Penn State moves back into Top 10 in Coaches Poll
Penn State’s chances of making a New Year’s Six Bowl took a positive step forward this weekend. With programs like Tennessee, North Carolina and Utah all losing, Penn State finds itself back among the Top 10 in one of the polls, moving up to No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. However, the Nittany Lions held firm in the Associated Press Poll, remaining at No. 11. Oregon jumped Penn State in the AP Poll following its win over the Utes.
Tennessee’s loss is especially notable for the Nittany Lions. With Michigan and Ohio State set to square off next week, it looked unlikely that the loser of that game could still make the playoff. Although USC is now a more serious contender, the chances of two Big Ten schools making the playoff increased this week. If that happened, Penn State would be the Big Ten’s representative in the Rose Bowl.
We’ll have a better feel for those chances Tuesday night following the release of the College Football Playoff Poll. Below is the latest AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll for Week 13 of the college football season.
Associated Press Poll – Week 13
1) Georgia
2) Ohio State
3) Michigan
4) TCU
5) USC
6) LSU
7) Clemson
8) Alabama
9) Tennessee
10) Oregon
11) Penn State
12) Washington
13) Notre Dame
14) Utah
15) Kansas State
16) Florida State
17) UCLA
18) North Carolina
19) Tulane
20) Ole Miss
21) Cincinnati
22) Oregon State
23) Coastal Carolina
24) Texas
25) UCF
Related: What Saturday’s wild day in college football meant for Penn State’s postseason options
Coaches Poll – Week 13
1) Georgia
2) Ohio State
3) Michigan
4) TCU
5) USC
6) LSU
7) Alabama
8) Clemson
9) Oregon
10) Penn State
11) Tennessee
12) Washington
13) Kansas State
14) Utah
15) Notre Dame
16) Florida State
17) North Carolina
18) UCLA
19) Ole Miss
20) Tulane
21) Cincinnati
22) Oregon State
23) Coastal Carolina
24) Texas
25) UTSA
