Penn State Improves to No. 11 in College Football Playoff Rankings

The Nittany Lions remain in contention for a New Year's 6 bowl bid in the latest CFP rankings.

Penn State moved up one spot to No. 11 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, positioning itself for a New Year's 6 bowl invitation with a win Friday.

The Nittany Lions (9-2) are the second-highest ranked two-loss team behind Missouri, another team in contention for an at-large bid to the New Year's 6 bowls. Importantly, Penn State remained ahead of other two-loss teams Ole Miss (12) and Oklahoma (13), against which the Lions will compete for an at-large bid. Penn State has gone 10-2 four times under head coach James Franklin. In each year, the Nittany Lions played in a New Year's 6 bowl game.

Bowl projections like Penn State's chances to make a New Year's 6 bowl game. In addition, the president and CEO of the Peach Bowl said in a recent interview that Penn State "makes sense" to make its first visit to Atlanta.

Penn State closes the regular season Friday night in Detroit against the Spartans. 

Here's this week's top 25 in the College Football Playoff rankings:

• 1. Georgia (11-0)
• 2. Ohio State (11-0)
• 3. Michigan (11-0)
• 4. Washington (11-0)
• 5. Florida State (11-0)
• 6. Oregon (10-1)
• 7. Texas (10-1)
• 8. Alabama (10-1)
• 9. Missouri (9-2)
• 10. Louisville (10-1)
• 11. Penn State (9-2)
• 12. Ole Miss (9-2)
• 13. Oklahoma (9-2)
• 14. LSU (8-3)
• 15. Arizona (8-3)
• 16. Oregon State (8-3)
• 17. Iowa (9-2)
• 18. Notre Dame (8-3)
• 19. Kansas State (8-3)
• 20. Oklahoma State (8-3)
• 21. Tennessee (7-4)
• 22. North Carolina State (8-3)
• 23. Tulane (10-1)
• 24. Clemson (7-4)
• 25. Liberty (11-0)

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AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.