Is Penn State a top-five team heading into the 2017 season?

Some think so while others do not. Athlon Sports falls into the latter group, as the longtime college football magazine released its too-early top-25 on Monday ahead of its annual magazine hitting newsstands later this week.

Head coach James Franklin's Lions checked in at No. 6, behind the following:

No. 1: Alabama

No. 2: Ohio State

No. 3: Florida State

No. 4: Washington

No. 5: USC

The full top-25 can be read by clicking here.

As for author Steven Lassan's thoughts on PSU, he writes in part:

"The Nittany Lions were one of the nation's most improved teams over the second half of 2016 and that momentum should carry into the '17 campaign. After just missing on a CFB Playoff berth last year, coach James Franklin's team won't have to go far in order to crack the top four."

More of Lassan's thoughts on the Lions can also be found at the link above.

Some other early top-25 samplings saw Pro Football Focus put the Lions at No. 7 a few months ago, as did Sporting News, while USA Today slotted the Lions at No. 8 on Monday, as author Paul Myerberg cited the offensive line, and the run defense, as reasons to not place PSU higher.

"As with the offensive line, the defense's ability to stop the run isn't some enormous issue or concern -- but it may be something that separates this team from the elite," Myerberg writes.