Penn State Football Plummets in New AP Top 25 Poll

A large pile of players during Penn State's loss to Illinois. Photo by Paul Burdick

Penn State football dropped 13 spots in the new AP Top 25 poll following the Nittany Lions’ ugly, 20-18 loss to Illinois in nine overtimes on Saturday.

The Nittany Lions came in at No. 20 in the poll released on Sunday, falling from the No. 7 spot they held for the past two weeks. Penn State struggled to get much going on offense while its defense was gashed for 357 rushing yards by the Illini, who came into the game 2-5 on the season and a three-touchdown underdog.

Now 5-2 on the year, the Nittany Lions are coming off losses to Illinois and Iowa, which moved up two spots to No. 9. Next up for Penn State is a trip to Columbus on Saturday to face the Big Ten’s highest ranked team, No. 5 Ohio State (6-1).

Two other conference teams ranked in the top 10 also still loom on the Nittany Lions’ schedule. Penn State hosts No. 6 Michigan (7-0) on Nov. 13 and travels to No. 8 Michigan State (7-0), which moved up one spot in this week’s poll, on Nov. 27.

Auburn, which Penn State defeated in a week 3 non-conference game, moved up one spot to No. 18 in this week’s poll.

Penn State is now the lowest among ranked Big Ten teams.

The Coaches Poll was slightly kinder to the Nittany Lions, dropping them nine spots to No. 17.

AP Top 25