2016 record: 11-3, 8-1 Big Ten
Coach: James Franklin (fourth year)
Sked or alive? It’s a good thing the Nittany Lions have a bye on Oct. 14, because things get grisly after that. Penn State faces Michigan at home and visits Ohio State in back-to-back weeks. A trip to Michigan State – which is down but still dangerous – follows.
Why they’re here: Penn State has almost everybody back on offense, including 2016 breakout QB Trace McSorley and Saquan Barkley, the best tailback in the country. The defense is less proven, but the Nittany Lions will score in bunches regardless. They’re just a notch below Ohio State (which isn’t the worst place to be).
