Penn State climbs to 8th in playoff rankings

Penn State moved up two spots to No. 8 in the third weekly College Football Playoff rankings revealed Tuesday night.

The Nittany Lions (8-2), who defeated Indiana, 45-31, on Saturday for their sixth straight victory, rose in the rankings after the two teams in front of them lost last week.

Texas A&M tumbled from No. 8 to No. 25 after losing to Mississippi. Auburn was defeated by Georgia and fell from ninth to 15th.

The Big Ten had four teams in the top eight of the rankings. Wisconsin came in at No. 7. Should Penn State win out and Ohio State defeat Michigan on Nov. 26, the Nittany Lions and Badgers would play in the Big Ten championship game on Dec. 3.

The Big Ten champion does not automatically qualify for the four-team playoff, but the selection committee could put that team in.

Ohio State was ranked No. 2 and Michigan No. 3 this week.