As the college football offseason heats up, we're finally getting a clearer picture of how teams will stack up for the 2026 season. Spring practices are in the rearview mirror, and rosters are mostly set. To help fans make sense of it all, ESPN recently ranked every Power 4 school's offseason by conference—and Penn State's placement in the Big Ten has raised some eyebrows.

The Nittany Lions landed at No. 5 on ESPN's Big Ten list, trailing obvious powerhouses like Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon. While Penn State is enjoying one of its better recruiting cycles nationally, that momentum didn't seem to sway the rankings. The sports media giant focused more on immediate roster turnover than future potential.

And there's no denying that Penn State lost significant talent this offseason, both to the transfer portal and the NFL draft. Key additions—like quarterback Rocco Becht and running back Carson Hansen—came from Iowa State as three-star transfers who are seen as temporary solutions until younger talent develops. On paper, the Nittany Lions might not stack up with the conference's elite in raw star power.

But here's where it gets interesting: a wave of Cyclones players followed their former head coach, Matt Campbell, to Happy Valley. That built-in chemistry could be a game-changer. While ESPN may not be fully sold on Penn State's immediate outlook, the Nittany Lions are carrying serious momentum into 2026—and that camaraderie might just prove the doubters wrong.