Final rankings: See where Penn State, Pitt land in AP poll

ALTOONA, Pa. -- An 11-2 season and Rose Bowl victory earned Penn State a lofty ranking in the final Associated Press poll of the season, while Pitt pulled off a feat for the first time in 39 years.

The Nittany Lions are ranked No. 7 in the AP poll, released early Tuesday morning following the national championship game between Georgia and TCU.

Penn State entered the Rose Bowl ranked ninth in the AP poll and No. 11 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Their impressive 35-21 victory over Utah, coupled with some others losing, guaranteed the Lions would finish in the top 10, with most estimating exactly where they landed at No. 7.

What Pitt achieved late in the season earned it quite a historic distinction. The Panthers won their final five games to finish 9-4, including beating then-No. 18 UCLA in the Sun Bowl, to finish ranked No. 22 in the AP poll.

This marks the first time since the 1982 and '83 seasons that Pitt finished ranked in the final AP poll for two consecutive years. The Panthers, led by Heisman Trophy finalist Kenny Pickett, finished last season at No. 13.

Pitt was No. 10 in 1982 and No. 18 in 1983.

Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi lobbied for a spot in the final rankings following the team's bowl victory over UCLA. Our Corey Crisan was there for it in El Paso:

Showing that rankings can be downright crazy, UCLA finished No. 21, one spot ahead of Pitt, despite losing head to head to the Panthers in the bowl game and finishing with the same 9-4 record.

Here's a look at the final AP Top 25:

1. Georgia
2. TCU
3. Michigan
4. Ohio State
5. Alabama
6. Tennessee
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. Tulane
10. Utah
11. Florida State
12. USC
13. Clemson
14. Kansas State
15. Oregon
16. LSU
17. Oregon State
18. Notre Dame
19. Troy
20. Mississippi State
21. UCLA
22. Pitt
23. South Carolina
24. Fresno State
25. Texas