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This time of year when the coaches poll
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comes out, coaches across the country
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are ask, "What do you think about where
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we're ranked? Does America have it
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right?" And they could care less.
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They're worried about that first start
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at training camp, the first practice,
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the first game coming up, they're not
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worried about what America thinks of
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them. But here at Nitney Central.com,
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well, we care. The fact that Penn State
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is ranked 17th to start the country, I
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think, is about right. new head coach,
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new offensive coordinator, new defensive
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coordinator, but still the rank 17 says
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a lot of talent in this blueb blood
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program. They do get a break in the
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schedule in the top six in the country.
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Number one Ohio State, number two
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Oregon, number six Indiana. None of them
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are on the Penn State schedule in 2026.
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Three Big 10 teams are on the schedule
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and they should determine a large part
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of Matt Campbell's fate in year one.
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Mido October, number 14 USC comes to
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Beaver Stadium. A week later, a trip to
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Ann Arbor to the Big House to face
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another new head coach, Kyle Winningham.
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And the Michigan Wolverines ranked 16th.
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And then in New November, a trip out to
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Seattle to face the Washington Huskies.
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All three of those schools ranked in the
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top 25. A final thought on rankings and
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starting a season off. A year ago at
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this time, Indiana was ranked 17th in
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the country, went on to win the national
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championship. In fact, 11 of the teams
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that started the season in the top 25
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didn't even finish in the top 25. And
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that list, of course, included number
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three at the time, Penn State. Here's
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hoping bygones can become bygones.
