College Football Playoff Ranking Projections: Top 25 for Week 10
By Zach Bigalke
Penn State had the potential to jump up into the top spot of the first College Football Playoff Top 25 with a win over Ohio State in Columbus. Then they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, giving up 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Buckeyes pulled off a 39-38 comeback at home.
The Nittany Lions started off strong, with Saquon Barkley returning the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown out of the gate. They were up 28-17 on the road at halftime, and looked ready to threaten the Crimson Tide for poll positioning. But Barkley was otherwise contained, rushing for just 44 yards and gaining just 23 more through the air as Penn State crumbled down the stretch.
With the loss, the Nittany Lions fell behind Ohio State in the Big Ten East and no longer control their own fate. A New Year’s Six spot is in reach, and they could still get to the Playoff with more chaos. But for now, the CFP selection committee is going to slide the Nittany Lions into the high single digits of its first rankings of the season.