Where does Penn State rank in the Week 5 Coaches Poll?

The week Penn State fans have been waiting for has finally arrived.

Following the first of two bye weeks this season, the Nittany Lions will head into next weekend’s clash against Oregon ranked No. 2 in the Coaches Poll. The Ducks, who beat up on in-state rival Oregon State yesterday, 41-7, are also ranked among the top programs in the country, holding firm at No. 5 in the poll.

With ESPN’s College Gameday set to be in Happy Valley next Saturday, Penn State will take center stage in what’s setting up to be an excellent slate of games. Elsewhere in the Big Ten, Illinois, which dropped to No. 23 in the poll following a loss to Indiana, will host a USC squad that joined the Top 25 this week following a 45-31 win over Michigan State late Saturday night. The Trojans are now at No. 22 nationally and are one of seven programs inside the Top 25. Other matchups include top-ranked Ohio State traveling to undefeated Washington, while Indiana, which moved up five spots to No. 12 in the poll, faces a tricky test against a 3-1 Iowa squad.

Link: Penn State drops in ESPN FPI, sees 2025 outlook change exiting bye week

The SEC features two Top 25 matchups next Saturday, with No. 4 LSU traveling to No. 11 Ole Miss for a 3:30 pm ET start on ABC. That game leads into No. 16 Alabama traveling to No. 3 Georgia for a showdown in Athens. That game will air at the same time as Penn State-Oregon.

Fans can check out the complete poll below.

Coaches Poll (Sept. 21)

1) Ohio State
2) Penn State
3) Georgia
4) LSU
5) Oregon
6) Miami
7) Texas
8) Florida State (+1)
9) Texas A&M (+1)
10) Oklahoma (+2)
11) Ole Miss
12) Indiana (+5)

Link: Dan Lanning calls Penn State ‘extremely talented’ ahead of White Out test

13) Iowa State
14) Texas Tech (+2)
15) Tennessee
16) Alabama (-2)
17) Georgia Tech (+2)
18) Michigan (+2)
19) Missouri (+3)
20) Vanderbilt (+3)
21) Notre Dame
22) USC (+6)
23) Illinois (-15)
24) BYU (+2)
25) TCU (+7)

Others Receiving Votes: Arizona State 104; Utah 99; Louisville 67; Mississippi State 57; Memphis 55; Auburn 48; South Florida 32; Washington 19; Navy 17; Maryland 10; Kansas 6; Syracuse 4; Houston 4; UNLV 3; Tulane 3; Nebraska 3; North Texas 2; Iowa 1