A solid secondary is one of the most critical elements to putting together an effective defense. Despite many different injuries to the team’s defensive backs last fall, Michigan State‘s passing defense improved from 86th in the FBS in 2023 to 46th in 2024 — surrendering about 30 fewer passing yards per game.

Penn State begins preseason camp Wednesday with high hopes that it could win its first college football national championship since 1986. The Nittany Lions are expected to be ranked among the top two or three teams when The Associated Press and USA Today release their preseason polls in August.