After breaking its losing ways with a 31-14 victory at Maryland this weekend, Penn State simply managed to hold firm on its ranking in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. The fresh coaches poll, released early Sunday afternoon, sees Penn State holding steady at No. 23 for a second consecutive week.
At 6-3 on the season, Penn State is one of six Big Ten teams ranked in this week’s coaches poll. No. 5 Ohio State remained where they are with just one minor change in this week’s top five of the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll (No. 2 Alabama moved up one spot, with No. 3 Cincinnati falling from No. 2 after a close call against Tulsa). No. 8 Michigan moved up two spots to move ahead of, ironically, No. 9 Michigan State. The Spartans fell three spots in the coaches poll after their loss at Purdue, just one week after Michigan State clipped Michigan in a head-to-head matchup.
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No. 14 Iowa moved up two spots with some reshuffling of the rankings midway through the college football world this weekend. Iowa took advantage of losses by No. 18 Baylor (down five spots) and No. 20 Auburn (down six). While Penn State remained No. 23, No. 24 Wisconsin has burst right back into the coaches poll with a blowout win at Rutgers. The Badgers, whom Penn State defeated in Week 1, are right behind the Nittany Lions at No. 24.
Out of the Big Ten, the Pitt Panthers continue to be on the rise as a leading ACC contender. The Panthers moved up three spots this week after a blowout victory against Duke. The Panthers passed Penn State in the process.
Georgia remains the unanimous selection for No. 1 this week after receiving all 64 first-place votes.
A look at the full coaches poll after this week’s slate of games.
Full USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll:
| Rank | Team | Record | Points | Change |
| 1 | Georgia | 9-0 | 1,600 (64) | – |
| 2 | Alabama | 8-1 | 1,483 | +1 |
| 3 | Cincinnati | 9-0 | 1,430 | -1 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 9-0 | 1,423 | – |
| 5 | Ohio State | 8-1 | 1,356 | – |
| 6 | Oregon | 8-1 | 1,291 | +1 |
| 7 | Notre Dame | 8-1 | 1,182 | +1 |
| 8 | Michigan | 8-1 | 1,099 | +2 |
| 9 | Michigan State | 8-1 | 1,074 | -3 |
| 10 | Oklahoma State | 8-1 | 1,045 | +1 |
| 11 | Texas A&M | 7-2 | 1,023 | +1 |
| 12 | Ole Miss | 7-2 | 862 | +3 |
| 13 | Wake Forest | 8-1 | 769 | -4 |
| 14 | Iowa | 7-2 | 636 | +2 |
| 15 | BYU | 8-2 | 552 | +5 |
| 16 | UTSA | 9-0 | 525 | +2 |
| 17 | Houston | 8-1 | 472 | +2 |
| 18 | Baylor | 7-2 | 449 | -5 |
| 19 | NC State | 7-2 | 445 | +3 |
| 20 | Auburn | 6-3 | 382 | -6 |
| 21 | Coastal Carolina | 8-1 | 335 | – |
| 22 | Pittsburgh | 7-2 | 293 | +3 |
| 23 | Penn State | 6-3 | 249 | – |
| 24 | Wisconsin | 6-3 | 177 | +7 |
| 25 | UL Lafayette | 8-1 | 164 | +1 |
Dropped from the rankings:
No. 17 Kentucky; No. 24 Southern Methodist
Others receiving votes:
Arkansas 116; San Diego State 103; Purdue 77; Kentucky 74; Utah 34; Iowa State 21; Appalachian State 19; Southern Methodist 18; Minnesota
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