Because of the way the College Football Playoff bracket is constructed, Indiana is the last team in the 12-team field. Two teams ranked lower than Indiana would make the field as projected conference champions.

The race for a berth in the Big Ten championship is straightforward entering the final week of the season. Undefeated Oregon has already clinched a spot. One-loss Penn State, Ohio State and Indiana are all in play to be the Ducks’ opponents on Dec. 7 in Indianapolis.

Penn State held steady at No. 4 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings that came out Tuesday night, while also remaining at the No. 6 seed in the bracket. Here’s what the latest rankings mean for the Nittany Lions.

Warde Manuel, CFP selection committee chair, explained the decision to keep the Nittany Lions above the Fighting Irish.

Shocking upsets should leave the SEC with only three teams in the 12-team field when the new CFP rankings are released.

The Penn State Nittany Lions and Indiana Hoosiers both sit at 10-1 on the season after Week 13. Does Penn State deserve a College Football Playoff spot over Indiana?

Warde Manuel, one of 13 members on the College Football Playoff Committee, detailed the reasoning behind Indiana's ranking.