Penn State isn’t a top 10 team according to the College Football Playoff committee, but it is a top 11 team.
Coach James Franklin’s team came in at No. 11 in the latest Playoff rankings, revealed Tuesday night on ESPN, which is exactly where it was last week.
College Football Playoff Rankings: Teams 15-11 pic.twitter.com/vaDV3I3Ud9
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 23, 2022
So despite burying Rutgers 55-10, this past Saturday in Piscataway, and despite Tennessee getting buried 63-38 at South Carolina, the Vols stayed in the top 10, one spot ahead of Penn State.
Both schools have two losses, as do Oregon (No. 9), Alabama (No. 7) and LSU (No. 5). The top four in the rankings are undefeated. 11-0 Georgia stays at No. 1 after beating Kentucky 16-6 this past weekend. Two Big Ten schools— Ohio State and Michigan— stay at Nos. 2 and 3 after wins over Maryland and Illinois, respectively. Ohio State and Michigan will have their most anticipated meeting in more than 15 years this coming Saturday in Columbus, with a trip to the Big Ten championship game and perhaps a Playoff berth on the line.
It’s possible that both teams will go to the playoff, but for that to happen, the game would likely have to be close. Michigan and Ohio State are responsible for the only blemishes on Penn State’s record. Michigan pounded Penn State 41-17 Oct. 15 in Ann Arbor, and Ohio State survived 44-31 in Happy Valley two weeks later.
Penn State fans won’t be happy about the Playoff committee putting their team at No. 11, and the ranking might irk players and coaches as well. After all, the team did crack the top 10 in the latest Coaches Poll, released Sunday. But all the team can do is focus on ending its regular season strong Saturday against Michigan State. Kickoff for the Senior Day game is scheduled for 4:00 on FS1 at Beaver Stadium.
