Ranking is In: Here’s Where Penn State Stands

Originally posted on Nittany Sports Now | By Joe Smeltzer | Last updated Nov 24, 2024 2:48 PM ET

The latest poll is in, and everybody knew Penn State football’s ranking would still be in good shape following Saturday’s 26-25 win at Minnesota.

The question, as always, was where Penn State would land?

That question won’t be fully answered until Tuesday evening but in the USLBM Coaches Poll, Penn State comes in at No. 4.

Saturday was vindication for coach James Franklin in a lot of ways. He made maybe the best call of his career with a fake punt late in the game. On the outside, six ranked teams lost— five of them against un-ranked opponents— proving his point that wins are to be appreciated no matter how they happen.

THE RANKINGS THAT MATTER

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – NOVEMBER 16: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin on the sidelines during the college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and Penn State Nittany Lions on November 16, 2024, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire)

With all due respect to the Coaches Poll, AP Poll and all other polls out there, the only rankings that truly matter in late November are the College Football Playoff rankings. These will come out Tuesday night at 8 in the weekly rankings show on ESPN. Penn State is currently ranked No. 4 by the Playoff committee but due to the four highest-rated conference champions automatically getting the top four seeds, Penn State is projected to be seeded sixth. Its projected opponent is currently No. 11 Georgia at Beaver Stadium.

THIS IS ONE SCENARIO

BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 19: Indiana Hoosiers DL Tyrique Tucker (95) walks off the field following a college football game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Indiana Hoosiers on October 19, 2024 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire)

As of now, Indiana is projected to have a home game. But that projection might change due to No. 5 Indiana suffering its first loss at the hands of No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus. One projection has Indiana— which Penn State won’t play this season— as the No. 10 seed playing No. 7 Penn State in Happy Valley, so we’ll see what each team’s ranking is.