University Park, Pa. — Penn State is ranked in the Associated Press preseason poll for the 38th time in the legendary career of Coach Joe Paterno.
With the season opener two weeks away, the Nittany Lions are ranked No. 19 in the AP poll, which was announced Saturday (Aug. 21). Penn State was No. 14 in the USA Today Coaches preseason poll.
The Nittany Lions enter 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 on ESPN), No. 2 Ohio State (Nov. 13) and No. 9 Iowa (Oct. 2, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC). 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 squads are ranked in the top 20 of the Associated Press poll, the second-highest total among conferences, as Wisconsin checks in at No. 12. Nebraska, which joins the Big Ten in 2011, is ranked No. 8 by the AP panel entering the season.
The Nittany Lions conclude two-a-days today and classes begin Monday on the University Park campus. Penn State opens its 124th season Sept. 4 vs. Youngstown State (12 p.m. on Big Ten Network) in Beaver Stadium, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary Season.
"Penn State Football Eve presented by HappyValley.com" will launch the season on Friday, Sept. 3, with activities starting at 6 p.m. outside Beaver Stadium. The program inside the stadium starts at 7:45 p.m. featuring the Blue Band, cheerleaders, dance team and videos. The seniors will be introduced and after Paterno’s address to the crowd, a new stadium video will be unveiled. Former Nittany Lion All-America quarterback Chuck Fusina (1975-78) also will speak at the event.
"Penn State Football Eve" and parking near Beaver Stadium for the event are free.
The Oct. 30 Michigan game is sold out and a limited number of tickets remain for the Oct. 9 Homecoming clash with Illinois. Tickets for Youngstown State (Sept. 4, noon), Kent State (Sept. 18, noon), Temple (Sept. 25), Northwestern (Nov. 6) and the Senior Day battle with Michigan State (Nov. 27), as well as Illinois, are on sale at www.GoPSUsports.com or by calling 800-833-5533 or 814-865-5555 weekdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Penn State returns 36 letterwinners and 13 starters for the upcoming season, as well as 10 players with starting experience. The Nittany Lions have posted a 51-13 record since 2005, tied for the nation’s seventh-best mark over the past five seasons.
