Penn State football was ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press’ (AP) preseason poll. The Nittany Lions moved up five places from their No. 13 ranking at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

The Nittany Lions were ranked as high as No. 6 in last year’s polls, sitting at that position for three weeks. Losses to Ohio State and Michigan sent them down the rankings before their Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss closed out the season.

Also included near the top of the poll are several opponents set for this Penn State season. Ohio State is ranked No. 2 and USC is ranked No. 23. Fellow Big Ten members Oregon and Michigan are ranked No. 3 and No. 9, respectively.

This year’s Penn State team brings plenty of returning firepower on offense in quarterbacks Drew Allar and Beau Pribula, running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, a slew of wide receivers, and tight end Tyler Warren. The Nittany Lions will have to fill in some gaps in the defensive line and the secondary with the departure of several players to the NFL, though the team isn’t expected to take a bump with new players set to take over.

Penn State is set to open the 2024 season in fewer than three weeks when it travels to Morgantown, West Virginia. The Nittany Lions will face the Mountaineers at noon on Saturday, August 31, with the game set as FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff.