Where does Penn State rank in the updated Coaches Poll?
Penn State opened up Beaver Stadium with a closer-than-expected game against Bowling Green Saturday, but the Nittany Lions were far from the only Top 10 team that struggled Saturday. Notre Dame losing to Northern Illinois grabbed all the headlines, but Alabama was also leading USF by just a point entering the fourth quarter. Oregon also went down to the wire for the second straight week, this time defeating Boise State, 37-34.
But at the end of the day, winning ugly is still better than losing, and that’s why Penn State moved up one spot to No. 7 in the Coaches Poll. There was also a mistake during the release, as Missouri was originally announced as the No. 7 in the poll. A few minutes later, the poll was updated to show Penn State at No. 7 instead of the Tigers. The Nittany Lions are currently ahead by just one vote.
The Big Ten is also now down to just three schools in the Top 10, as Michigan lost handily to Texas at home Saturday, 31-12. That dropped the Wolverines to No. 16 in the poll. Ohio State remained at No. 2 following its 56-0 win over Western Michigan. Oregon held firm at No. 6.
With Iowa also losing late to rival Iowa State, the Hawkeyes are no longer ranked, but there are still two Big Ten programs in the bottom third of the poll. Washington cracked the Top 25 last week and is now up to No. 22 nationally following a 30-9 win over Eastern Michigan. They’re now joined by Nebraska, as Matt Rhule’s program defeated Colorado 28-10 at home Saturday night.
Penn State fans can check out the updated Coaches Poll below.
USA Today/US LBM Coaches Poll – September 8
1) Georgia
2) Ohio State
3) Texas
4) Alabama
5) Ole Miss
6) Oregon
7) Penn State
8) Missouri
9) Tennessee
10) Utah
11) USC
12) Miami
13) Oklahoma
Three Reactions: Penn State stars shine, vulnerabilities exposed in win
14) Oklahoma State
15) Kansas State
16) Michigan
17) LSU
18) Arizona
19) Notre Dame
20) Clemson
21) Louisville
22) Washington
23) Iowa State
24) Nebraska
25) Memphis
Schools Dropped Out: No. 20 Kansas; No. 21 Iowa; No. 23 North Carolina State
Others Receiving Votes: Texas A&M 68; Boston College 36; Syracuse 33; Illinois 33; Northern Illinois 30; Wisconsin 28; South Carolina 25; UNLV 19; Boise State 18; Iowa 17; Kansas 10; North Carolina State 9; UCF 7; Texas State 7; TCU 6; North Carolina 5; California 5; Liberty 4; Pittsburgh 2; Michigan State 2; BYU 2; Tulane 1; James Madison 1; Indiana 1
