Brady Quinn picks Penn State as his College Football Playoff sleeper

Penn State is an interesting team entering the 2023 college football season. On one hand, the Nittany Lions return eight starters on each side of the ball after an 11-2 season. But they also lost longtime starting quarterback Sean Clifford and compete in a division of the Big Ten that also includes 2022 CFP participants Michigan and Ohio State, who accounted for PSU’s only losses on the season.

So here they are, stuck as the predicted third place team in their own division of the Big Ten, meanwhile the Nittany Lions boast a roster that would make all but about six or seven programs jealous. It’s a short straw to draw, but perhaps Penn State will finally upset the order and knock the Wolverines and Buckeyes off the pedestal.

Former Notre Dame star and Cleveland Browns QB Brady Quinn certainly believes it’s a possibility and recently selected Penn State as his surprise team for the year.

Sure, the Nittany Lions aren’t fooling anybody about whether they’re a great program: they clearly are. But the surprise in Quinn’s eyes would come if PSU is able to break through and win their division en route to a CFP appearance. He joined the Rich Eisen Show the other day to explain why he’s placing high hopes in State College this fall:

“As far as like a surprise team that I don’t know… I don’t think as much people are talking about enough for national consideration… I don’t know if this is a sleeper as much but like Penn State,” answered Quinn when asked about a dark horse contender. “Yeah, (they’re) like the third favorite to win the Big Ten. I think this team could break out and be a playoff team.”

Quinn specifically likes PSU’s offensive talent, where he has confidence in new starting QB Drew Allar.

“You know, Drew Allar, their quarterback, reminds me of Big Ben. He’s gigantic and he can move, he’s got a Howitzer for an arm, he’s polished. They’ve got two backs in the backfield that are studs in Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton. Their left tackle, Olu Fashanu, might be the best left tackle in college football.”

Don’t forget about the defense either, because Brady Quinn sees playmakers in all three phases of the Penn State defense.

“Chop Robinson’s like their next great edge rusher. Abdul Carter looks like a young LaVar Arrington. Kalen King’s a stud in their secondary. Like, they’re loaded now.”

The time is now for Penn State to finally knock the two longstanding powers off their perch to take a Big Ten title for themselves.

Some would say if not now then when, but that’s one of those teams that I think… I don’t know that people look at them on the national stage, like being a part of it. That’s another team that if things go well this year they could be the Big Ten champ, they could be playing for a national championship.”