Good afternoon, Penn State. Your football team is No. 24 in the nation and now your hockey team is No. 19 in the USCHO rankings. We’re living through the first time this has ever happened simultaneously.

Coming off a thrilling 3-2 overtime win and series win over then-No.3 Notre Dame, the ranking is no surprise. The Nittany Lions received 129 voter points.

It’s a little too early in the season for overall statistics to hold much weight, but Penn State’s offense ties for No. 7 in the nation, and its defense 18. Nate Sucese and Andrew Sturtz are tied for eighth in goals with four apiece. Freshman goalie Peyton Jones is ranked 21 with a .916 save percentage. Penn State’s nearly spotless pk unit is No. 4. This team is in the national conversation on all fronts.

The highest Penn State has ever been ranked is No. 14, riding off a No. 16 ranking after a sweep of Michigan State. Other Big Ten teams that made the rankings are No. 12 Minnesota, No. 11 Michigan, and No. 15 Ohio State. Notre Lame (uh, I mean Notre Dame) dropped to No. 7.

Penn State is back at Pegula for a series against Canisius Friday at 7 p.m. Stay tuned to hear what coach Gadowsky has to stay at media availability later. It will probably be “tremendous.”