Penn State has been a team that has trended upward fairly quickly from the national perspective this season. After three wins, highlighted by last weekend’s blowout at Auburn, the Nittany Lions have made a quick climb up in the national rankings with the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25 after starting the season outside the top 25. And Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY has Penn State moving up in his latest re-ranking of all 131 FBS teams this season.
Myerberg has consistently had Penn State higher in his personal ranking than the national polls, so it is no surprise Myerberg still has Penn State noticeably higher in his updated re-ranking this week. Myerberg has Penn State moving up two spots this week to No. 6 in the nation.
The only five teams sitting ahead of Penn State are Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, and Oklahoma, respectively.
Penn State is off to a 3-0 start, but it may be fair to question just how tough the start of their schedule has truly been. Auburn was not expected to do much this season and is facing plenty of big-picture questions after their embarrassing performance against the Nittany Lions at home. And Purdue is off to a 1-2 start after their bizarre loss at Syracuse this weekend. Myerberg has Purdue at No. 70 and Auburn at No. 79 in his latest re-rank. And Ohio is ranked No. 98.
So, no, Penn State hasn’t faced the stiffest challenges just yet, but being able to come away with road victories in two of their first three games is not to go unnoticed. Bigger challenges certainly remain in front of Penn State once they return to Big Ten play. But first, the Nittnay Lions have a home game against Central Michigan this weekend.
Myerberg has the Chippewas ranked No. 91.
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