UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – After a pair of back-to-back 11-win seasons, Penn State Nittany Lions start the 2018 ranked No. 9 in the Amway Coaches Poll and No. 10 in the Associated Press poll. This is the second-straight season the Nittany Lions have started the year in the Top 10.
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Penn State opens the 2018 campaign in Beaver Stadium against Appalachian State at 3:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network. The Nittany Lions have won their last 14 home games and 20 of their last 23 overall. Penn State returns 39 lettermen, including 13 starters from last season’s squad.
The Nittany Lions ended the 2017 season 11-2 with a 35-28 win over No. 11 Washington in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. Penn State finished No. 8 in both polls, marking the second-straight season with a top-10 finish for the first time since 2008 and 2009. The Nittany Lions also were No. 9 in the final College Football Playoff rankings. The 11-win season was the 16th in Penn State history and seventh since joining the Big Ten.
The Nittany Lions’ home schedule features five Big Ten Conference games, including visits from 2017 Big Ten Championship Game participants Ohio State and Wisconsin. The Nittany Lions open the season at home against Appalachian State (Sept. 1; 3:30 p.m.) and host Kent State (Sept. 15; noon) in non-conference action. In Big Ten play, Penn State welcomes Ohio State (Sept. 29), Michigan State (Oct. 13; 3:30/4 p.m.), Iowa (Oct. 27), Wisconsin (Nov. 10) and Maryland (Nov. 24) to Happy Valley.
