Penn State: 2026 Week 12 recap

Penn State sits at 38th overall with a 5–4 record after stealing a road win at Washington in Week 10. The rating hasn't budged since last week—GIE still has them at 9.3—but the victory itself matters more than the number shift. What's held them back: a red-zone TD rate of just 15%, meaning they're leaving points on the field in crucial moments. Third-down conversion sits at 41%, which compounds the problem in sustained drives. They'll host Minnesota this week with playoff hopes already eliminated and conference title odds at zero. At this point, Penn State is playing for bowl positioning and the integrity of the final stretch.