Altoona Mirror Debate: Is Penn State overrated? It is premature

PSU quarterback Sean Clifford has the opportunity to redeem himself for 2019


… I still remember 2019


The Altoona Mirror delved into the question of whether or not the Penn State Nittany Lions deserved to be ranked fourth in the latest rankings by the Associate Press. 


Neil Rudel, former sports editor and now managing editor, says that “until proven otherwise, Nittany Lions deserve ranking.”


A former journalist disagrees and says on the same page that they do not. 


They are both right at this point because the rankings this early are meaningless. Second, the Lions will host Indiana tonight before traveling to undefeated Iowa and once-beaten Ohio State later this month. Their ranking after those two games will matter. 


Remember 2019


I distinctly remember the last time that the Nittany Lions were undefeated and looking for their first berth in the college football playoffs. That was in 2019, and Coach James Franklin’s team traveled to Minnesota to face the undefeated Gophers in early November. The result was a 31-26 defeat that the AP described this way, 


Seeking their first berth in the College Football Playoff, the Nittany Lions watched a defense that had allowed the second-fewest points in the FBS entering the game take a step back against a group of Gophers receivers that Franklin warned would be the best they'd faced all year. Their championship chase can get back on track with a win at Ohio State in two weeks.


Associated Press via ESPN, November 9, 2019


So, if the Nittany Lions emerge undefeated from Columbus, Ohio on October 30, then this debate will make more sense. 


For now, the argument that the Lions defeated an overrated Wisconsin team that is now out of the Top 25 rankings and an Auburn team that is not that strong is fair enough. 


However, it means little right now. The Lions have to take care of Indiana first, then Iowa, and then the Buckeyes of “The” OSU. 


Thus, the debate is premature.  



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