Where is Penn State ranked in USA TODAY way-too-early Top 25 for 2026?

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With Indiana being crowned as the third straight national champion from the Big Ten and the 2025 season officially coming to a close, various college football fans will be looking ahead to next season, specifically where their teams could potentially rank in the top 25 polls. Therefore, several editions of way-too-early rankings will be making the rounds. One team that will be especially intriguing next year will be Penn State.

With the firing of James Franklin and the hiring of Matt Campbell, Penn State was one of the most talked-about teams all season long. They have already had an insane offseason, filled with roster changes and various questions that need to be answered about the team. Still, many early polls may have Penn State projected to be higher ranked than you might think…potentially right on the College Football Playoff bubble.

According to USA TODAY’s way-too-early Top 25, Penn State is projected to finish 17th in the national polls. From where they ended the season to now, that may be much better than Penn State fans would have expected. It places a lot of trust in the changes that Campbell has made and also the infrastructure that the staff has built around him to give him a chance to succeed.

Texas tops USA TODAY’s poll, but the majority of the projected top 25 reside in the Big Ten. Ohio State ranks second, followed by Indiana at No. 4, Oregon at No. 9, USC at No. 12, Michigan at No. 14, and Iowa coming in at No. 21. It’s important to note that the Nittany Lions will not face any of Oregon, Ohio State, or Indiana during the regular season next fall. Penn State will visit Michigan and will host USC. Dates for those games have yet to be announced by the Big Ten at this time.

Penn State was ranked slightly higher in the way-too-early top 25 released by On3.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Where Penn State ranks in USA TODAY way-too-early Top 25 for 2026?

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