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SEC Powerhouse Overtakes Penn State in Preseason AP Poll
5 Aug
Summary
- Georgia Bulldogs favored over Penn State as college football's top team
- Penn State coach James Franklin wants team to be "transformational" not just "transactional"
- Penn State has chance to redeem itself in upcoming weeks
In the latest preseason AP Poll, the Georgia Bulldogs have unexpectedly overtaken the Penn State Nittany Lions as the top-ranked team, according to analyst Brett McMurphy. This comes as a surprise, as Penn State was widely expected to be a powerhouse this fall.
McMurphy explained his reasoning, stating that until Penn State coach James Franklin can prove he can win a big game in the College Football Playoff, he cannot put the Nittany Lions at number one, despite their impressive talent and acquisitions. The analyst believes Georgia's consistent success and stockpile of talent make them the team to beat this season.
Franklin, for his part, has been blunt about his desire to avoid the "emptiness" his team felt after their loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl last year. The coach wants Penn State to be a "throwback program" that is about the players, not just the transactional nature of the transfer portal and NIL deals.
Despite the skepticism, the hype around Penn State remains high as they prepare for the upcoming season. They will have a chance to prove themselves in the coming weeks and potentially reclaim the top spot in the rankings.
