The rise of the NittnayLions continued this weekend as the college football regular season, for the majority of the nation, came to a close this weekend. After disposing of Michigan State at home, Penn State sat back and watched a few others around the nation with a higher ranking take a stumble, and that was to their benefit in this week’s updated USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
Penn State moved up three spots in this week’s coaches poll, which was released early Sunday afternoon. Penn State moved up from No. 10 a week ago up to No. 7 this week. Penn State managed to stay ahead of Tennessee, Washington, and Kansas State as all four schools moved up three spots this week following wins. All four schools took advantage of drops in the poll by No. 11 Clemson (down three), No. 13 LSU (down seven), and No. 15 Oregon (down six) after all lost in Week 13.
Georgia remains firm at the top of this week’s USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll with 60 first-place votes. Michigan follows the Bulldogs at No. 2 with three first-place votes following a win over No. 5 Ohio State. The Wolverines, No. 3 TCU, and No. 4 USC all moved up one spot as the Buckeyes fell there from No. 2 a week ago.
No. 6 Alabama comes in between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions as the highest-ranked two-loss team in the coaches poll.
Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State are the only Big Ten teams appearing in this week’s coaches poll once again.
Penn State is sitting back and waiting to see what bowl game they will be participating in. On Tuesday night, the College Football Playoff rankings will be updated to give Penn State a better view of what the bowl possibilities could be. While Penn State is ahead of Tennessee in the coaches poll, the Vols stood in the way in the last update to the playoff ranking, which would block Penn State’s path to a New Years Six bowl game. If the coaches poll is any indication, however, Penn State’s bowl outlook looks much more promising after the loss suffered by LSU.
If it was determined by the coaches poll, Penn State would be in play for the Orange Bowl as the highest-ranked team available from the Big Ten or SEC, because Alabama would be representing the SEC in the Sugar Bowl while Georgia is in the College Football Playoff.
Here is this week’s full USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll following Week 13.
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