Penn State football may have played an easy non-conference opponent on Saturday, but it reaped the benefits of Texas failing to meet expectations in its Week 1 game against Ohio State.
The Nittany Lions (1-0) now rank second on the US LBM Coaches Poll, taking a seat just behind the Buckeyes. The blue and white headed into the season at No. 3 with 1,525 points and 14 first-place votes. Now it's risen to No. 2 with 1,574 points.
Ohio State almost swept the No. 1 votes, getting 59 of 67. Penn State hung on to six first-place votes, but after playing Nevada it shouldn't be expected for the Nittany Lions to rally in double-digit No. 1 votes. The Buckeyes beating the Longhorns 14-7, especially with the performance Texas put up, makes that first place spot deserved.
Week 2 will be a similar story for Penn State. Playing another cupcake non-conference game won't yield anticipated poll results just yet. Unlike these first three weeks, it won't have an easy path to the playoffs, playing Ohio State and Iowa on the road and Oregon and Indiana at home. So, once Week 5 rolls around and beyond, the Nittany Lions will need to put up wins and impressive performances to stay afloat at the top of the rankings.
Florida State and Oklahoma were previously unranked in the preseason poll. Kansas State and Boise State were knocked out following Week 1. The full Top 25 Coaches Poll rankings here: