Five reasons to feel good about Penn State football in 2024

The 2024 college football season is nearly here, Penn State fans. The Nittany Lions are less than a month from kickoff at West Virginia . Big Ten Media Days and the program’s local media day are both in the books. Preseason camp is underway. And, before we know it, game week will be here. Like most years, Penn State enters the season with plenty of optimism. What are the top five reasons you should feel good about the Nittany Lions this fall? Here are our picks.

1. The CFP has finally expanded

This is what has Penn State fans most excited about the upcoming slate of games. And, with good reason. Unlike in past years, two losses to the best teams on the schedule will no longer automatically sink the program’s chances of making the College Football Playoff. With 12 teams getting into the field, multiple entrants will have a couple of losses on their resume. The Nittany Lions could end up being one of them. But, regardless of whether they have zero, one, or two losses by the end of November, a path to the Playoff exists now in a way it didn’t previously.

2. The schedule is favorable

The end of divisions in the Big Ten means that Penn State will no longer play Ohio State and Michigan every year. The Nittany Lions do play the Buckeyes this year, and they are loaded. But, the Lions miss the Wolverines and the other top contender to win the Big Ten: Oregon . Head coach James Franklin’s team will be a double-digit favorite in all three non-conference clashes and in at least half of their games during the regular season. There is every reason for this to be a one-loss team by the time December rolls around.

3. Andy Kotelnicki is leading the Penn State offense

For many of you, this would have been number one, and we completely understand why. The buzz has been and continues to build around the first-year Penn State offensive coordinator. He is here to revitalize the Nittany Lions’ offense by unlocking quarterback Drew Allar’s full potential while also putting each player in the best position to maximize his strengths so that the unit thrives. If everything goes as expected, the attack will be one of the better ones we’ve seen, considering the talent at running back and tight end, in addition to the hope that Allar and the receivers will improve.

4. The Lions’ backfield is loaded and hungry

Penn State may end up with the best backfield duo in the Big Ten. At the very least, it should be in the conversation for that honor. But, in many media circles, it’s not. That has juniors Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen very eager to show out this fall. And that, combined with Kotelnicki’s creativity, should excite fans and also keep opposing coordinators up at night. These two are ready to roll and showcase why they should each be considered for postseason honors.

5. Abdul Carter is ready to take another step

Abdul Carter is already an All-Big Ten defender. Now, the third-year Nittany Lion is ready to put himself squarely in the All-American conversation. The Philadelphia native will play both defensive end and linebacker for Penn State this fall. His role week to week will be opponent-dependent. We’d still bet his hand will be in the ground more often than not. Either way, he plans to be a problem for opposing offenses at either spot. He has been very productive during his first two seasons on campus. Fans should feel good about 2024 being his best year yet.

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