Penn State soars to new heights on Football Power Index after blowout

Penn State returned home to Beaver Stadium on Saturday and got back to its dominant ways. The Nittany Lions took down the Buffalo Bulls 55-14 during a weekend that saw them surging up the polls once again. The US LBM Coaches Poll named them the No. 14 team in the nation, while the AP Poll moved them

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What is the story about?

Penn State returned home to Beaver Stadium on Saturday and got back to its dominant ways. The Nittany Lions took down the Buffalo Bulls 55-14 during a weekend that saw them surging up the polls once again.

The US LBM Coaches Poll named them the No. 14 team in the nation, while the AP Poll moved them up one spot to No. 13. To continue with the theme of one-upping themselves, the Nittany Lions received an 18.2 score on this week’s edition of the ESPN Football Power Index, which was good for 12th in the nation.

After USC slid down this week’s list, the only Big Ten teams ahead of Penn State are: Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon.

Odds to win Big Ten

Sep 19, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell walks on the field following the game against the Buffalo Bulls at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

The Trojans’ slide also means that ESPN gives the Blue and White a much better chance to win the Big Ten. Their odds dropped

last week despite a win and some key losses from rival teams in the conference, but they are up significantly this time.

The index gives Penn State an 11.1% chance to win the Big Ten, up from 7.8% last week and the third-best odds in the conference. It also helps that the Ducks and the Buckeyes play each other later in the season, making it a guarantee that one of them will have at least two losses after the matchup.

We’re starting to get into the thick of the season, and things are shaping up nicely for the Nittany Lions. It’s starting to feel like they could be playing for more than just a regular bowl game at the end of the season

Playoff odds

Dec 21, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; The Penn State Nittany Lions mascot preforms during the first half against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The biggest increase that Penn State saw this week was in its College Football Playoff odds. Last week the team dropped to 29.1%, but now the odds have shot all the way up to 38.1% after USC got into a shootout with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

That game has big implications on the Nittany Lions since the Trojans come to town next month, meaning they could have a better chance of winning in front of the raucous crowd during the White Out. That game takes place during a four-week stretch where the team also plays Michigan and Washington, so that gauntlet will go a long way toward determining Penn State’s fate.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State soars to new heights on Football Power Index after blowout