Where does Penn State rank in the updated Coaches Poll?
Penn State was one of the more impressive teams this past weekend. Despite changes at all three coordinator positions, as well as a hostile environment on the road at West Virginia, the Nittany Lions cruised to a 34-12 win over the Mountaineers this past Saturday.
Although West Virginia wasn’t ranked coming into the game, the Mountaineers were receiving votes in both major polls following a 9-4 season in 2023. However, Penn State showed early and often on both sides of the ball that the Nittany Lions were on a different level in many areas.
However, with each of the eight teams that came into the weekend ranked above them in the Coaches Poll, movement was limited this week. Because of that, the Nittany Lions will come into its home opener ranked No. 8 nationally, up just one spot from last week.
The Big Ten’s presence remains strong among the nation’s best teams, four schools sitting inside the Top 10. Ohio State remains the top-ranked team, holding firm at No. 2 nationally. Oregon dropped three spots to No. 6 following a lackluster win over Idaho, while Michigan also remained in the Top 10, switching places with Penn State and dropping to No. 9.
But there are also three other Big Ten programs within the Top 25. USC had arguably the biggest win of the weekend, taking down an LSU program that ranked No. 12 coming into the weekend. That boosted the Trojans nine spots in the week’s poll to No. 14. The Iowa Hawkeyes moved up four spots to No. 21, while this year’s White Out opponent, the Washington Huskies, joined the poll at No. 25.
Penn State fans can check out the updated Coaches Poll below.
USA Today/US LBM Coaches Poll – September 3
1) Georgia
2) Ohio State
3) Texas
4) Alabama
5) Ole Miss
6) Oregon
7) Notre Dame
8) Penn State
9) Michigan
10) Missouri
11) Utah
12) Tennessee
13) Oklahoma
Link: Penn State coach James Franklin previews Bowling Green
14) USC
15) Miami
16) Kansas State
17) Oklahoma State
18) Arizona
19) LSU
20) Kansas
21) Iowa
22) Clemson
23) N.C. State
24) Louisville
25) Washington
Schools Dropped Out: No. 10 Florida State; No. 20 Texas A&M
Others Receiving Votes: Georgia Tech 86; Texas A&M 78; Memphis 43; Kentucky 23; Boise State 22; SMU 19; Auburn 13; Wisconsin 11; Iowa State 10; UNLV 9; Tulane 9; Maryland 9; Liberty 9; Nebraska 8; Boston College 7; South Florida 5; James Madison 4; Air Force 4; UTSA 3; North Carolina 3; Appalachian State 3; Texas State 2; Syracuse 1; Coastal Carolina 1
