Penn State Moves Up in College Football Playoff Rankings

Penn State football moved up one spot in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, landing at No. 10 during Tuesday night’s weekly release.

The Nittany Lions are one of five current or future Big Ten teams in the top 10. Ohio State remains at No. 1 while Michigan sits at No. 3 as the Wolverines prepare to travel to State College for a pivotal showdown on Saturday at Beaver Stadium.

Georgia is slotted in just behind the Buckeyes at No. 2 while Florida State rounds out the top four and the if-it-happened-today playoff field. Future Big Ten members Washington and Oregon sit at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, while Texas, Alabama and Ole Miss coming just ahead of Penn State in the top 10.

Elsewhere in the Top 25, Iowa is the only other Big Ten team in the rankings, landing at No. 22 as the favorites to close out the Big Ten West race with a trip to the Big Ten Championship the first weekend in December in sights.

Penn State is generally projected to make New Years Six bowl, unless the Nittany Lions were to upset Michigan on Saturday afternoon, in which case a shot at the playoffs remains a possibility. That game will air on FOX as part of the network’s Big Noon Kickoff special. Saturday’s game marks the third time the Nittany Lions have taken part in the FOX’s premiere college football broadcast this season.