Penn State was off for Week 3, and that caused them to lose some ground in national polls and power rankings following the action over the weekend. The Nittany Lions are still a consensus top-10 team but dropped one spot in the US LBM Coaches Poll and two spots in the AP Poll. The latest USA TODAY power rankings also have Penn State dropping one spot to No. 8.
Paul Myerberg ranks every FBS program weekly from 1 to 134, and in his latest rankings, the Nittany Lions are the third-highest-ranked Big Ten team behind Ohio State (3rd) and Oregon (7th). The top six remain unchanged, with Georgia hanging on to the top spot despite the Bulldogs’ narrow victory over Kentucky.
Oregon jumped up five spots to surpass Penn State after demolishing Oregon State, while USC fell four spots after coming off its bye week. Washington State is the biggest mover within the top 25, moving up 21 spots after a big Apple Cup victory over Washington.
Related: Big Ten recap following an entertaining Week 3
Indiana was the week’s biggest mover, up 27 spots into the top 60 after the Hoosiers’ big victory at the Rose Bowl against UCLA.
Penn State likely won’t be able to do much to move up the rankings this week, with Kent State coming to town—a team that ranks dead last in Myerberg’s rankings. The Golden Flashes come to town after getting blown out by Tennessee 71-0. A similar story could ensue this weekend with the Nittany Loves new-look offense.