Can Penn State make the College Football Playoffs?

Penn State is waiting with ever-decreasing patience to join the College Football Playoff club. The Nittany Lions are ranked 12th in the weekly CFP rankings (36). Only two programs (Utah with 44 and Oklahoma State with 43) have more weekly CFP appearances than Penn State without a playoff game.

But all three, especially Penn State's football team, will have their playoff senses sharpened when the CFP expands to 12 teams for the 2024 season. In fact, Penn State postponed its fall graduation ceremony just in case it hosts a playoff game. Is that prudent planning or wishful thinking? We set out to answer the question.

In our 2024 Penn State football predictions series, we analyzed 10 segments of the program, including the coaching staff, to determine if this will be a playoff team. In doing so, we analyzed position strengths and concerns, named a name or two you should know and, bottom line, whether this is a playoff contender.

What's the bottom line? Here's a look at each of the 10 parts of our Penn State football prediction.

The coaching staff

Can Penn State win the Big Ten with this group?: Yes. Despite the new faces in important positions, these Penn State's coaching staff is designed to inspire confidence. Kotelnicki and Allen have proven themselves in their roles and seem determined to tailor their strategies to the players rather than imposing one on them. Penn State's position coaches are also as strong as ever, leaving only one big question: Can the Nittany Lions under Franklin overcome the hurdle in important games?

The quarterbacks

The plot: Can Drew Find Allar the same performance he showed toward the end of the 2023 season? The quarterback said after a standout performance at Maryland that “something” clicked the week before against Indiana, a game that Penn State narrowly won after Allar followed his first career interception with a 57-yard touchdown pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith (now at Auburn).

The running backs

The players you don’t know yet: Cam Wallace and Quinton Martin Jr. got a chance to shine in the Blue-White game and did just that. Wallace was busy, managing seven carries for 36 yards, an efficient 5.1 yards per carry mark. Martin carried the ball six times, managing 34 yards and two nice touchdowns. Their contest should be entertaining to watch this year.

The wide receivers

The problems here: To put it bluntly, there are many problems with the recipient. Penn State hasn't had a true No. 1 threat since Jahan Dotson. Recruiting, both in high school and through the transfer portal, has been difficult and development has been uneven. Overall depth also left a lot to be desired. Penn State needs players like Omari Evans and Harrison Wallace III to make big strides this season, but it probably could have used another receiver from the portal.

The Tight Ends

The Alpha: Tyler Warren is a prototypical tight end. At 6-6 and 259 pounds, he was a prime red-zone target for Allar and has developed into an absolute tight end over the last year. He capped the 2023 season on a high note in the Peach Bowl, setting a bowl record for Penn State with 127 receiving yards, including a wild 75-yard run. He'll be a safety net and much, much more for Allar in his final season in Happy Valley.

The Offensive Line

The player you don’t know yet: The excitement surrounding center Cooper Cousins ​​hasn't stopped since he signed his letter of intent in December. Coaches have consistently said he's a freshman who doesn't look like one. Cousins, listed on the official roster at 6-6 and 319 pounds, actually looks exactly like that and should compete for playing time at multiple spots this fall. It seems quite possible that he land at some point in a launch siteto.

The defense line

Can Penn State win the Big Ten with this group? Without doubt. Penn State led the country in rushing defense, tackles for loss and sacks in 2023. Even without its two best pass rushers, the Lions have plenty of opportunities. The interior hasn't changed much since those numbers either. As long as Tom Allen can come anywhere close to what Manny Diaz has done as defensive coordinator over the past few seasons, the Lions' defensive line will be in good shape.

The Linebackers

The plot: Defensive coordinator Tom Allen has to make up for 98 tackles (14.5 for loss) and seven sacks from 2023 with the loss of Curtis Jacobs and the move to Abdul Carter, who will still play linebacker next season. These two have been at the top of Penn State's defensive leaderboards since the beginning of their respective careers with the Nittany Lions, and it will not be easy to replace them.

The secondary level

The player you don’t know yet: AJ Harris' move to Penn State should excite fans. He only appeared in eight games as a freshman at Georgia, but had an extremely high recruiting rate coming out of high school and was rated 5-star by some media outlets. His first impression at Penn State was also unique after Franklin recruited him in high school. Harris has apparently done a lot of his own scouting with the Nittany Lions after they contacted him through the transfer portal, reading up on the coaching staff and their style of play. He also exuded an excited energy when first speaking to local media, and after making seven tackles and a pass breakup in the Blue-White game, Harris has garnered deserved hype. The only question is whether he can build on a 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame.

Special teams

The problems here: In the game against Blau-Weiß, all three kickers had their chances. Ryan Barker was the first to score an extra point and a 28-yard field goal. Sander Sahaydak scored from 30 yards, the only other field goal of the day, while Meyer scored an extra point. Nevertheless, it is difficult to choose a favorite while Penn State starts the summer.

Max Ralph is a senior at Penn State studying broadcast journalism with minors in sports science and Japanese. He previously covered Penn State football for two years for The Daily Collegian and has worked as a reporter for the Associated Press and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Follow him on Twitter (X) @maxralph_ and Instagram @mralph_59.