College Football Playoff Ranking Projections: Top 25 for Week 11

Penn State dropped its second straight on Saturday, falling 27-24 against No. 24 Michigan State on a last-second field goal in East Lansing. Their game against the Spartans included a delay of over three hours as inclement weather passed over Spartan Stadium, and the pause seemed to take the wind out of Penn State’s sails.

For the sixth time in nine games, Saquon Barkley was held under 100 rushing yards. Trace McSorley threw for 381 yards and three touchdowns, but he also tossed three interceptions that killed any chance of victory. Penn State’s defense gave up 400 passing yards to Brian Lewerke on the road, on a day when aerial attacks took precedence.

The loss pretty much killed any chance of repeating as Big Ten champions. With the College Football Playoff out of play, Penn State will now be playing to reach a New Year’s Six bowl. James Franklin‘s team faces an easier road to close out the regular season, with home games against Rutgers and Nebraska over the next fortnight before traveling to Maryland on Thanksgiving weekend.