Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series examining the Power 5 and top Group of 5 teams for the 2019 college football season.



Before Penn State’s defense hit the practice field for more conditioning drills this summer, defensive coordinator Brent Pry used part of his allotted meeting time to draw attention to some preseason hype.



“We’re trying to make sure we’re hungry and humble,” Pry told The Athletic. “We threw up the article that talked about Penn State’s defense being ranked No. 2 preseason and I kind of patted the guys on the back. And then I gave them the, ‘This has nothing to do with who we’ll be in 2019. It’s a trap. … Take it as a last compliment for what we did in 2018.’



“We’ve tried to, you know, look at so much film in the offseason and try and find where your weaknesses where we can be better at some things, and I feel like we’ve done a...