Penn State is No. 7 In the Latest College Football Playoff Rankings

After only one team ahead of them in last week’s rankings lost (Louisville), Penn State moved up to number 7 in this week’s release of the College Football Playoff Rankings:

The Nittany Lions are one of four Big Ten teams in the top ten still, with Ohio State (#2), Michigan (#3) and Wisconsin (#6) still ahead of them (they were numbers 2, 3 and 7 last week, respectively). Nebraska is also in the rankings, coming in at #16; the Huskers were 18th last week.

This week, Penn State also was ranked 8th in both the AP and Coaches Polls.

The Lions still have a shot at the playoffs, but they don’t control their own destiny. If Michigan beats Ohio State this week in Columbus, they’ll head to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Conference Championship Game, against either the Badgers or Cornhuskers. If the Buckeyes win, though, and Penn State takes care of business this week at home against Michigan State, then the Nittany Lions will head to Lucas Oil Stadium for a shot at a conference title, and a potential playoff berth.