Penn State is currently ranked No. 8 in both major college football polls following their Week 1 win at West Virginia. The Nittany Lions climbed one position in the Coaches Poll but stayed in the same place in the AP Top 25. Their advancement in the Coaches Poll allowed them to surpass Michigan, which had a 30-10 win at home against Fresno State.
Additionally, Penn State has moved up to fifth in the latest ESPN College Football Power Index, having been eighth before the season began.
In their recent game, Penn State (1-0) dominated West Virginia, winning by three touchdowns for the second consecutive time. Quarterback Drew Allar threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns, wide receiver Tre Wallace had nine receptions for a career-high 117 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Nicholas Singleton rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown. Penn State’s defense restricted West Virginia to just 85 rushing yards and one touchdown in a 34-12 win.
“There are plenty of areas we need to improve, but we managed to secure a win on the road in a tough environment against a team that I believe is underrated,” Franklin said after the game. “I think they’re a solid team and will have a strong season. We’re grateful to have come away with a victory.”
Penn State will host Bowling Green on Saturday for their 2024 Beaver Stadium opener, followed by an early-season bye week. The Nittany Lions will return to action on September 21 at home against Kent State.
“This week’s routine won’t change,” Franklin noted. “We’ll stick to our usual schedule. With two byes coming up, we’ve spent considerable time this summer and last week consulting with [director of performance science] Andrew Nelson, [defensive coordinator] Tom Allen, [special teams coordinator] Justin Lustig, and [offensive coordinator] Andy Kotelnicki. We’ve looked at how teams like Kansas, Indiana, and Vanderbilt manage their bye weeks, as well as practices from NFL teams and other programs we’re connected with, to see if there are any adjustments we need to make to our approach.”
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