University Park, Pa. — On the heels of consecutive Top 10 finishes, Penn State is ranked in the Top 15 entering the 2010 campaign.
With the season opener four weeks away, the Nittany Lions are ranked No. 14 in the USA Today Coaches’ preseason poll, which was announced today.
The Nittany Lions enter Joe Paterno’s 45th season as head coach coming off their second straight 11-2 campaign, which culminated in a thrilling win over LSU in the Capital One Bowl. Penn State was No. 8 in the final 2009 USA Today Coaches’ poll and No. 9 in the Associated Press poll, earning its 23rd top 10 finish under the Hall of Fame mentor.
Penn State will play three of the nation’s top 10 teams this season, visiting No. 1 Alabama (Sept. 11, 7 p.m. ET), No. 2 Ohio State (Nov. 13) and No. 10 Iowa (Oct. 2, 8 p.m. ET). The Nittany Lions will be the first team to play three Bowl Championship Series winning teams from the previous season on the road the following season.
Four Big Ten Conference squads are ranked in the Top 15 of the USA Today Coaches’ poll, the most of any conference, as Wisconsin checks in at No. 12. Nebraska, who joins the Big Ten in 2011, is ranked No. 9 by the coaches entering the season.
Penn State home opponents Michigan State (Nov. 27), Northwestern (Nov. 6) and Temple (Sept. 25) were among the teams also receiving votes.
Penn State is 51-13 (79.7) since the start of the 2005 season, tied for the nation’s No. 7 winning percentage over that span, winning four of their past five bowl games.The Nittany Lions return 36 letterwinners for this season, including 13 starters, as well as 10 players that have starting experience.
The Nittany Lions began practice Thursday and open their 124th season Sept. 4 vs. Youngstown State (12 p.m. on Big Ten Network) in Beaver Stadium, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary Season.
Tickets are on sale for Penn State’s seven home games. Fans can purchase tickets directly through the Penn State Ticket website at http://www.gopsusports.com/tickets/psu-tickets.html. Pre-paid parking passes for the general parking lots also are available at www.GoPSUsports.com. Penn State has won 33 of its last 37 games in Beaver Stadium dating to a Senior Day win over Michigan State in 2004.