The latest college football rankings are in, and everybody knew Penn State was going to drop after its 20-13 loss to Ohio State at Beaver Stadium Saturday.
The question was how far it would drop.
The US LBM Coaches Poll has moved Penn State from No. 3 to No. 7.
Although itโs never fun to drop on the rankings, Penn State falling isnโt the calamity it would have been last season. Before this year, Penn State and everybody else would have had to finish in the top four to make it to the College Football Playoff. Now, it has to finish in the Top 12.
BYE BYE, INDY
James Franklin
Although Penn State is still alive for the College Football Playoff, its hopes to make it to the Big Ten title game are dim, at best. Penn State is now behind No. 1 Oregon, which is undefeated and, of course, Ohio State, which has the same record as Penn State but holds the tiebreaker. Penn State is also behind Indiana, one of the best stories in college football this season. Under first-year coach Curt Cignetti, IU is 9-0, its latest triumph being at 47-10 win at Michigan State Saturday. The most anticipated Ohio State-Indiana matchup in history is scheduled for Nov. 23 in Columbus. Penn State will be playing the Gophers of Minnesota that day, on the outside looking in.
PENN STATE STILL HAS TO WIN
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Penn State Coach James Franklin and QB Drew Allar
Penn Stateโs next four games are at home against Washington, at Purdue, at Minnesota and against Maryland at home. Penn State will be favored in all of those games, likely by double digits.
If it canโt win all of them, it might indeed fall short of the Playoff.
Penn State-Washington is scheduled for 8 on Peacock Saturday.
