Big Ten Football: Preseason Stock Report Rankings

6. Penn State

Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Last year: 7-5 (4-4)

This Week: vs. UCF (in Dublin, Ireland – Aug 30 – 7:30 A.M. on ESPN2)

My Prediction: Penn St 35-21

James Franklin brings an exciting new energy and confidence to the Big Ten.

Of course, taking over a sanction-ridden program is never easy but its not an insurmountable task for Franklin who won at lowly Vanderbilt….in the SEC.

Penn State does lose one of the most talented wide receivers in Nittany Lion history in Allen Robinson, but the return of super sophomore quarterback Christian Hackenberg should allow Penn State to continue its success through the air.

A solid one-two tandem of Zach Zwinak and Bill Belton allows Franklin to take some pressure off the young quarterback, that’s if the line holds up.

Depth along the offensive line and on the defensive side of the ball is where the sanctions have really started to hurt.

The starting 11 on the defensive side of the ball is solid. Not “linebacker U solid”, but solid.

The schedule plays out as well as it can for any team in the East. Penn State gets its biggest tests as home (Ohio State and Michigan State) and draws Illinois and Northwestern as its crossovers.

If the Nittany Lions can stay healthy, they have a shot to surprise some people and overcome those sanctions. If not, they’ll be rotating players out of position and suffer the consequences.