On Tuesday, Penn State was ranked No. 17, among the eight Big Ten schools included on the Top 25 poll, with Ohio State atop of the list.

Last season, the Nittany Lions were ranked third overall in the same preseason poll. This prediction was not indicative of the season the team would have. In 2025, the Nittany Lions finished 7-6 overall and 3-6 in conference play. Longtime head coach James Franklin was dismissed in the middle of the season. Former Iowa State coach Matt Campbell was hired in December to take over the helm of Happy Valley.

“Over the past six months, we’ve been reminded every day why Penn State was the right fit,” said Campbell during Big Ten media day. “The history is special. The tradition is special. But what really resonated with me is how Penn State has always valued integrity, character, and class at its best.”

» READ MORE: Big Ten media day: Matt Campbell explains why Penn State was the right fit, keeping Terry Smith on staff, and more

With Penn State being ranked 17, it seems that Campbell’s peers believe he can help the program bounce back. To do so, he will lean on some familiar faces, as 24 Iowa State players followed Campbell to Penn State through the transfer portal. Notably, starting quarterback Rocco Becht previously starred for the Cyclones.

In 12 games last season, playing with a torn labrum on his non-throwing shoulder, Becht threw for 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns. He is the winningest returning quarterback in college football.

“We have our goals in mind, and that’s to win a Big Ten championship and ultimately get to the College Football Playoff to have a chance to win a national championship,” Becht previously told the Inquirer. “With the team that we have now, I think we’re fully capable of doing that. Everybody just has to buy in, be consistent with the standards, and I think we’ll be in good hands.”

The full coaches poll rankings are as follows: