Penn State 12th in intial College Football Playoff rankings

Penn State cracked the AP and coaches polls the last two weeks, sitting at No. 20 and No. 23, respectively, but the College Football Playoff committee thinks even more highly of the Nittany Lions.

Penn State (6-2) is No. 12 in the first CFP rankings of the season, the highlight of its resume being a 24-21 win over Ohio State at home Oct. 22.

Iowa (5-3) travels to Penn State for a 6:30 p.m. game this Saturday (BTN).

Michigan (8-0) is the highest-ranked Big Ten team at No. 3. Alabama (8-0) is No. 1, Clemson (8-0) No. 2. Texas A&M (7-1) edged Washington (8-0) for the final playoff spot, with still five weeks to go before the final rankings determine the playoff field.

Elsehwere in the Big Ten, Ohio State (7-1) is sixth, Wisconsin (6-2) eighth and Nebraska (7-1) 10th.

Here's the complete top 25 for the first week:

1. Alabama (8-0)

2. Clemson (8-0)

3. Michigan (8-0)

4. Texas A&M (7-1)

5. Washington (8-0)

6. Ohio State (7-1)

7. Louisville (7-1)

8. Wisconsin (6-2)

9. Auburn (6-2)

10. Nebraska (7-1)

11. Florida (6-1)

12. Penn State (6-2)

13. LSU (5-2)

14. Oklahoma (6-2)

15. Colorado (6-2)

16. Utah (7-2)

17. Baylor (6-1)

18. Oklahoma State (6-2)

19. Virginia Tech (6-2)

20. West Virginia (6-1)

21. North Carolina (6-2)

22. Florida State (5-3)

23. Western Michigan (8-0)

24. Boise State (7-1)

25. Washington State (6-2)