For the second consecutive week, Penn State managed to move up in the latest USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll, but this week it was a minimal gain in the rankings for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State moved up one spot in the latest coaches poll, improving their ranking from No. 12 a week ago to No. 11 this week. Penn State was close to jumping into the top 10 of the coaches poll, but Penn State came in just behind two teams that took a slide ahead of them this week.
Ohio State took the biggest tumble in the coaches poll following their loss to Oregon. Oregon jumped up from No. 11 to No. 4 following their big win in Columbus over the weekend. The Buckeyes fell from No. 3 all the way down to No. 11, one spot ahead of Penn State.
Notre Dame also managed to stay ahead of Penn State despite dropping within the top 10. Even though Notre Dame is 2-0, the Fighting Irish were pushed to the wire at home by Toledo and Notre Dame’s season-opening victory against Florida State was devalued tremendously when the Seminoles were stunned at home Saturday night by FCS Jacksonville State. Penn State is within 65 points of the Irish, showing the gap between Penn State is close with Notre Dame and Ohio State for now. Penn State is 100 points behind No. 9 Florida.
The Iowa Hawkeyes are the highest-ranked team in the latest coaches poll following their big road win against in-state rival Iowa State. The Cyclones fell behind Penn State as a result, dropping to No. 14, while Iowa moved up to No. 7.
Joining Iowa, Ohio State, and Penn State in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll from the Big Ten are No. 17 Wisconsin and No. 25 Michigan. Penn State’s Week 3 opponent, the Auburn Tigers, also made a big move up into the poll this week to land at No. 20 following two offensive explosions to start the season.
Full USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll:
| Rank | Team | Points | Change |
| 1 | Alabama | 1,624 | – |
| 2 | Georgia | 1,558 | – |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 1,454 | +1 |
| 4 | Oregon | 1,356 | +7 |
| 5 | Texas A&M | 1,307 | – |
| 6 | Clemson | 1,279 | – |
| 7 | Iowa | 1,165 | +5 |
| 8 | Cincinnati | 1,114 | – |
| 9 | Florida | 1,095 | – |
| 10 | Notre Dame | 1,059 | -3 |
| 11 | Ohio State | 1,041 | -8 |
| 12 | Penn State | 995 | +1 |
| 13 | UCLA | 787 | +3 |
| 14 | Iowa State | 611 | -4 |
| 15 | Virginia Tech | 591 | +6 |
| 16 | Ole Miss | 546 | +4 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 537 | – |
| 18 | Coastal Carolina | 492 | +1 |
| 19 | North Carolina | 300 | +3 |
| 20 | Auburn | 264 | +6 |
| 21 | Arizona State | 246 | +4 |
| 22 | Oklahoma State | 222 | +1 |
| 23 | BYU | 213 | +8 |
| 24 | Arkansas | 196 | +20 |
| 25 | Michigan | 180 | +2 |
Dropped from the rankings:
No. 14 Southern California; No. 15 Texas; No. 18 Utah; No. 24 Miami.
Others receiving votes:
Miami 137; Southern California 99; Central Florida 65; Michigan State 63; Liberty 63; Texas Christian 57; Pittsburgh 52; Kentucky 50; Utah 41; Texas 36; Kansas State 28; Indiana 28; Louisiana State 26; Boston College 22; Nevada 18; Fresno State 13; Southern Methodist 10; Rutgers 10; UL Lafayette 9; San Diego State 9; Mississippi State 9; Army 9; Tulane 6; Maryland 6; San Jose State 5; NC State 5; Virginia 4; Marshall 4; Stanford 3; Air Force 3; Texas-San Antonio 1; Memphis 1; Boise State 1.
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