Two of Penn State’s leaders said Wednesday they didn’t pay much attention to the initial College Football Playoff rankings, which had the Nittany Lions sixth.
“The rankings don’t matter until after the regular season,” quarterback Drew Allar said. “I couldn’t care less where we’re ranked right now because a lot can change between now and the end of the season. We control our own destiny, so all that matters is being 1-0 this week.”
Penn State (4-1 Big Ten, 7-1) takes on Washington (3-3, 5-4) in the annual White Out Game Saturday night at 8 (TV-Peacock) at Beaver Stadium.
It’s the first meeting in State College between the Lions and the Huskies, who are coming off a 26-21 win over USC in Seattle.
Penn State is a two-touchdown favorite over Washington and likely will be favored in its remaining games against Purdue, Minnesota and Maryland.
“I didn’t really look into it (the CFP rankings) too much,” tight end Tyler Warren said. “There’s still football left to be played. It does continue the importance of understanding we have a game each week and an opponent we have to focus on. We have to make sure we handle our business every week.”
In the newly expanded CFP, 12 teams make the field with the four top-ranked conference champions receiving the top four seeds and first-round byes.
On the weekend of Dec. 20-21, four first-round games will be held at campus sites. The projected matchups have 10th-seeded Notre Dame at seventh-seeded Penn State, 12th-seeded Boise State at fifth-seeded Ohio State, 11th-seeded Alabama at sixth-seeded Texas and ninth-seeded Indiana at eighth-seeded Tennessee.
The four first-round winners will advance to the quarterfinals Dec. 31 (Fiesta Bowl) and Jan. 1 (Peach, Rose and Sugar bowls). The semifinals are set for Jan. 9 at the Orange Bowl and Jan. 10 at the Cotton Bowl.
The CFP national championship game is scheduled for Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
Award recognition: Penn State tight end Tyler Warren has been named one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, presented to the nation’s top tight end.
Warren has 51 catches for 606 yards and four touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown.
He’s second among FBS tight ends in receiving yards, receiving yards per game and yards per reception; third in receptions and 100-yard games; and sixth in receiving touchdowns.
Warren was a Midseason All-American first-team pick by the Associated Press, CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus, The Athletic and the Senior Bowl.
The John Mackey Award selection committee will announce its three finalists Nov. 26. The winner will be announced Dec. 12 during the College Football Awards show on ESPN.
Lions right tackle Anthony Donkoh has been named one of the 14 semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club.
Donkoh, a redshirt freshman, has started seven of Penn State’s eight games and has graded very well as a run blocker.
The other semifinalists from the Big Ten are Minnesota safeties Koi Perich and Kerry Brown, Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
The finalists will be announced Dec. 4 and the winner on Dec. 26.
Penn State linebacker Dominic DeLuca has been nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, presented annually to the nation’s top player who began his career as a walk-on.
DeLuca, a high school star at Wyoming Area, has 16 tackles, including two for loss, and a quarterback hurry.
The winner will be announced Dec. 9.
