For all of its success, Penn State has suffered its share of debilitating setbacks under coach James Franklin.
Perhaps none was more gutting than what they endured Saturday in the picturesque confines of the Rose Bowl. A spirited late comeback ultimately wasn't enough to overcome a 27-7 halftime deficit, with the No. 6 Nittany Lions getting stunned 42-37 on Oct. 4 by a previously winless UCLA team.
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With the setback, Penn State became the first top-10 team to lose to an opponent who was 0-4 or worse in 40 years.
The catastrophic loss could have significant College Football Playoff ramifications, as well. At 3-2 following Saturday's defeat, the Nittany Lions already have two losses in the first half of the regular season and still have No. 1 Ohio State remaining on their schedule. Even if they win out, it's quite possible that Saturday's loss to UCLA would be so disastrous that it would keep them out of the College Football Playoff (unless, of course, they somehow make and win the Big Ten championship game).
But what will it mean in the short term for Franklin's team? Here's a look at how far Penn State might fall in the US LBM Coaches Poll:
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As painful as it was, Penn State's previous loss, a 30-24 setback against Oregon in double overtime in Week 5, was understandable.
Saturday's loss at UCLA was anything but.
Prior to this weekend, the Bruins had been mounting an argument as the worst major-conference team in college football this century. They were 0-4 and coming off a loss to a hapless Northwestern team. The last time they had played at the Rose Bowl, they lost by 25 to New Mexico, a game that ultimately cost second-year coach DeShaun Foster his job.
Though Penn State would seem likely to remain in the top 25 of the Coaches Poll, it may be by the skin of its teeth. The Nittany Lions dropped four spots after the loss to Oregon, but that was to a top-five opponent that's well-positioned to win the Big Ten and make the playoff.
Losses to unranked teams can cause a sizable slide in the polls. Florida State, for example, fell 11 spots after a double-overtime loss to Virginia -- and that was on the road against what had been a 3-1 team that jumped into the AP Top 25 after the victory. A more relevant example for Penn State might be what happened to Clemson, which dropped from No. 11 to outside the top 25 after losing 34-21 at home to Syracuse.
Final ranking prediction: No. 23
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Where will Penn State football fall in top 25 after loss to UCLA?