Penn State football jumped three spots in the latest AP Top 25 poll on Sunday, landing at No. 8 for the team’s highest ranking of the year.
It gives the Big Ten three teams inside the top 10. with Michigan leading the way at No. 2 and Ohio State landing at No. 5 following a loss to the Wolverines on Saturday.
The Nittany Lions are 10-2 on the year coming off a 35-16 win over Michigan State at Beaver Stadium to close out the regular season. Ohio State fell 45-23 to Michigan in Columbus on Saturday afternoon to drop the Buckeyes from the No. 2 spot. Elsewhere in the top 10 Clemson fell to South Carolina 31-30 to drop the Tigers to No. 10 while LSU fell five spots to No. 11 after losing to Texas A&M 38-23.
With Georgia holding on to No. 1, TCU and USC round out the top four at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. The Horned Frogs rolling past Iowa State while USC hung on for a comfortable win against Notre Dame late on Saturday evening. The Big Ten has no other teams in the Top 25 while Purdue, Illinois and Minnesota are all receiving votes in the poll. Purdue will face Michigan this coming weekend in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis.
Penn State’s bowl destination is still to be determined, but a convincing Ohio State loss likely ended any hopes of the Big Ten getting two teams into the College Football Playoffs and subsequently sending Penn State to the Rose Bowl. The Nittany Lions are likely headed to the Orange, Citrus or Cotton Bowl.
The Nittany Lions were last ranked in the top 10 earlier this season at No. 10 prior to a 41-17 loss to Michigan in Ann Arbor. Penn State started the season unranked. T
The penultimate College Football Playoff rankings are set to be released Tuesday evening.
