ALTOONA, Pa. -- In the never-ending and always fun trash talk battle between Pitt and Penn State, let's take a look at which team is getting more love in preseason rankings this year.
OK, OK, so you think preseason rankings don't mean anything? Well, I'm here to tell you that you're right. And wrong.
Of course, preseason rankings really don't mean anything when it comes to trying to determine how a team will fare in a given year. Teams have to earn -- and keep earning -- their rankings as the season goes on, and there have been plenty of instances where a team was expected to be good and then stunk it up. Penn State did that in 2020, when it was No. 7 in the preseason AP poll and yet started 0-5.
But if you think preseason rankings don't mean anything, then I have a question for you: Why are you reading this story then?
Hahaha. Gotcha!
You're here because preseason rankings do, at the very least, spark conversation. They give us something to talk about, something to look forward to, something to focus on at all in the weeks and months leading up to the season.
So no, they're not totally meaningless.
They're fun, if you keep them in the proper perspective.
Now, on to this year's preseason rankings.
What you'll find below is interesting, no doubt, for one reason. All but one of the national outlets listed have Pitt ranked higher than Penn State, even though -- as we pointed out last week -- Vegas has set Pitt's over/under win total at only 7.5, while Penn State is 8.5.
Win totals and preseason rankings may not always go hand in hand. But as some Pitt fans pointed out in last week's comments, it kind of would make more sense to flip the win totals, and have Pitt's number at 8.5, while Penn State is at 7.5. Those numbers would justify more of the numbers below with regards to Pitt being higher ranked.
But hey, who are any of us to argue with Vegas, which continues to make millions and millions of dollars off all of us poor shlubs who think we know better than they do.
Without further adieu, here's a compilation of preseason rankings and what each outlet said about Pitt and Penn State.
ESPN'S FPI
This is ESPN's preseason Football Power Index, which tries to use team strength metrics to come up with rankings. These sometimes can vary greatly from traditional polls.
Pitt: No. 9
Comment from site: Where Pitt is right now: Kenny Pickett is gone from the defending ACC championship squad, but Pitt scored what could be the difference-maker at the position in former USC starter Kedon Slovis, a 65% passer with 11 TDs and eight picks last fall. But the absence of Jordan Addison cuts a huge hole in Pitt's passing attack. The reigning Biletnikoff Award winner led college football with 17 touchdown catches last season, the ACC's most since Deandre Hopkins' 18 in 2012. Pitt has Jared Wayne coming back and can push the ball on the ground behind Israel Abanikanda, but there's no looking over the loss of a phenom like Addison.
Penn State: No. 12
Comment from site: Where Penn State is right now: Sean Clifford back after a 3,000-yard, 21 TD outing in 2021, but there are big holes to fill on a defense that ranked third-best in the Big Ten in points allowed. James Franklin also needs to create a strategy running the ball after finishing second-worst in the conference last season and just lost Noah Cain to LSU. Watch out for season-defining road trips to Auburn early and to Michigan in October. Ohio State comes to Happy Valley this fall.
ESPN RANKINGS
Different from the FPI above, this is a traditional top 25 compiled by veteran writer Mark Schlabach.
Pitt: No. 15
Comment from site: The post-Pickett era at Pittsburgh began with a new quarterback as well as a new offensive coordinator -- albeit a familiar name for Panthers fans. Frank Cignetti Jr. is back for a third time to call plays on offense, and Pittsburgh should be more balanced than it was under pass-happy Mark Whipple the past three seasons. Slovis, who threw for 7,576 yards with 58 touchdowns in 27 games at Southern California, was battling Nick Patti to replace Pickett. The Panthers added Mumpfield, who had 751 receiving yards and eight scores as a freshman at Akron in 2021. Replacing two starting linebackers, including Bright, who transferred to Washington, was a priority this spring.
Penn State: Not ranked
ATHLON SPORTS
The publication made a point to note this in its rankings released last week: An important note on Athlon's top 25 for 2022: This is not a preseason ranking of teams going into the season. Instead, this ranking takes into account where we project teams to finish after the national championship in January. Here are Athlon's projected top 25 teams in college football for 2022.
Pitt: No. 23
Comment from site: Make no mistake: The Panthers are going to miss receiver Jordan Addison (transferred to USC). And replacing Kenny Pickett at quarterback is not going to be easy for coach Pat Narduzzi. However, the cupboard isn't empty in the Steel City for another run at the ACC Coastal title. Slovis, a transfer for USC, is locked into a tight battle with Nick Patti to replace Picket, and the winner of this competition has a handful of proven running backs to lean on and all five starters back up front. Addison's ability and production isn't going to be easy to replace. Mumpfield (an Akron transfer) should help right away, and Jared Wayne returns after grabbing 47 receptions last fall. Tight end Gavin Bartholomew is also a rising star. The Panthers can also lean heavily on a defense returning seven starters after holding teams to 5.06 yards per play in '21. Calijah Kancey (13 TFL last year) anchors one of the best defensive lines in college football, and he's supported by ends Habakkuk Baldonado (nine sacks), John Morgan III and Deslin Alexandre. Standout SirVocea Dennis is back at linebacker, and although cornerback Damarri Mathis is gone, three other starters return in the secondary.
Penn State: No. 25
Comment from site: The Nittany Lions started fast with a promising 5-0 start last year - including a non-conference win against Auburn in Happy Valley - but injuries took a toll as the team stumbled to a 2-6 finish. There's urgency to get back on track in 2022 with the program sporting an 11-11 mark over the last two seasons. Improvement on offense is a must for Penn State to challenge for double-digit wins this fall. This unit averaged only 22.8 points a game and 4.9 yards per play in Big Ten matchups last year. Subpar play from the offensive line was a driving force in the struggles on offense, as the Nittany Lions generated just two rushes of 40-plus yards and averaged 2.96 yards per carry in Big Ten games. Also, no running back eclipsed 100 rushing yards in a game in '21. Quarterback Sean Clifford also has room to improve after averaging 6.5 yards per attempt in conference play and ranking ninth in completion percentage (57.9). If the offensive line takes a step forward, Clifford doesn't lack for playmakers on the outside with Parker Washington, Mitchell Tinsley and KeAndre Lambert-Smith returning. New defensive coordinator Manny Diaz inherits six starters, including tackle PJ Mustipher returning after missing the final eight games due to injury. End Arnold Ebiketie (9.5 sacks) leaves a void in the pass rush, and there are voids to fill at linebacker and in the secondary.
SPORTING NEWS
These rankings were released a month ago.
Pitt: No. 21
Comment from site: What changed? Pat Narduzzi led the Panthers to their first ACC championship in 2021, but the offseason hasn't been easy. Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple left for Nebraska. USC quarterback Kedon Slovis transferred to Pitt, but Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison entered the transfer portal shortly before the deadline. Lowdown: The Addison news is jarring, but the Panthers still have a roster built to compete for another ACC championship. Slovis needs to mesh with new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr., and the offensive line is built around All-American candidate Carter Warren. Defensive line will be a strength around Habakkuk Baldonado and Calijah Kancey, who combined for 16 sacks in 2021.
Penn State: Not ranked
USA TODAY
This publication posted its rankings after spring ball last month and is the only notable national outlet to have Penn State ranked higher than Pitt.
Penn State: No. 20
Comment from site: An 11-11 record in the past two seasons has killed much of the momentum James Franklin had generated with the Nittany Lions. Too many losses in close games, mostly due to an inconsistent running game, has created an urgency to turn things around. The return of Sean Clifford brings good in the way of veteran guidance at quarterback, but he is also limits how dynamic the offense can be. Parker Washington and KeAndre Lambert-Smith provide two quality wide receivers who need to get the ball more often. There has to be better play on the offensive line to bring more balance. The defense took several hits at all three levels. New coordinator Manny Diaz will have the benefit of lineman PJ Mustipher and defensive backs Joey Porter Jr. and Ji'Ayir Brown to build with.
Pitt: No. 24
Comment from site: Everything seemed solid for the Panthers to be among the favorites as they tried to as ACC champions. Yes, longtime starting quarterback Kenny Pickett departs, but Southern California transfer Kedon Slovis arrives and should step in nicely. However, the status of the team's top receiver - Jordan Addison - is now in doubt with him entering the transfer portal and reports of an imminent move to USC. Losing last year's Biletnikoff Award would hurt significantly. Still, though there is enough talent on both lines of scrimmage to make another run this fall. There margin of error will just be different if Addison isn't available.
PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS
This way-too-early top 25 was released in April. It didn't include any comments about teams ranked outside the top 10.
Pitt: No. 13
Penn State: Not ranked
GIGER'S TAKE
I'll come up with my own preseason top 25 down the road. But for now ...
I would take Pitt somewhere around No. 20. I see huge questions with the departures of Pickett and Addison, but there are enough other pieces back on both sides of the ball to warrant being in the top 20.
I would not have Penn State ranked in my preseason top 25. Not coming off a 7-6 season and then losing most of the best players on defense to the NFL. I know I can be hard on Sean Clifford, but I do think he can lead the Lions to a finish in the top 25 IF he gets a lot of help from the offensive line and running game. That's a HUGE if, as always, for this program.
Post where you'd rank the Panthers and Lions in the comments section.
