Penn State once again came up on the wrong end of the final score in a showdown with Ohio State, and the day after the Nittany Lions suffered the consequences as the votes in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll were counted. Penn State dropped three spots in the latest coaches poll, which was released Sunday afternoon, but Penn State is still in a position to end the season in the top 15.
Penn State slipped three spots from No. 13 a week ago to No. 16 in this week’s updated coaches poll. The drop is fair considering their loss came against one of the top teams in the country and they did own a fourth-quarter lead before things fell apart quickly in Beaver Stadium. Penn State led Ohio State 21-16 with a little more than nine minutes to play before Ohio State stormed back with big plays on offense and defense for four touchdowns in a little more than six minutes, stunning the majority of the crowd in Beaver Stadium.
Taking over the No. 13 spot in this week’s coaches poll is Big Ten West leader Illinois following a solid road victory at Nebraska. The Illini moved up five spots amid the reshuffling of the rankings this week. While the top eight spots in this week’s poll remained unchanged, with Georgia at No. 1 and Ohio State at No. 2, every spot from No. 9 through No. 25 saw a change made.
Penn State was also passed over by No. 14 Kansas State (up eight spots after a total dismantling of No. 18 Oklahoma State, who fell nine spots) and No. 15 North Carolina, who improved to 7-1 and moved up six spots after a comfortable victory over Pitt.
Oklahoma State and Wake Forest each took a harder fall than Penn State as the Cowboys and Demon Deacons each fell out of the top 10 and below Penn State after blowout losses on the road this week.
Here is a look at this week’s USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll after Week 9’s results.
- Georgia (45 first-place votes)
- Ohio State (13)
- Tennessee (5)
- Michigan
- Clemson
- Alabama
- TCU
- Oregon
- USC
- Ole Miss
- UCLA
- Utah
- Illinois
- Kansas State
- North Carolina
- Penn State
- LSU
- Oklahoma State
- Wake Forest
- NC State
- Tulane
- Syracuse
- Liberty
- Kentucky
- UCF
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