Penn State men’s lacrosse will begin 2021 as the sixth-best team in the nation, according to the USILA Coaches Poll.

The Nittany Lions slipped a bit from their 2020 standing, when they entered the year at No. 2. Jeff Tambroni’s team, as well as the rest of the NCAA, will chase Duke, who was the unanimous No. 1 team by the 14 voters.

Penn State will be thrust into yet another tough year in the Big Ten. Four conference members joined the Nittany Lions in the Top 20, namely Maryland (No. 2), Ohio State (No. 10), Rutgers (No. 18), and Johns Hopkins (No. 20).

Last season, the Nittany Lions spent many weeks at the top of the rankings before getting toppled by Yale. Before the season was cut off early due to the pandemic, Penn State was a national contender, finishing with a 5-2 record.

The squad will return this year with many old faces. Due to the extra year of eligibility granted to spring athletes, six seniors will return as graduate students. They will be led by Mac O’Keefe, who enters the year as a preseason second–team All-American.

Penn State’s schedule remains unreleased, although it’s expected that the Nittany Lions will begin in early February or late March.