Fansided

5 College Football Programs on the Rise

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Oct 12, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Bill Belton (1) celebrates after running the ball into the end zone for a touchdown in overtime to defeat the Michigan Wolverines 43-40 at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
Oct 12, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Bill Belton (1) celebrates after running the ball into the end zone for a touchdown in overtime to defeat the Michigan Wolverines 43-40 at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O /
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Dec 27, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton (5) celebrates a touchdown catch with Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) the second half of the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Penn State won 31-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton (5) celebrates a touchdown catch with Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) the second half of the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Penn State won 31-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s impossible to deny how far Michigan has fallen in recent seasons. The 5-7 Wolverines were 112th in the nation in scoring offense (20.9 points per game) and worst in the Big Ten and 112th in total offense (333 yards per game) last season, which led to the firing of Brady Hoke.

Though it’s reasonable to expect Michigan will be better in 2015 and beyond under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, there is another team in the conference that has an upward trajectory that began last season: Penn State.

Under first-year Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin, Penn State started 4-0 and finished the regular season 6-6, which is hardly spectacular. However, the team lost three games by a combined eight points and also lost to national champion Ohio State 31-24 in double overtime. In the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Franklin and the team pulled out a dramatic 31-30 overtime victory over Boston College that helped the program to enter the off-season with positive momentum.

Yes, Franklin and Penn State lost to Michigan last season. Also, it’s fair to point out that Penn State was just as bad offensively (20.6 points and 225.3 yards per game in 2014) as Michigan. However, there’s a difference between the two that gives the Nittany Lions an edge.

Much like Jared Goff at Cal, a major reason for optimism surrounding Penn State entering the 2015 season is quarterback Christian Hackenberg. Now a junior, Hackenberg has two seasons of starting experience under his belt. Plus, he has the physical tools to be the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, according to NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay.

Hackenberg and the young Nittany Lions took their lumps offensively last year, but nine starters return on that side of the football for 2015. Six starters are back from the Big Ten’s best defense, which ranked second in the nation in total defense (278.7 yards per game) and seventh in scoring defense (18.6 points per game).

Plus, Franklin has the Penn State program headed in the right direction on the recruiting trail. His first full class ranked second in the Big Ten and 14th in the nation according to 247Sports, and at this point in the 2016 cycle the Nittany Lions are ranked 19th overall.

Next: SEC: Auburn

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