This time last year, when the first edition of the College Football Playoff rankings were released, the Nittany Lions had final-four hopes. Now, Penn State is playing for a non-playoff New Year’s Six bowl game — but judging by where they stand in the initial rankings, the Nittany Lions have a solid shot at making it there.
Penn State is No. 14 in the College Football Playoff committee’s first rankings, which were released Tuesday night.
Alabama sits at No. 1, while Clemson, LSU and Notre Dame round out of the top four in that order. Michigan is on the outside looking in at No.