Whenever a new set of college football rankings drops, all eyes are firmly glued upon the top 10. After all, that vaunted position is often occupied by the sport's most notable programs — those that vie for national titles year in and year out.

ESPN unveiled its post-spring way-too-early top 25 rankings on Thursday. ESPN's Mark Schlabach left the Hawkeyes outside his post-spring top 25 rankings.

After drawing so close to the College Football Playoff title game in 2025, Penn State continues to draw attention as a chief contender in 2026. ESPN's Mark Schlabach joined the list of national media that's high on the Nittany Lions, elevating them to No. 1 in his most recent college football rankings.