CFB Coach: PSU Got 'Brand Love' in 1st 2024 CFP Bracket Rankings After Loss to OSU

Despite losing to Ohio State last Saturday, Penn State surprisingly still received the No. 6 spot in the first College Football Playoff rankings.

A Power 4 head coach provided a potential explanation while speaking to The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, saying he believes name recognition played a factor in the Nittany Lions' placement within the top 12.

"I think there's some brand love there," the coach said. "At least Texas (No. 5 and also 7-1 without any Top 25 wins) is playing in the SEC."

While the loss to Ohio State was the first of the season for Penn State, the team doesn't have much of a resume to impress voters. None of the Nittany Lions' seven wins came against teams in the CFP Top 25. Also, the team is sitting ahead of a pair of undefeated squads in No. 8 Indiana (9-0) and No. 9 BYU (8-0).

Penn State will try to bounce back from its loss to Ohio State and prove that it is worthy of its ranking when it faces Washington (5-4) on Saturday night.